Hi everyone! My name is Jamie. I’m a sophomore English communications major at Umass Dartmouth from New Bedford Massachusetts.
I’m studying Eco Feminism / Women and Gender Studies because I feel very passionate about intersectional feminism and true equality for all. It’s the core of what we need for a society that is efficient and just. I am eager to expand my knowledge in this area of society as it’s really important!
One blogger that caught my eye was “Angry Girl Feminist.” I was immediately drawn to her name and it stood out to me the most because of it’s originality to all the other blogpost titles and users. Her article: “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” was intriguing because of the passion that was so clear in her writing. I liked her introduction which gave a preface to the history of women’s oppression through gender roles in society. This same passion and knowledge is something I would like to portray within my own writing.
However, one thing I had an issue with in this article is AngryGirl’s negatively connotated usage of the term “homosexual.” Prejudice or homophobia of any kind is something that I will absolutely steer clear of in my writing (obviously).
One environmental issue that is relevant to where I live, as well as anywhere in the world, is climate change. Climate change is a huge threat to society and to the world as we all know it, and it’s only getting worse. Scientists say that we have until 2030 to reverse the damage before it is too late – and we will face severe consequences. I would like to see more activism about climate change not just where I live, but also everywhere in the world.
Hi Jamie,
Great post regarding the blog on “Angry Girl Feminist”. To me the title “Mr. Goodbar” says it all; a woman looking for a piece of action, or so to speak. Men was always able to express themselves sexually but women were persecuted for self expression, especially when it came to sex. Although this story was not that long ago, I feel like these are issues women still face today. Even with the “me too” movement bringing some of these issues to light, there is a whole lot of work yet to be done.
To your point on the author’s use of the word “homosexual” sounds mean and is not one I would use to describe a gay man. However, I feel that’s what distinguishes the blog “Angry Feminist”, as she expresses her feelings toward a man who is exploring his own sexuality but turns around and kills a woman for exploring hers.
Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading more of what you have to say 🙂
Hello Jamie,
Yes, sometimes radical feminists do not accept transwomen and homosexuals into their feminist groups. I learned that last semester during my Intro to Feminist Theory course. It surprised me as well. Being an Intersectional feminist, such as yourself, I’ve found I’m always shocked regarding what feminist groups decide to find abhorrent. I see feminism like you do, that no one should be rejected, that all are included no matter their history, personal pronoun, present situation. If we all embrace one another and help lift one another up, we all win. I had a long conversation this past summer with a transwoman. She said being a man until she was 30 gave her such insight into the behavior she had as a male. She regrets some on the interactions with other women when she was a he and now speaks up immediately if she sees a male disrespecting a female. In a way, she sees it as her penance and also the right thing to do. That alone is enough to embrace and accept her into my realm. Looking at, listening to, understanding each individual gives them power to speak up, to strive for good and to help others. Keep up the great work!
Wow! I had never heard about the 2030 prediction and it kind of scares me… I will definitely do my research on this because 2030 is only 10 years away!!!
So I looked this up and read an article on CNN.com from 2018 and it says that climate change in already happening and some of the results are more extreme weather, rising sea levels, and diminishing Arctic sea ice, among others. It also says that if warming is kept under 1.5 degrees C, this would be enough to have significant positive results worldwide. This is a serious issue!!! This news came out in 2018 and I hadn’t heard about it, which means that this is not being talked about enough. What are we going to do to fix our planet before 2030? We’re definitely not doing enough…
Hi Jamie. Something I have learned while pursuing my major in Women’s and Gender Studies is to be conscious of the differences of other identities and struggles of the oppression people face. You mentioned intersectionality and I have learned that is a very important aspect of gender studies.
I think the threat of climate change is not taken as seriously by some people as it should be. I believe the changes we are seeing of climate change are not necessarily recognized by some to be an “effect” of climate change, which enables them to ignore or discredit the issue. I truly believe for change to happen it has to come “from the top” so to speak. As much as we may think we have a say in what happens corporations and politics control what happens in our country solely in regard to capital gain. When I did a small amount of research I learned that the top 15 U.S. food and beverage companies generate nearly 630 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year https://www.nrdc.org/experts/josh-axelrod/corporate-honesty-and-climate-change-time-own-and-act and that number doesn’t include top production corporations such as Pfizer or Proctor and Gamble. Of course there are some regulations set forth to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but corporations regularly find loopholes to avoid penalty. You will find more information on P& G’s avoidance of environmental responsibility on the website link above. Thank you for bringing up such an important issue!