At the end of October a list of 50 eye-opening Women’s Studies blogs was released and much to my surprise, Menstrual Poetry was on that list. Also to my surprise, it wasn’t just shoved at the bottom of the list with a description of something like ‘a woman who likes to spout her opinion a lot but has no idea what she’s talking about,’ which I honestly would have expected. The reason why I was so surprised is probably because I do not carry a Women’s Studies degree to wave around in the air whenever my identity as a young feminist is questioned or persecuted. In fact, I have never had any college education whatsoever and more to the point, while it has not been a topic on Menstrual Poetry, I have my GED, so I also do not have a complete high school education.
To be included in a list of Women’s Studies and feminist blogs that include staples within the feminist blogosphere like Feministe, Feministing and Shakesville, is a deeply humbling and really awesome moment, especially considering that most, if not all of the people who have founded these blogs do possess a degree of some sort and have had the opportunity to learn and lend their voices within a woman, feminist, GLBTQ-friendly Women’s Studies class.
Which brings me to another point… I think another big reason why I was so surprised to be included in the list of 50 Eye-Opening Women’s Studies blogs, which was compiled to give people who want to “compliment [their] current education with a good dose of Women’s Studies” the resources to do so, is because there is a great deal of education privilege, especially in the US. Most of the time, if you tell someone that you did not attend college or if you studied at a community college, rather than a four-year university, you are looked down upon; people often think that you are stupid, lazy, or you don’t care about your future, which is not the case in the least. The simple truth of it all is that some people have the opportunity to attend a university due to a combination of various and important factors and some people just don’t and regardless of the fact that they did not have the opportunity to experience college, these people work just as hard, if not harder, to make the best of their lives and their futures living in society.
When it comes to the feminist blogosphere, there is an insane amount of education privilege; in fact, it is Women’s Studies and English degrees in overdrive. Just look at the about or bio sections of some of your favorite feminist, womanist and humanist blogs–chances are you’ll find out what kind of degrees your favorite writers hold within the first two sentences of their bio. These bloggers also go on to write books, which you’ll probably find the titles of within the first three to four sentences of their bio and as soon as their books come out, they are appearing on daytime talk shows and are fielding political commentary on MSNBC or being put on panels to create public and social controversy on FOX News. They go on book tours and do readings in local Borders and Barnes & Nobles, they conduct speaking events at colleges around the country and immediately, they are seen and accepted as the “new face” of feminism. They are then practically handed opportunities to write for wide-reaching, influential publications in print and online alike. Now, I am not saying that these people do not deserve the credit that they have, are and will receive; they have undoubtedly worked hard for their social standing in the feminist population, but I have noticed a great deal of education privilege in the most popular of feminist web spaces and it truly bothered me.
It was quite a few months ago, but I still remember a video where a contributor of Feministing was talking about books she had currently read and while critiquing a book of poetry that was not a book of ‘feminist poems,’ but just of poetry in general, she commented on how the author of the book “obviously did not have the opportunity to attend a Women’s Studies class,” which to me, meant that she thought and was saying that the author’s book apparently could not appeal to the feminist majority because she wasn’t feminist enough. I’m sorry, but that is complete and utter bullshit and by saying that, she basically informed the young feminists who visit Feministing that they are only good to the feminist population and to their communities and to their country with a degree in hand.
Just like any other group of people who unite as one in order to achieve anything, the feminist population is one that is made up of several different types of people and it really bothers me that the perspectives, the thoughts and the opinions of a certain percentage of that population are being taken seriously or seen at all merely because of the fact that they had more opportunities than the rest. If that wasn’t bad enough, it is those same feminists who have had these opportunities and who have written books and who have appeared on television and in publications and have guest posted for the Huffington Post and Alternet and other influential publications that are the same people who are also ignoring the rest of the feminist population and who truly believe that in order to be a good feminist or a real feminist you have to have a Women’s Studies degree in your possession. The way I see it, you do not need to attend a class for however many years you are in college to teach you how to be and think like a feminist–you just are, it’s a part of your personal belief system. Your opinions of society and culture and the political-driven world we live in are not necessarily something that is taught to you.
You do not need a Women’s Studies degree in order to prove that you are a feminist; your activism says and proves a lot more.
