If I asked you which was the first session I attended where I heard the words feminism and misogyny, what would you guess? Or, what wouldn’t you guess? Hip Hop Activism, maybe? One of the self-organizing sessions (meaning not included in the main program, but created and submitted by someone, and it happens in the corner of the exhibition hall) was on just that, Hip Hop Artists and Activists. One of the speakers started off apologizing for the low number of women on the panel, because the moderator was stuck on a train. I didn’t hear any other panels doing that.
Throughout the last day and a half I’ve listened to a lot of progressives talk about uniting the movement. But they mean uniting under what they decide is politically successful for the movement. In fact, I spent some time in between sessions grumbling with other attendees about it. And the one session for/about women was, frankly, kind of weak. Someone asked in comments why the presidential candidates should “pander’ by talking about women’s issues. They shouldn’t. It shouldn’t be pandering to talk about reproductive justice and poverty and racism to a progressive audience. It should be central to the movement.
And that’s what was wonderful about this session, hearing artists and activists talking about the high stakes of politics, what regular people do to change the world, and how we are all lifted up by working on these issues. The most important take-away for me? A reminder that voting is important, but it happens on one day of the year. To make the changes you want, you have to think about what you’re going to do the other 264 days. (Thanks Grime!)
(Sadly, because I’m a loser who can’t charge a damn laptop, I couldn’t write my notes during the session, so I’m trying to remember everything I thought was fantastic. Pen and paper you say? Shut it. That’s not very web 2.0.)
Anyway, the person on the panel that I wanted to highlight was DJ Chela. She talked about working to combine feminism and hip hop culture. As her website says:
Beyond the realm of DJing, Chela is also a singer/songwriter, visual artist, Reiki master and aspiring fashion designer, possessing an artillery of hidden talents she promises the world will bear witness to in time. With a style and charisma that rivals her DJ skills, backed with a passionate commitment to social justice, Chela is emerging as an unstoppable young star with authenticity, originality and depth. In 2006 and beyond, as she continues to drop mixtapes, travel, perform and speak, the New Girl Order is on its way.
I’m planning to harass her until she agrees to guest post on Feministing, so hopefully you’ll be learning even more. Plus she gave me a CD, free shit always makes me happy. I don’t want to gush too much about the session because Molly missed it and I don’t want her to be sad. But I’m with the panelists that there better be a pre-planned session on Hip Hop Activism next year.
tba2007
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Great post, Jen! My state has gubernatorial elections coming up and I was so irate that women's/family issues were never addressed during the primaries.
"they mean uniting under what they decide is politically successful for the movement. In fact, I spent some time in between sessions grumbling with other attendees about it."
It's sad in my opinion how so many of the left and far left would rather be pure in opposition rather than moderate/compromise and be able to implement their policies in government
Certainly, the impotent are pure.
"Someone asked in comments why the presidential candidates should “pander’ by talking about women’s issues. They shouldn’t. It shouldn’t be pandering to talk about reproductive justice and poverty and racism to a progressive audience. It should be central to the movement."
I could not agree more. I've been trying to beat that damn drum since the 2000 election season. Wish folks had listened then. Or in 2002. Or in 2004. Or in 2006... maybe if we all get really clear on it, '08 will be the "get a clue" year? (Oh, I don't mean for the politicians - I don't believe they care enough to *want* a clue - I mean for the left, which needs to unite not under the most convenient banner but the most inclusive and fair one...)
Part of the problem is fear of alienating males....like me. As long as the Democratic party continues to cater to radical feminists like yourself and NOW, more progressives like me will continue to leave the party. btw, I do support EQUAL rights.
Hotrod: If you think the Democratic party caters to radical feminists, you know nothing about feminism. This site is dominated by what some folks consider "liberal" feminists, not radicals -- and the Democrats won't even stand up for their most basic concerns, say a fundamental right to bodily integrity.
About your perception of EQUAL rights: Consider studies in which mixed gender groups conversed. Observers thought women spoke more. Transcript analysis revealed that, in reality, men spoke significantly more.
In grad school my department chair (a man from South Carolina, no less) told us of a classroom experiment he conducted for a semester in which he called on women and men in exactly equal proportions. Despite the fact that he did this by taking turns (calling alternately on men and women), the male students complained in the course evaluations that he called on women "all the time" and clearly favored women.
Many men (and women) are so accustomed to the over-representation and overvaluing of men, they perceive equal, or even lesser, participation by or consideration for women to be frigging matriarchy.
I went to the Take Back America conference a few years ago and was stunned by the apparent complete lack of thought about diversity. I don't want to "Take Back America" if it means that a bunch of white men are still the ones in charge.
I'm excited to go to the US Social Forum next week in Atlanta, which I don't think will be like that. More than 6,000 people from grassroots groups around the country have pre-registered to attend. Check it out: http://www.ussf2007.org.