DOING FEMINISM: Not so hard*

Many times I'ive tried to do this again-- adapt the little 1977 booklet from my days in Baltimore's NOW (National Organization for Women) to lives of older women.

Several tries--Gray Panthers, The Transition Network-- had not sparked enthusiasm.    Then I saw a notice in the New York City NOW newsletter earlier this year about a group starting with a focus on "senior women."

At the first meeting we talked about why we were there--support mostly.  A couple of us were interested in action/advocacy projects.  Not one to miss an opportunity, I'd brought along the 1977 booklet, suggested we update it.  We have done that.  Questions Women Over 55 Should Ask Their Doctors is a one-page flyer and was featured in the Spring 2008 issue of "WhatNOW," the chapter's hard copy quarterly publication.

The most challenging part?  Locating photos of older women doctors/healthcare providers (not blonde)  to use in the flyer.

We briefly addressed three areas:

-- Preparing for a visit to the doctor;

--Questions to ask during the visit;

--Getting the information you need before you leave.

Finally, we invite women to join our renamed "Boomer and Senior Women's Network," which has a place on the chapter website.  Each of us took copies of the new flyer to distribute--laundry rooms in our buildings, senior centers.  At the meeting this week, a 79 year old actress who described herself as a radical feminist was among four new members. 

Who are we?  Besides the actress and myself, there may be one or two others who'd use the f-word to self-describe.  In many ways we are as varied as women in 1966 when NOW, this very chapter, was founded.  "This is my first time at anything like this," was a comment that surprised me.  Only the actress and I have longtime histories with NOW.  Among the twelve of us we're different colors, transplants to the U.S., former teachers-- of course.  "We need to do consciousness-raising around aging," was a suggestion you would not have heard in the sixities!

*This post is dedicated to Katha Pollitt who this week in The Nation magazine ended her column, with a plea, "Feminism, please call home!"  So glad that I'd had this woman-affirming experience before I read "Backlash Spectacular" on the source of her distress.

Washington University (St. Louis) is about to give Phyllis Schlafly, the anti-feminist, an honorary degree.  Good grief, that awful conservative. Only other place I've seen about it is WomensEnews as one of their Jeers of the week.  WashU was a politically regressive institution in the 1940s and 50s when I lived there; old habits die hard.  Cheers to graduating students and faculty who plan to protest.

   

Comments

[vuee]

I have trouble believing the honorary (?) degree, too. Whatever happened to the revolution?

How much of the absence of the F-word you and I would both use is due to the practice of some years now for the other f-word to substitute as a marker of "equality"? There are too many young women, in my opinion, who believe that drinking too much, anonymous sex, and using bad language or language that offends others in one's company are signs of liberation. I can't recall who said this (many years ago) but one woman writer mentioned why she never used the widespread f-word because it always carries the implication that one person is the f-er and one is the f-ee and guess who always gets to be the f-ee in the tangible world? The word as emblem can therefore never be liberating.

[naomi dagen bloom]

reply to vuee,

clarification...the "f-word" here refers to "feminist." the idea emerged about 20 years ago that speaking aloud about feminism had become as volatile as the other f-word-- which i'd never use on my blog. unless mc cain becomes president. at which point i might move up north in your direction.

there's also http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog, a feminist blog from the united kingdom, as they say.

[vuee]

I muddied the waters. That's what I thought you meant. And a very clever means to express why feminist is unheard of in polite society while the four-letter one is too often not (unheard of).

I do remember what happened to some of the revolution-- in answer to the question of "where is the place of women in the revolution?", one male leader (maybe SNCC?) replied, "Underneath"

[joared]

Vuee is surely right, "There are too many young women, in my opinion, who believe that drinking too much, anonymous sex, and using bad language or language that offends others in one's company are signs of liberation."

This day and age I'm tempted to say, "What feminist revolution?" as young women today seem so far removed from it all -- not really realizing how much more is needed.

[Sandra]

The flyer "Ten Questions Women Over 55 Should Ask Their Doctors" sounds very interesting. Too bad there is no information on where to get a copy.