Buffy, Riley (yes, Riley) and Spike (1/2): Not-Entirely Random (Feminist) Ramblings

[red_satin_doll]

When it comes to BtVS, I'd promised myself that I would not write on my own journal here about subjects that are generally quite well-worn and have been discussed at length - and with great intellegence - by other people. Nevermind that I'll rant or blather at length about a variety of subjects (the comics, the episode AYW, etc etc) on other people

Comments

[norwie2010]

Believe me, it wasn't an easy journey to reach the point were i even SAW the problem! I grew up on the male narrative: the Greek tragedies, the Elisabethian drama and the North-European/German myths and tragedies (the Nibelung Song was the first time i actually stopped and thought: these two women - Brunhild and Kriemhild - are really treated unfairly - both, by the male characters as well as the story).

When i finally found my own identity as someone who wants to see all of mankind equal and free i started to read up on other people who work(ed) for the same goal.

I'm heavily influenced by the works of Alexandra Kollontai who worked her whole life for the liberation of mankind, and the liberation of women in particular.

Still, i'm ambivalent about myself, so to speak: It is easy to "talk the talk" when i'm never forced to "walk the walk": I'm privileged in more ways than one (white, male, former European middle class).

But since i perceive inequality and oppression to be the gravest problems in our world my solidarity with women and the women's liberation movement comes quite naturally. In fact, the oppression of 51% of the world's populace based on gender (and perceived gender) alone is one of the worst - or even the absolute worst - betrayals humans do to each other.

There you have it. And now i exposed my (political) views even more. ;-)

[eilowyn]

(is super embarrassed because I've been in fandom with you for years and never knew you were a dude. My apologies, it's just amazingly rare - and just amazing! - to hear a guy be so articulate on what are seen as women's issues.)

[red_satin_doll]

it's just amazingly rare - and just amazing! - to hear a guy be so articulate on what are seen as women's issues

AMEN.

The worst (just as bad?) part is, there are amazingly few women who are articulate on women's issues as well.

My hope in the end is that the various "factions" and groups can see that oppression is oppression, whatever the specific forms it takes, the paradigm is always the same; and get over the "my pain is worse than yours" game in order to come together. (I can't decide anymore if I'm an optimist or pessimist in that regard.)

[red_satin_doll]

Please, expose away, and thank you for your comments. ;) One thing that's been very important for me, perhaps a key touchstone in shaping my thinking, was learning that for centuries "knowledge" about "how things should be" were generally nothing more than commonly-held and agreed upon opinions. For me part of feminism is being honest about where I come from in any of my views/opinions: that I can state my truth, but it may not be anyone else's.

But since i perceive inequality and oppression to be the gravest problems in our world my solidarity with women and the women's liberation movement comes quite naturally.

I still find that amazing/admirable that you made the effort to really examine your priviledge; which means you may well have thought about it more than most women actually have. Thank you for that.

My own feminism seems to come naturally, for some reason; my mother wasn't a feminist although she was a strong woman, so there were no manuals or theories in the house when I was growing up. The Catholic Church was actually a huge catalyst for my feminism - the notion that women couldn't be allowed to be priests, that we were "less than" struck me as unfair and absurd when I was a little girl.) Sadly my real life choices are often incongruent with my political beliefs. Something to work on.

As I mentioned in my response to eilowyn below, I really hope that we can ALL lay down our "my pain is worse than yours" badges, and come together to examine and change the current paradigms in a truly fundamental way. Until that happens, no real change can occur IMO. For instance, I once took a class in Deaf World politics, and noted the similarities in the ways GLBT's and Deaf people have historically dealt with oppression - and the oppression of the Deaf, being robbed of their native languages, is a tragedy and a waste of human potential of epic proportions. (Interestingly I was one of five or six GLBT students in that class.) And my teacher said "we've been oppressed more". I kept my mouth shut after that - I knew there was no point in an arguement - but what I wanted to say was "When did this become a contest and is this a prize we really want to compete for?"

I've not heard of Alexandra Kollontai, I shall have to look her up. Is she a writer as well as activist? I wonder if her work is available in English if that's the case.