'Filling the Gaps' - the 'calling out' culture and feminist blogs

[thisglasnost]

You have a right to be respected in feminist spaces, but you do not have the right to constant and full validation. It is not the job of any blogger to cater fully and comprehensively to your particular interests and perspectives. It is not their job to represent Feminism exactly as you want it represented; it is not their job to do Feminism

Comments

TW For References to Rape, Slut-Shaming & Sex Work

[teleens_journal]

I think it depends upon for what the person is being 'called out'. And therein lies the problem that I think a lot of people have: where to draw the line between activism and calling out to make oneself feel good about doing so. I wouldn't be as active as I am today if someone hadn't called ME out on misogynistic language a while back, because it forced me to really look at our culture and how it perceives women

Re: TW For References to Rape, Slut-Shaming & Sex Work

[midoskeek]

It's amazing how you turned this post into all about you.

Re: TW For References to Rape, Slut-Shaming & Sex Work

[teleens_journal]

I apologize. Please disregard my comment.

Re: TW For References to Rape, Slut-Shaming & Sex Work

[maynardsong]

+1

[starbooks]

"Privilege analysis is crucial to feminist activism, but it isn’t activism in and of itself. If the analysis is self-flagellation in order to prove that you’re A Good _____ rather than introspection in order to actually be a better ______, it’s not even really helpful. If privilege analysis is a weapon that you wield in order to either establish yourself as superior to those who aren’t as “open” about their privilege, or that you use to beat down the perspectives and comments of a person who you believe is either not oppressed enough to deserve to engage in the conversation or isn’t letting enough blood to prove themselves worthy of engagement, it’s actively harmful."

I liked this. It's a problem I see online but not in real-world activism.

[myswtghst]

I liked this quote, as well. While there is value in calling out, and I hate to police how others express their frustration (especially those who are not privileged in the same ways I am, and therefore may be less willing / able to "just deal with it" or "deal with it productively"), sometimes it feels like there's a whole lot of yelling, especially from self-professed allies, whose energy could be better spent in ways that promote change.

[mybluesunset]

Agreed.

[3dog]

I think I disagree with this overall.

I think callouts are a good thing. Yes, they seem to shut down voices, however the voices they are shutting down are typically ignorant, if not hateful. When someone has said something hurtful to me I don't usually go out of my way to "nicely" let them know, and I wouldn't expect someone else to grant me that courtesy either.

People who get called out on something are usually coming from some place of privilege (wrt what they're talking about) and they might find being called out online surprising when they've never been called out irl. I think this comes from the fact that the anonymity the internet grants diffuses fear and anxiety that would be coupled with an irl call out, which is why they are so prevalent on the blogosphere. In a way the internet is one of the few places where you can safely call a person out and discuss privilege-owning.

basically I think calling out is a good thing overall.

[dayswithbunnies]

I think these are basically my thoughts too.

[misters]

yeah i don't quite understand where the shutting people down argument is coming from. the people being called out are generally the ones whose voices are unnecessary anyway, which is why they're being called out in the first place. there's always the risk that after a privileged person is called out they'll get all huffy and decide they don't want anything to do with this after all, but it's unfair to expect the [usually marginalized] person doing the calling out to downplay their hurt feelings for the sake of making it more palatable.

[leastconcern]

I agree. I also think this was a cop-out from Feministe to cover their own asses about not promoting a book. I also like how they basically blame the author for -wanting- to promote their book, because in reality it is EXTREMELY common for WOC to be left out in feminist circles, and Jessica Yee's book discusses that. It was like she was poo-pooing the efforts of Yee and the other authors in that anthology for their WOC voices being heard.

I am indigenous, and tweet-friends with Yee and I am actually planning on doing a review for the book at Womanist Musings. I didn't see Yee say anything negative, but her FANS definitely saw and called Feministe out on their shit.

[sfrlz]

I think I can both agree and disagree with this.

On one hand, I don't see how callouts not being the "best" activist tool doesn't mean they're a good thing, or necessary. Yes, there are more effective ways to share ideas - and it's easy to sit behind a computer and talk about everything and never have to take action IRL. But I don't see why we can't do both... the author here says we are shutting down voices rather than raising each other up, but I do think it's possible (and necessary) to shut down ignorant voices while still allowing non-ignorant (can't think of a better word) voices to be heard. I *like* knowing that people are going to be called out, and that it's safe to call people out, because in real life it rarely happens and it's frustrating

[apricotflower]

the second part of your comment is spot on

[sweetgingertea]

seconded.

[___closetome]

That enables lots of individual back-patting, which is fine, but it’s also a recipe for a totally useless and ultimately self-defeating movement.

Bingo.