FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY FEMINIST EDUCATION FOR CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS 23 22 sistance to the notion that much of what privileged class women had pecially geared towards youth culture.No one produces this work in identified as true to female experience might be flawed,but over academic settings.Without abandoning women's studies programs time feminist theory changed.Even though many white women which are already at risk at colleges and universities as conservatives thinkers were able to acknowledge their biases without doing the seek to undo the changes created by struggles for gender justice, work of rethinking,this was still an important shift.By the late'80s we need feminist studies that is community-based.Imagine a mass- most feminist scholarship reflected an awareness of race and class based feminist movement where folks go door to door passing out differences.Women scholars who were truly committed to feminist literature,taking the time(as do religious groups)to explain to peo- movement and feminist solidarity were eager to produce theory that ple what feminism is all about. would address the realities of most women. When contemporary feminist movement was at its peak,sexist While academic legitimation was crucial to the advancement of biases in books for children were critiqued.Books "for free chil- feminist thought,it created a new set of difficulties.Suddenly the dren"were written.Once we ceased being critically vigilant,the sex- feminist thinking that had emerged directly from theory and practice ism began to reappear.Children's literature is one of the most received less attention than theory that was metalinguistic,creating crucial sites for feminist education for critical consciousness pre- exclusive jargon;it was written solely for an academic audience.It cisely because beliefs and identities are still being formed.And more was as if a large body of feminist thinkers banded together to form often than not narrow-minded thinking about gender continues to an elite group writing theory that could be understood only by an be the norm on the playground.Public education for children has to tfin”crowd. be a place where feminist activists continue to do the work of creat- Women and men outside the academic domain were no longer ing an unbiased curriculum. considered an important audience.Feminist thinking and theory Future feminist movement must necessarily think of feminist ed- were no longer tied to feminist movement.Academic politics and ucation as significant in the lives of everyone.Despite the economic careerism overshadowed feminist politics.Feminist theory began to gains of individual feminist women,many women who have amassed be housed in an academic ghetto with little connection to a world wealth or accepted the contribution of wealthy males,who are our al- outside.Work was and is produced in the academy that is oftentimes lies in struggle,we have created no schools founded on feminist visionary,but these insights rarely reach many people.As a conse- principles for girls and boys,for women and men.By failing to cre- quence the academization of feminist thought in this manner under- ate a mass-based educational movement to teach everyone about mines feminist movement via depoliticization.Deradicalized,it is feminism we allow mainstream patriarchal mass media to remain the like every other academic discipline with the only difference being primary place where folks learn about feminism,and most of what the focus on gender. they learn is negative.Teaching feminist thought and theory to ev- Literature that helps inform masses of people,that helps indi- eryone means that we have to reach beyond the academic and even viduals understand feminist thinking and feminist politics,needs to the written word.Masses of folks lack the skills to read most femi- be written in a range of styles and formats.We need work that is es- nist books.Books on tape,songs,radio,and television are all ways to
22 FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY sistance to the notion that much of what privileged class women had identified as true to female experience might be flawed, but over time feminist theory changed. Even though many white women thinkers were able to acknowledge their biases without doing the work of rethinking, this was still an important shift. By the late '80s most feminist scholarship reflected an awareness of race and class differences. Women scholars who were truly committed to feminist movement and feminist solidarity were eager to produce theory that would address the realities of most women. While academic legitimation was crucial to the advancement of feminist thought, it created a new set of difficulties. Suddenly the feminist thinking that had emerged direcdy from theory and practice received less attention than theory that was metalinguistic, creating exclusive jargon; it was written solely for an academic audience. It was as if a large body of feminist thinkers banded together to form an elite group writing theory that could be understood only by an "in" crowd. Women and men outside the academic domain were no longer considered an important audience. Feminist thinking and theory were no longer tied to feminist movement. Academic politics and careerism overshadowed feminist politics. Feminist theory began to be housed in an academic ghetto with litde connection to a world outside. Work was and is produced