I just WON a Tejaswee Rao Blogging Award, and I didn’t even know I was nominated! Thank you, IHM and the community at IHM’s blog, for this wonderful honor. I’m also in the running for a cash prize which I intend to donate to if I win.
[Obligatory SQUEEEEEEEEEE break OMG OMG I won my first blogging award!]
Ahem.
The post for which I won the award (Biology vs. Culture: DEATHMATCH) got me thinking. I’ve quite stopped blogging about feminism here, haven’t I? It’s intentional. And it’s been hard. It’s one of the main reasons why I haven’t been blogging very much, because I so often want to and then I think … oh, don’t want to blog feminism again.
The reason is both ugly and stupid.
Any non-anonymous feminist blogger faces loads of vocal opposition from real-life folks who think feminism is passe or unnecessary or whiny or annoying or strident. It can often get personal: people whose opinions and friendships I value have asked me, “But why are YOU complaining so much when your life is filled with almost too much equality!” And of course my life is positively bursting with privilege so it’s churlish to respond “it is NOT”, and continue blogging as if they never said anything, even if they were completely wrong on many levels to say what they said. It’s so hard to be labeled a bitch by real-life friends! How does anybody navigate that?
That’s the ugly part.
The stupid part is where I censor myself and stop blogging just because some readers responded in a less-than-totally-thrilled fashion. Boo, hiss, get blogging, Nandini, and stop worrying about the critics. Right? I should get that tattooed on the back of my hand so it’s staring at me whenever I start to type.
Oooor I could just look at the shiny new blog award I got, and the seriously awesome post which I got the award for, and use them as both bitch-shield and inspiration to blog a lot more.
In conclusion, I would like to thank the Academy…
Congratulations and thank you for that post. I was delighted when it was chosen because it is my all time favorite post on feminism.
I think those who are living lives full of privilege are the ones who must write about it. They know how good it can be when they are not discriminated against, they know it means they want a better world for everyone.
Also those who are not free often can't blog about it, and many believe discrimination is the only way. Silence can only make injustice stronger.
Thanks IHM, for redoubling my resolve with your constant support.
Congrats. I can empathize with the things you have said here
Thanks!
Congrats girl!
As far as personal lives getting complicated because of feminist blog posts, many people started sympathizing and even commiserating with my husband that he has got such a shrewish wife!
Oh Tilo, I knowww. One recent blog post I put on FB, one guy showed up to say shit about my husband explicitly and to my face. “Jokingly”, of course. Reminds me of this.
WOOHOO! Congrats! Yeah, screw the haters
hellz yeah!
Wow this is COOL! Congrats!! didn't know you started blogging again.. abhi mujhe bhi shuru karna padega
YES, PLEASE. I miss METWOH!
Hi
I am an Indian guy,firstly let me clarify that I am all for the feminist movement in our country.Most non urban (and many urban) women do suffer under a patriarchal culture.India desperately needs the first two waves of feminism.
I follow IHM,but dont generally comment as many of them dont have the same references as I do (which you have as i discovered from your posts)however,I must say they are doing a commendable job fighting battles closer to home with concerns of Indian women.
BUT I have many issues with the gloria steinem style third wave increasing militant feminist movements mostly prevalent in western countries,especially the US.I firmly believe American men are the most exploited species of male from cradle to grave,just as firmly I believe that most Indian women suffer the worst on this side of the world.The problem is Men dont read much on these issues and at the end of the day will agree to anything if getting laid is on the line,and American (not limited to)women wield that power like shrew’s.In the west,Men freed women to a large extent in the last 40 years but forgot to free themselves.I too have read up on feminism and gender politics for many many years and feel that you have a very one sided view on many things,which is typical of a feminist.
(Recommended reading list edited out by Nandini since it contains literal hate speech. This blog is a semi safe-space for women and feminists, and I will not allow overt misogyny here.)
In the end,Men and women need look at their places in society honestly and the need of the day is a gender transition movement,When in the battle of the sexes,when either sex wins,both sexes lose.
Thank you.
It always astounds me how little some think they need to learn about feminism before they run around expressing strong opinions about it.
Practically every sentence in your comment exposes your rank ignorance. Just one example? Gloria Steinem is a foremother of second-wave feminism, not third. She has in fact made statements against third-wavers. This is such a basic mistake. You just did the equivalent of waltzing into a chemistry expert’s blog to “educate” her without knowing the difference between hydrogen and helium.
Feminism is decidedly not a “battle of the sexes”, arumugam, any more than the civil rights movement was a “battle of the races”. Until you recognize that – and I have little hope that you will, since you are so obviously an MRA – you are not welcome on this blog.
//(Recommended reading list edited out by Nandini since it contains literal hate speech. This blog is a semi safe-space for women and feminists, and I will not allow overt misogyny here.)//
This is something I do too.
Love this quotable quote:
//Feminism is decidedly not a “battle of the sexes” any more than the civil rights movement was a “battle of the races”//
I can only imagine the number of hateful messages a high-profile blogger like you must get, IHM! *shudder* Thank you for moderating so well at your blog.