Why Feminism Matters: Laughing At What Is Ridiculous, Not Laughing At What Is Not

Arts Matters Forum: WHY FEMINISM MATTERS

Monday 22^nd March 2010 6:30pm Seymour Centre/ York Theatre

If there is one thing I came away with from attending this lecture, it is that the importance of feminisms is ever increasing and reclamation of the word is dire. This panel, made up of 5 leading international political scientists along with Australian academics and researchers, sought to discuss the state of contemporary feminism. With focus on; How far women have come in terms of political leadership and shaping the public policy agenda? Do men and women do politics differently? Do women have different interests to men and how should these be incorporated into political decision-making? How might contemporary feminism contribute to improving women’s position in politics?

The forum discussed the hopes and responsibilities of a new generation of feminists. Examples were made of Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin of who were criticized for their lack of feminist progression in their political careers. It was important for these characters to emerge as it gave light to feminism and its goal in shaping political agenda. Issues of legitimacy, women’s presence in powerful institutions and symbolically in politics were brought to air as each panel member took turns in staking their claims and history as feminists. Here there was a re-reading of the invisibility of women and the necessity of a new gender discourse that is inclusive and not limited to the academic world. With this new discourse, it was suggested; the ideas of today’s society can be brought into the community.

American panel member Mary Fainsod Katzenstein, Professor of American Studies and Government at Cornell University introduced the idea of American Exceptionalism, taking a Materialist Feminist worldview on feminsms battle with capitalism where “the market rules”. Here the problem of the commodification of female sexuality was discussed putting emphasis on ‘supporting a punitive response to violence against women.’ Katzenstein is hopeful stating; “…despite its problems, feminism is active…. there’s real power in feminism in the states.”

In the UK, apparently, signs are very mixed. There is a resurgence featuring a lot of cyber activity suggesting the ‘green shoots’ of feminism. Women’s representation is ‘good’ across the board with UK women ‘feminsing their partners.’ Su Goodwin, senior lecturer in the Faculty of Social Work and Education at the University of Sydney insists that we still have gendered divisions and gender divided workforces. Goodwin explains gendered ordering, where the masculine is valued over the feminine. Goodwin suggests maybe trying to think of the ‘over representation of men instead of the under representation of women.’ She goes on to add that ‘instead of having women in leadership courses we should have men doing mediocrity courses.’ Goodwin also reaffirms the need for institutional change, a point I had previously not considered, but have realised this is where the big changes need to happen. This realization has shifted my own creative and theoretical focus as a feminist.

Rebecca Huntley is an Australian writer and social researcher. Her input was most theoretically progressive. She believes we have made progress and highlights the need to reflect on where we’ve come from and use it as strength for the future. One panel member remembers Helen Reddies ‘I am woman’ because “Her mother would sing it whilst doing the vaccumming.”

She points out unrecognized class separation and an obsession with what women look like. She also points to a need to recognize the gay community and work on changing absurd inequality that exists within its viewing, highlighting the relationship to queer theory and feminism.

Huntley believes we must be fighting at a local level and that ‘not everyone is a feminist now.’ As a spectator I am enlightened and reminded about placing feminism in a political sphere that isn’t just about gender. Huntley argues for progressive behaviours where we reject the media’s definition of feminism. She carefully silences non-believers in the crowd and suggests that you are not labelling yourself by being feminist, but seeing yourself as part of a cultural phenomenon. Here, we question how we might mobilize so institutional figureheads are forced to make changes. The forum was also a great mechanism for realizing the importance of a higher prominence of feminist politics in education. Where feminism is active and accurately taught, not just represented in a misleading, demonizing stereotyped manner, which happened to be my educational experience of the ideology.

Questions of how to empower yourself daily in the absence of autonomy, where we might as a community of feminists, infiltrate all avenues for change. The forum encouraged spectators to think very broadly about what feminism means and how to keep making it work in a conservative repressive era. Combating the masculine backlash to feminism and asking what equality really means?

Panel members insisted that we must continue to ask awkward questions, to speak unspeakable truths and realise, though, it manifests through the responsible individual, problems are systemic. Harnessing the power of words and the continual questioning of an apparent democracy can make obvious that women’s issues are the issues of society as a whole and citizens have a responsibility. In Australia, the claim was made that; women are not recognized as full citizens.

Huntley adds ‘We must laugh at what is ridiculous and not laugh at what is not.’ Feminism has to navigate a way to make people accountable for their actions at the same time as changing the mechanism that is allowing prejudice to continue. Perhaps what becomes clear about the theory of feminisms, through this forum that placed the theory within a larger scale of theories; globalization, industrialization, capitalism etc, is that now, we must claim feminism and all of it’s history, conflicting and all, to reclaim it’s universal objectives of equality and freedom.