in the academy that is oftentimes visionary, but these insights rarely reach many people. As a consequence the academization of feminist thought in this manner undermines feminist movement via depoliticization. Deradicalized, it is like every other academic discipline with the only difference being the focus on gender. Literature that helps inform masses of people, that helps individuals understand feminist thinking and feminist politics, needs to be written in a range of styles and formats. We need work that is esFEMINIST EDUCATION FOR CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS 23 pecially geared towards youth culture. No one produces this work in academic settings. Without abandoning women's studies programs which are already at risk at colleges and universities as conservatives seek to undo the changes created by struggles for gender justice, we need feminist studies that is community-based. Imagine a massbased feminist movement where folks go door to door passing out literature, taking the time (as do religious groups) to explain to people what feminism is all about. When contemporary feminist movement was at its peak, sexist biases in books for children were critiqued. Books "for free children" were written. Once we ceased being critically vigilant, the sexism began to reappear. Children's literature is one of the most crucial sites for feminist education for critical consciousness precisely because beliefs and identities are still being formed. And more often than not narrow-minded thinking about gender continues to be the norm on the playground. Public education for children has to be a place where feminist activists continue to do the work of creating an unbiased curriculum. Future feminist movement must necessarily think of feminist education as significant in the lives of everyone. Despite the economic gains of individual feminist women, many women who have amassed wealth or accepted the contribution of wealthy males, who are our allies in struggle, we have created no schools founded on feminist principles for girls and boys, for women and men. By failing to create a mass-based educational movement to teach everyone about feminism we allow mainstream patriarchal mass media to remain the primary place where folks learn about feminism, and most of what they learn is negative. Teaching feminist thought and theory to everyone means that we have to reach beyond the academic and even the written word. Masses of folks lack the skills to read most feminist books. Books on tape, songs, radio, and television are all ways to
24 FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY 5 share feminist knowledge.And of course we need a feminist televi- sion network,which is not the same as a network for women.Galva- nizing funds to create a feminist television network would help us spread feminist thinking globally.If we cannot own a network,let's pay for time on an existing network.After years of ownership by males who were not all anti-sexist Ms.magazine is now owned by women who are all deeply committed to feminist principles.This is a OUR BODIES,OURSELVES step in the right direction. Reproductive Rights If we do not work to create a mass-based movement which offers feminist education to everyone,females and males,feminist theory and practice will always be undermined by the negative information When contemporary feminist movement began the issues that were produced in most mainstream media.The citizens of this nation projected as most relevant were those that were directly linked to the cannot know the positive contributions feminist movement has experiences of highly educated white women(most of whom were made to all our lives if we do not highlight these gains.Constructive materially privileged.)Since feminist movement followed in the feminist contributions to the well-being of our communities and soci- wake of civil rights and sexual liberation it seemed appropriate at the ety are often appropriated by the dominant culture which then pro- time that issues around the female body were foregrounded.Con- jects negative representations of feminism.Most people have no trary to the image the mass media presented to the world,a feminist understanding of the myriad ways feminism has positively changed movement starting with women burning bras at a Miss America all our lives.Sharing feminist thought and practice sustains feminist pageant and then later images of women seeking abortions,one of movement.Feminist knowledge is for everybody. the first issues which served as a catalyst for the formation of the movement was sexuality-the issue being the rights of women to choose when and with whom they would be sexual.The sexual ex- ploitation of women's bodies had been a common occurrence in radical movements for social justice whether socialist,civil rights,etc. When the so-called sexual revolution was at its peak the issue of free love (which usually meant having as much sex as one wanted with whomever one desired)brought females face to face with the issue of unwanted pregnancy.Before there could be any gender equity around the issue of free love women needed access to safe,effective con- traceptives and abortions.While individual white women with class privilege often had access to both these safeguards,most women 25