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Love this. Thanks for speaking truth to power. Or truth to privilege, as the case may be.
This exact thing you're talking about must contribute substantially to the “I'm not a feminist, but” epidemic, don't you think? Even women too “stupid” or “lazy” to get a college degree can tell when they're being excluded…
Thank you.
feminism is not just for lovers!!!It's for everyone!!!
I TOTALLY agree with you! BTW I just tweeted this I hope that it brings you some traffic! You are right on target, I don't think it matters what you are talking about…. be it feminism…. politics…. poetry your education does not define your ability to do anything. The world is the true school. People learn be experiencing their environments in different ways. Now I am a firm supporter of education and I think it is capable of amazing things, I do have my bachelors but that doesn't matter! I work with a number of people who don't have college degree's and a number of my close friends don't have their high school diploma's and they are some of the most interesting and intelligent people that I know. The point is that it's not your title that can ever define you its your own personal choice of how you decide to experience the world that really matters. Because the only way that you can grow is through experience whether that be going to school or walking down the street and observing the world around you.
Side not – sometimes education keeps people more boxed up and open minded because many times your teachers teach think to think linearly. Whereas those that have had to teach themselves really have had the world as their teacher and are then able to process things in a more complex manner. I worked with children in Harlem NYC who's parents were drug addicts…. and they were some of the smartest children I had ever worked with because they were forced to learn themselves.
Alright I have gone off on a tangent…. LOL I like your ideas, I will be coming back to this blog for sure!!!
This is my blog if you want to check it out.
http://blog.hawtinarts.org
Thank you so, so much! I am a feminist and an activist. I am also high school drop out, have never been to college and do not have a GED. I get really frustrated with the privilege and elitism associated with higher education and how damn difficult it is for those of us who have not had access to higher ed to be taken seriously and treated with respect, even when we are in “radical” or “progressive” circles. It really concerns me that feminism has focused so much effort on the academy. What about the majority of the world that will never have the opportunity to attend a Women's studies class? I think that the elitism and focus on academia is part of why so many poor and working class women have no interest in feminism, when they otherwise would.
I am so glad to have found your blog. I look forward to reading more. It's also nice to know I am not the only one out there who has not been to college.
Feminist are for lovers not for haters!!
Collaboration and capacity-building are key strategies for promoting feminism, social justice, and positive social change. Towards this end, Ohio women’s centers have united to strategize for a new, shared vision for their work and roles in higher education.
Yes Totally this is the kinda post i love to read… freedom and equality!
you should have a click through link on that graphic.
This project is a community writing exercise for which centers around the country will participate in brainstorming sessions about what a women’s center can and should be. The philosophy statement will be inclusive of all centers and their situations. The goal of the project is to produce a 1-2 page statement of philosophy about campus women’s centers that will help guide current and new centers, and inform our work on our various campuses. When published, it will become another source that we can use to justify, support, and expand the work of women’s centers on campus.
This is a selected list of some of the more useful women's studies print resources. Check IUCAT for more options. Keep in mind that you can search for a topic and add the terms Handbooks, manuals, etc.; Dictionaries; Encyclopedias; or Bibliography to your search. If you need to find an e-book, you can also add the keywords electronic resource.
WPC provides a forum for critical discussions about diversity, multicultural education and leadership, social justice, race/racism, sexual orientation, gender relations, religion and other systems of privilege/oppression. WPC is recognized as a challenging, empowering and educational experience. The workshops, keynotes and institutes not only inform participants, but engage and challenge them, while providing practical tips and strategies for combating inequality.
WASHINGTON — In the days of pre-modern medicine, the adage was: Whatever else hospitals do, they should not spread disease. In these days of postmodern higher education, the adage is: Whatever else schools do, they should not subtract from understanding. Which brings us to the subject of “women's studies.”
A woman has great power over men. I could say that feminist are everywhere but the problem is how a woman use his power
it is true, some times people with a great education are a close mind and dont understand the problems. Feminism is important to society.your education does not define your ability to do anything, Feminism is important to society.
Thanks for sharing the good article.
I was a Women's Studies minor is college, but I know what you mean! Kinda glad to be out of academia.