Through a feminist filter was a long, often painful process. And necessary. Like this young women, there were no feminist role models for me, only life experiences--some very ugly--and opinions built on them. Thank god I liked to read.
It's one of the reasons I don't watch much TV, and have odd taste in movies. I pick my battles in media, choosing to reject a lot of it, depending on the stupid quotient--say "Sex and the City" and that ridiculous (to me) obsession with shoes, among its other flaws. I can watch and enjoy some equal opportunity stupid, or simply something ironic about life and the way we live it that because it takes the sting out, just a bit.
A feminist filter, much like a liberal, or progressive or Democratic one, has a huge influence not only what I think but how I think. Like any other filter depending on circumstances, (only much more so) a feminism filter can leave you isolated. Which is why, I think social media, with all its flaws has has helped feminist causes with young women blogging, Facebooking, organizing, connecting. Exchanging ideas.
And We get to be global.
Women like this blogger (women everywhere)are under tremendous pressure to conform to conventional ideas, it's like walking through a long mirrored hall with many slightly different doors you and your self image is constantly reflected back to you, who you are, the choices you make-- or even have. What door to open.
Shutting up isn't an option. Everything I am comes from that filter, a filter that includes a lot of self reflection, in fact, the lions share of societal reflection in matters of gender rests on any feminist, because we started the fire, we force the dialog, in a terribly sexist and misogynist society. I agree with this young woman so much, and I'm happy she is able to articulate what she did so well, in the terms she did. What I like best is she is seemingly lighthearted in tone yet she packs a powerful message.
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