I have been wanting to write about this since a long time but never was able to structure my writing enough. Now I am going ahead for fear of never writing about this because of not being able to structure my thoughts.
I am an ardent fan of TED and I believe in the new age and alternate forms of media and mass communication such as TED, Blogs, You tube. If you look at my blog list you will see that there are many blogs with names indicating Feminist viewpoints. I thought the Consortium of Pub-going, loose and forward women was an incredible initiative, when I saw Courtney Martin's TED video - Reinventing Feminism I discovered a world of such initiatives (refer blog list). Courtney is one of the editors of the blog Feministing - a blog for pro-feminist writers and activists. Oh! and April 12th is their birthday! ;-)
I know many people think Feminists are men bashers but hey! there are many women out there who need bashing too - look at Sarah Palin advocating against abortion and contraceptives and preaching abstinence and our own Poonam Pandey offering to strip for the Indian cricket team. Just Kidding!! So its not about bashing, its about bringing an inclusive perspective to things - policies and constitutions that include not only women but people of colour, different religions and origins as Courtney rightly says on her TED talk.
In spite of how much the world has changed for women we still live in a society which has pretty stereotypical images of women and men. Media, movies and Ads propagate a misogynistic view of things. Anita Sarkeesian has an interesting video blog called Feminist Frequency where she analyses and criticizes pop and media culture that stereotypes and objectifies women.
A special thought here for my Women's Writing teacher in St.Francis - Secunderabad who inspired us to analyse Indian media for female stereotyping 10 years back.
Indian media, Bollywood and Ads objectify women everyday. Women are eye candy on Axe ads, they are offering sex to men with phones, waiting patiently at altars while their grooms are driving their favourite cars and so on. The image of women that Bollywood throws at us everyday is repulsive, skimpily clad damsels in distress ready to jump into the arms of the MAN.
Anyway what I wanted to say was that women writing about media, public policies, movies and their lives and challenges is important, to see their perspective and, this perspective is essential for the world to develop a gender sensitive society and Internet blogs and videos are an excellent medium.
So Women writers around me, you inspire me everyday, Write away! Hurray to women blogging!
12 comments:
I am appalled by the way women are portrayed in media and also by some real women who objectify themselves!! loved reading you! inspired me to write also!!
Thanks Mits! I was eager to have some comments :-)
Thanks for reading! Happy you liked it!
You are such a varied writer :) I like! Plus some of the blogs on your lists I have read and I like them much.
Women and media is a scary thought for me. Just the other day, I was being told that "women" don't like to report sports. If "women" wanna grow in an organisation, it will only happen if they are willing to part with their "flower power." And that just shocked me. For people have begun to believe our sexuality is the only thing working for us. Thats just such a sad thought. I am just glad women around the world are proving these notions wrong.
You go girl!! :)
I love this post! I would like to re-publish it on my blog-- Slutty Feminist-- if that's ok with you?
To me feminism is gender neutral. I know several feminists who are men! But then again, the word feminism is so loosely defined. I haven't given much thought to feminism. I don't claim to consciously uphold the rights of a woman. I am yet to decide whether this is a good thing or bad. Will contemplate a blog about it :-). Thanks for the meme in my head babes. It will foster and will hopefully propagate.
D!! I visited your blog recently and thought it was about time you wrote! Will keep ears up for updates.
I agree with Minnums. I loved your comment babes. It is true. But I know that it is changing too. It is women like you who are harbingers of change. :-*
Bravo to Slutty Feminist. Loved your blog. Very tongue in cheek title.
Want to read more of you Mish...Keep em coming...I love TED talks too.
Slutty Feminist - So flattered you cross-posted my post! An admirer of your guts and your blog!
Sne!
Thanks for reading and for your comments :-) Waiting to read what you say on the subject.
Whats our women's writing teacher's name man?
Supriya Nair/menon....correct?
i love how aware you are about aspects you love, be it feminism or the green revolution. You inspire me babe. I love this post.
Since I am more of a begin-the-awareness-from-home kind of a person, i have to confess, i am a feminist but I cant help but be entrenched in the same gender sterotype the world around us propogates. There are so many times I find myself giving in, giving up and rationalizing to quell the voice my "feminist" opinion. Anyway its a topic with such potential for delibration. I love your writing :-)
Sne! Supriya yes! I don't remember knowing her surname though
A! I know what you mean babe! In a world like ours where changes are happening but so many things are accepted as not 'changeable'. Sometimes I have to repeat the same things so many times, that I am afraid ill stop and give up and at the same time I have given up on so many.
CHOICE, its the key word. But then again its so complex to analyse if the choice is purely our own or forcibly influenced by the thousand clichés, society serves us!
i love how aware you are about aspects you love, be it feminism or the green revolution. You inspire me babe. I love this post.
Since I am more of a begin-the-awareness-from-home kind of a person, i have to confess, i am a feminist but I cant help but be entrenched in the same gender sterotype the world around us propogates. There are so many times I find myself giving in, giving up and rationalizing to quell the voice my "feminist" opinion. Anyway its a topic with such potential for delibration. I love your writing :-)
Supriya Nair/menon....correct?
I love this post! I would like to re-publish it on my blog-- Slutty Feminist-- if that's ok with you?
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