Actually thirty years ago there were teachers in the women's studies department who said EXACTLY that: "date rape has only been an issue recently and we need to focus on other things." Which was not true and even if it was, way to not show support for the sisterhood. I think it had to do with fear of losing tenure. But whatever.
The older women in the room however said various things including:
That couldn't have happened. Those women weren't really feminists anyway. Your entire generation should have made more of a fuss if it was that big a deal. You don't respect the contribution of your elders. And there were more varied versions of "How dare you" that I kind of tuned out.
Basically I suspect this panel on Intergenerational Feminism was expected to be a lovefest for the 60s era and I, lone GenXer on the panel harshed their mellow by trying to have an actual conversation about the conflicts between second and third wavers on certain issues, date rape being one of them. With a side of hey, I know this was UNC, look, it took THIRTY YEARS and the intervention of the Federal government to get this shit addressed.
And there was a slightly productive conversation after I burst into tears mind you about what happens to a movement when it starts becoming an academic subject and is therefore a product to be sold for profit and how people's ideals get watered down when suddenly their livelihoods were at stake.
But I had to get freaking hysterical first.
Oh by the way, I was also informed that there was no such thing as third wave feminism. Which judging from that panel maybe looked true.
The older women in the room however said various things including:
That couldn't have happened.
Those women weren't really feminists anyway.
Your entire generation should have made more of a fuss if it was that big a deal.
You don't respect the contribution of your elders.
And there were more varied versions of "How dare you" that I kind of tuned out.
Basically I suspect this panel on Intergenerational Feminism was expected to be a lovefest for the 60s era and I, lone GenXer on the panel harshed their mellow by trying to have an actual conversation about the conflicts between second and third wavers on certain issues, date rape being one of them. With a side of hey, I know this was UNC, look, it took THIRTY YEARS and the intervention of the Federal government to get this shit addressed.
And there was a slightly productive conversation after I burst into tears mind you about what happens to a movement when it starts becoming an academic subject and is therefore a product to be sold for profit and how people's ideals get watered down when suddenly their livelihoods were at stake.
But I had to get freaking hysterical first.
Oh by the way, I was also informed that there was no such thing as third wave feminism. Which judging from that panel maybe looked true.
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Again, I'm so sorry that happened. That's just NOT OK.
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