24 FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY share feminist knowledge. And of course we need a feminist television network, which is not the same as a network for women. Galvanizing funds to create a feminist television network would help us spread feminist thinking globally. If we cannot own a network, let's pay for time on an existing network. After years of ownership by males who were not all anti-sexist Ms. magazine is now owned by women who are all deeply committed to feminist principles. This is a step in the right direction. If we do not work to create a mass-based movement which offers feminist education to everyone, females and males, feminist theory and practice will always be undermined by the negative information produced in most mainstream media. The citizens of this nation cannot know the positive contributions feminist movement has made to all our lives if we do not highlight these gains. Constructive feminist contributions to the well-being of our communities and society are often appropriated by the dominant culture which then projects negative representations of feminism. Most people have no understanding of the myriad ways feminism has positively changed all our lives. Sharing feminist thought and practice sustains feminist movement. Feminist knowledge is for everybody. 5 OUR BODIES, OURSELVES Reproductive Rights When contemporary feminist movement began the issues that were projected as most relevant were those that were directly linked to the experiences of highly educated white women (most of whom were materially privileged.) Since feminist movement followed in the wake of civil rights and sexual liberation it seemed appropriate at the time that issues around the female body were foregrounded. Contrary to the image the mass media presented to the world, a feminist movement starting with women burning bras at a Miss America pageant and then later images of women seeking abortions, one of the first issues which served as a catalyst for the formation of the movement was sexuality - the issue being the rights of women to choose when and with whom they would be sexual. The sexual exploitation of women's bodies had been a common occurrence in radical movements for social justice whether socialist, civil rights, etc. When the so-called sexual revolution was at its peak the issue of free love (which usually meant having as much sex as one wanted with whomever one desired) brought females face to face with the issue of unwanted pregnancy. Before there could be any gender equity around the issue of free love women needed access to safe, effective contraceptives and abortions. While individual white women with class privilege often had access to both these safeguards, most women 25
26 FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY OUR BODIES,OURSELVES 27 did not.Often individual women with class privilege were too The development of effective though not totally safe birth con- ashamed of unwanted pregnancy to make use of their more direct ac- trol pills (created by male scientists,most of whom were not anti- cess to responsible health care.The women of the late'60s and early sexist)truly paved the way for female sexual liberation more so than '70s who clamored for abortions had seen the tragedies of illegal abortion rights.Women like myself who were in our late teens when abortions,the misery of forced marriages as a consequence of un- the pill was first widely available were spared the fear and shame of wanted pregnancies.Many of us were the unplanned children of tal- unwanted pregnancies.Responsible birth control liberated many ented,creative women whose lives had been changed by unplanned women like myself who were pro-choice but not necessarily pro- and unwanted pregnancies;we witnessed their bitterness,their rage, abortion for ourselves from having to personally confront the issue. their disappointment with their lot in life.And we were clear that While I never had an unwanted pregnancy in the heyday of sexual there could be no genuine sexual liberation for women and men liberation,many of my peers saw abortion as a better choice than without better,safer contraceptives-without the right to a safe, conscious,vigilant use of birth control pills.And they did frequently legal abortion. use abortion as a means of birth control.Using the pill meant a In retrospect,it is evident that highlighting abortion rather than woman was directly confronting her choice to be sexually active. reproductive rights as a whole reflected the class biases of the Women who were more conscientious about birth control were of- women who were at the forefront of the movement.While the issue ten regarded as sexually loose by men.It was easier for some females of abortion was and remains relevant to all women,there were other just to let things happen sexually then take care of the "problem" reproductive issues that were just as vital which needed attention later with abortions.We now know that both repeated abortions or and might have served to galvanize masses.These issues ranged from prolonged use of birth control pills with high levels of estrogen are basic sex education,prenatal care,preventive health care that would not risk-free.Yet women were willing to take risks to have sexual help females understand how their bodies worked,to forced steril- freedom-to have the right to choose. ization,unnecessary cesareans and/or hysterectomies,and the The abortion issue captured the attention of mass media be- medical complications they left in their wake.Of all these issues in- cause it really challenged the fundamentalist thinking of Christianity. dividual