I could speculate about where the anger has gone from the feminist movement (there are lots of theories, right). And you’re right that there is so much to be outraged about, for people to be taking to the streets…and we’re not.

But I do have to say that the problem with outrage is that it doesn’t sustain you. Outrage leads to exhaustion and withdrawal. So for me, I think that there is actually a necessity in committing outrageous acts (as Gloria Steinem calls them) that are fun (and in many instances, it *is* fun to flout gender conventions) as a way of feeding the soul, so that one can go back to getting educated and, well, being outraged. Know what I mean?

Thanks again for getting this conversation started!

I want to echo Judy & Penelope re speaking out for women in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, Congo…etc. We must pressure the Obama administration to make the human rights of women central to their negotiations with key countries. We Who Are Freer Must Speak Out. If you read the comments posted thus far, you can see that even as far as women in this country have come we are not equal and we are not protected by the laws of our own country. There is much work to do here in the United States. However, the lives of women in the countries I’ve mentioned are horrific and they are suffering severe deprivation of their human rights. We must not let the U.S. government throw the rights of women under the bus in order to establish a fragile, possibly even illusive peace with Afghanistan or Pakistan.

I’ve spent the better part of today writing to feminists, asking who will join me in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Very few women have even bothered to answer my emails. I’m a grassroots activist feminist and I must tell you that I am not waiting for this Commission or for the Council on Women and Girls to solve problems of economic or political parity, or even to settle the issue of a woman’s right to control her own sexuality. In order for government to be responsive to our needs, our vision of what we’re entitled to, we must keep the pressure on and continue to enlarge the conversation so that there cannot be any privileging of one group of women over another. My feminism is global; I feel as connected to the suffering of women in Iran who are stoned to death for adultery as I do to pregnant teenagers in the Bronx or single mothers in Georgia. There are many ways to suffer in this world and I wouldn’t presume to tell any woman that my suffering is more deserving of attention than hers. BUT, I am losing sleep over women who are slaves to their husbands, who suffer severe violence for leaving their home unattended by a male relative, who are forbidden all of the freedoms we in America take for granted. The women’s movement here in the U.S. could use some juice, in my opinion. I’ve written about this recently on Fem2.0’s blog and my own blogs. I still think there’s plenty to be OUTRAGED about! I see that Gloria Steinem and Ms. Foundation are asking women to “do something outrageous and have fun doing it…”

Say what? That’s what women’s movement is now? Have fun doing it? Look, I’m not gonna bash Gloria Steinem or Ms., but that is not where I’m coming from! Do I have to throw a party for women to get outraged about their unequal protection under the laws? Really? If you’re not outraged, you have lived a lucky, lucky life, sisters. Or maybe you’re in denial. It’s time to get outraged and push back against institutions that define us as less than fully human with complete parity and the power to self-determination. Where is the outrage?

I’m suggesting that you Google images of women being stoned to death. You can also view the recent video of a girl being flogged in public, and if her screams don’t turn you inside out, then go get a pedicure…and don’t forget your latte! Come on, people! And there is so much more violence systematically directed at women all around the world! Why isn’t this front and center every night on the news? There was more coverage on mainstream media about the captain held hostage by Somali pirates than you will ever see about violence against women on primetime news! And the story that was touted about Captain Phillips wasn’t even true! He did not volunteer to be a hostage! It’s just the same old same old, sisters! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up and get mad!!!!!!!!!!!

You can leave your comments on any of my blogs. I invite you to read where I come from. http://patriarchaldisorder.blogspot.com http://madamaambi.blogspot.com http://feministadvisoryboard.blogspot.com http://needia.blogspot.com

yours in outrage and sisterhood,
MadamaAmbi

And David, thanks for your comments. Something I’ve been thinking about for a while is that the Canadian counterpart to NOW (or what could be considered its counterpart) was called the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. In the 1990s, they were an important force for political organizing, and had quite a vocal presence on the national political stage. Now they don’t even have a website. This is one particular problem we’re facing here.

David–I appreciate your thoughts on this, too. I just wanted to say that the future of the movement is in the young women and men who get involved, but I’m not young. I’m 55. I don’t think there’s a vacuum of leadership–I think there are many, many leaders, in fact. But how we work together to further our common cause is what I’m asking people to address.

much energy and time was spent running just to stay in the same place.
Now we have a new Presdident in Mr Obama. to be honest I have seriousa doubts on his ability to make real and progressive change. Just in the news is the Interent security act giving the president power to shut down the interent.
Plus the obama administration is going into court in support of the Bush policies on spying on regular citizens phone calls and e-,mails. And the Obama administratoin is citing “state secrets” as to be above the possiblity of a lawsuit. Excuse me Mr Obama, but that was not on the brouchure. So now as feminists we have to decide to take on a popular democratic president that almost all progressvie groups endorsed, including NOW.
NOW is electing new leaders this summer and only 1 slate of 4 has announced there candidacy. Vacuum part 2.
I am hopefull that a new and young group of women-feminists will emerge and demand real change and forward looking thinking from the progressive movement and if needed become the leadership of those groups.

thanks for listening

in unity
david s