white women with class privilege identified most intimately It directly challenged the notion that a woman's reason for existence with the pain of unwanted pregnancy.And they highlighted the was to bear children.It called the nation's attention to the female abortion issue.They were not by any means the only group in need of body as no other issue could have done.It was a direct challenge to access to safe,legal abortions.As already stated,they were far more the church.Later all the other reproductive issues that feminist likely to have the means to acquire an abortion than poor and work- thinkers called attention to were often ignored by mass media.The ing-class women.In those days poor women,black women included, long-range medical problems from cesareans and hysterectomies often sought illegal abortions.The right to have an abortion was not a were not juicy subjects for mass media;they actually called attention white-women-only issue;it was simply not the only or even the most to a capitalist patriarchal male-dominated medical system that con- important reproductive concern for masses of American women. trolled women's bodies and did with them anything they wanted to
26 FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY did not. Often individual women with class privilege were too ashamed of unwanted pregnancy to make use of their more direct access to responsible health care. The women of the late '60s and early '70s who clamored for abortions had seen the tragedies of illegal abortions, the misery of forced marriages as a consequence of unwanted pregnancies. Many of us were the unplanned children of talented, creative women whose lives had been changed by unplanned and unwanted pregnancies; we witnessed their bitterness, their rage, their disappointment with their lot in life. And we were clear that there could be no genuine sexual liberation for women and men without better, safer contraceptives - without the right to a safe, legal abortion. In retrospect, it is evident that highlighting abortion rather than reproductive rights as a whole reflected the class biases of the women who were at the forefront of the movement. While the issue of abortion was and remains relevant to all women, there were other reproductive issues that were just as vital which needed attention and might have served to galvanize masses. These issues ranged from basic sex education, prenatal care, preventive health care that would help females understand how their bodies worked, to forced sterilization, unnecessary cesareans and/or hysterectomies, and the medical complications they left in their wake. Of all these issues individual white women with class privilege identified most intimately with the pain of unwanted pregnancy. And they highlighted the abortion issue. They were not by any means the only group in need of access to safe, legal abortions. As already stated, they were far more likely to have the means to acquire an abortion than poor and working-class women. In those days poor women, black women included, often sought illegal abortions. The right to have an abortion was not a white-women-only issue; it was simply not the only or even the most important reproductive concern for masses of American women. OUR BODIES, OURSELVES 27 The development of effective though not totally safe birth control pills (created by male scientists, most of whom were not antisexist) truly paved the way for female sexual liberation more so than abortion rights. Women like myself who were in our late teens when the pill was first widely available were spared the fear and shame of unwanted pregnancies. Responsible birth control liberated many women like myself who were pro-choice but not necessarily proabortion for ourselves from having to personally confront the issue. While I never had an unwanted pregnancy in the heyday of sexual liberation, many of my peers saw abortion as a better choice than conscious, vigilant use of birth control pills. And they did frequently use abortion as a means of birth control. Using the pill meant a woman was directly confronting her choice to be sexually active. Women who were more conscientious about birth control were often regarded as sexually loose by men. It was easier for some females just to let things happen sexually then take care of the "problem" later with abortions. We now know that both repeated abortions or prolonged use of birth control pills with high levels of estrogen are not risk-free. Yet women were willing to take risks to have sexual freedom - to have the right to choose. The abortion issue captured the attention of mass media because it really challenged the fundamentalist thinking of Christianity. It directly challenged the notion that a woman's reason for existence was to bear children. It called the nation's attention to the female body as no other issue could have done. It was a direct challenge to the church. Later all the other reproductive issues that feminist thinkers called attention to were often ignored by mass media. The long-range medical problems from cesareans and hysterectomies were not juicy subjects for mass media; they actually called attention to a capitalist patriarchal male-dominated medical system that controlled women's bodies and did with them anything they wanted to
FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY OUR BODIES,OURSELVES 29 do.To focus on gender injustice in these arenas would have been The right of women to choose whether or not to have an abor- too radical for a mass media which remains deeply conservative and tion is only one aspect of reproductive freedom.Depending on a for the most part anti-feminist. woman's age and circumstance of life the aspect of reproductive No feminist activists in the late'60s and early'70s imagined that rights that matters most will change.A sexually active woman in her we would have to wage a battle for women's reproductive rights in 20s or 30s who finds birth control pills unsafe may one day face an the '90s.Once feminist movement created the cultural revolution unwanted pregnancy and the right to have a legal,safe,inexpensive which made the use of relatively risk-free contraceptives acceptable abortion may be the reproductive issue that is most relevant.But and the right to have a safe,legal abortion possible women simply when she is menopausal and doctors are urging her to have a hyster- assumed those rights would no longer be questioned.The demise of ectomy that may be the most relevant reproductive rights issue. an organized,radical feminist mass-based political movement cou- As we seek to rekindle the flames of mass-based feminist move- pled with anti-feminist backlash from an organized right-wing polit- ment reproductive rights will remain a central feminist agenda.If ical front which relies on fundamentalist interpretations of religion women do not have the right to choose what happens to our bodies placed abortion back on the political agenda.The right of females to we risk relinquishing rights in all other areas of our lives.In renewed choose is now called into question. feminist movement the overall issue of reproductive rights will take Sadly the anti-abortion platform has most viciously targeted precedence over any single issue.This does not meant that the push state-funded,inexpensive,and,when need be,free abortions.As a for legal,safe,inexpensive abortions will not remain central,it will consequence women of all races who have class privilege continue simply not be the only issue that is centralized.If sex education,pre- to have access to safe abortions-continue to have the right to ventive health care,and easy access to contraceptives are offered to choose-while materially disadvantaged women suffer.Masses of every female,fewer of us will have unwanted pregnancies.As a con- poor and working-class women lose access to abortion when there sequence the need for abortions would diminish. is no government funding available for reproductive rights health Losing ground on the issue of legal,safe,inexpensive abortion care.Women with class privilege do not feel threatened when abor- means that women lose ground on all reproductive issues.The tions can be had only if one has lots of money because they can still anti-choice movement is fundamentally anti-feminist.While it is have them.But masses of women do not have class power.More possible for women to individually choose never to have an abor- women than ever before are entering the ranks of the poor and indi- tion,allegiance to feminist politics means that they still are pro-choice, gent.Without the right to safe,inexpensive,and free abortions they that they support the right of females who need abortions to choose lose all control over their bodies.If we return to a world where abor- whether or not to have them.Young females who have always had tions are only accessible to those females with lots of money we risk access to effective contraception-who have never witnessed the the return of public policy that will aim to make abortion illegal.It's tragedies caused by illegal abortions-have no firsthand experience already happening in many conservative states.Women of all classes of the powerlessness and vulnerability to exploitation that will al- must continue to make abortions safe,legal,and affordable. ways be the outcome if females do not have reproductive rights
;1 28 FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY do. To focus on gender injustice in these arenas would have been too radical for a mass media which remains deeply conservative and for the most part anti-feminist. No feminist activists in the late '60s and early '70s imagined that we would have to wage a battle for women's reproductive rights in the '90s. Once feminist movement created the cultural revolution which made the use of relatively risk-free contraceptives acceptable and the right to have a safe, legal abortion possible women simply assumed those rights would no longer be questioned. The demise of an organized, radical feminist mass-based political movement coupled with anti-feminist backlash from an organized right-wing political front which relies on fundamentalist interpretations of religion placed abortion back on the political agenda. The right of females to choose is now called into question. Sadly the anti-abortion platform has most viciously targeted state-funded, inexpensive, and, when need be, free abortions. As a consequence women of all races who have class privilege continue to have access to safe abortions - continue to have the right to choose - while materially disadvantaged women suffer. Masses of poor and working-class women lose access to abortion when there is no government funding available for reproductive rights health care. Women with class privilege do not feel threatened when abortions can be had only if one has lots of money because they can still have them. But masses of women do not have class power. More women than ever before are entering the ranks of the poor and indigent. Without the right to safe, inexpensive, and free abortions they lose all control over their bodies. If we return to a world where abortions are only accessible to those females with lots of money we risk the return of public policy that will aim to make abortion illegal. It's already happening in many conservative states. Women of all classes must continue to make abortions safe, legal, and affordable. OUR BODIES, OURSELVES 29 The right of women to choose whether or not to have an abortion is only one aspect of reproductive freedom. Depending on a woman's age and circumstance of life the aspect of reproductive rights that matters most will change. A sexually active woman in her 20s or 30s who finds birth control pills unsafe may one day face an unwanted pregnancy and the right to have a legal, safe, inexpensive abortion may be the reproductive issue that is most relevant. But when she is menopausal and doctors are urging her to have a hysterectomy that may be the most relevant reproductive rights issue. As we seek to rekindle the flames of mass-based feminist movement reproductive rights will remain a central feminist agenda. If women do not have the right to choose what happens to our bodies we risk relinquishing rights in all other areas of our lives. In renewed feminist movement the overall issue of reproductive rights will take precedence over any single issue. This does not meant that the push for legal, safe, inexpensive abortions will not remain central, it will simply not be the only issue that is centralized. If sex education, preventive health care, and easy access to contraceptives are offered to every female, fewer of us will have unwanted pregnancies. As a consequence the need for abortions would diminish. Losing ground on the issue of legal, safe, inexpensive abortion means that women lose ground on all reproductive issues. The anti-choice movement is fundamentally anti-feminist. While it is possible for women to individually choose never to have an abortion, allegiance to feminist politics means that they still are pro-choice, that they support the right of females who need abortions to choose whether or not to have them. Young females who have always had access to effective contraception - who have never witnessed the tragedies caused by illegal abortions - have no firsthand experience of the powerlessness and vulnerability to exploitation that will always be the outcome if females do not have reproductive rights
30 FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY Ongoing discussion about the wide range of issues that come under 6 the heading of reproductive rights is needed if females of all ages and our male allies in struggle are to understand why these rights are important.This understanding is the basis of our commitment to keeping reproductive rights a reality for all females.Feminist focus on reproductive rights is needed to protect and sustain our freedom. BEAUTY WITHIN AND WITHOUT Challenging sexist thinking about the female body was one of the most powerful interventions made by contemporary feminist move- ment.Before women's liberation all females young and old were so- cialized by sexist thinking to believe that our value rested solely on appearance and whether or not we were perceived to be good look- ing,especially by men.Understanding that females could never be liberated if we did not develop healthy self-esteem and self-love feminist thinkers went directly to the heart of the matter-critically examining how we feel and think about our bodies and offering con- structive strategies for change.Looking back after years of feeling comfortable choosing whether or not to wear a bra,I can remember what a momentous decision this was 30 years ago.Women stripping their bodies of unhealthy and uncomfortable,restrictive clothing- bras,girdles,corsets,garter belts,etc.-was a ritualistic,radical re- claiming of the health and glory of the female body.Females today who have never known such restrictions can only trust us when we say that this reclaiming was momentous. On a deeper level this ritual validated women wearing comfort- able clothing on all levels in our lives.Just to be able to wear pants to work was awesome to many women,whose jobs had required them to be constantly bending and stooping over.For women who had 31
30 FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY Ongoing discussion about the wide range of issues that come under the heading of reproductive rights is needed if females of all ages and our male allies in struggle are to understand why these rights are important. This understanding is the basis of our commitment to keeping reproductive rights a reality for all females. Feminist focus on reproductive rights is needed to protect and sustain our freedom. 6 BEAUTY WITHIN AND WITHOUT Challenging sexist thinking about the female body was one of the most powerful interventions made by contemporary feminist movement. Before women's liberation all females young and old were socialized by sexist thinking to believe that our value rested solely on appearance and whether or not we were perceived to be good looking, especially by men. Understanding that females could never be liberated if we did not develop healthy self-esteem and self-love feminist thinkers went directly to the heart of the matter - critically examining how we feel and think about our bodies and offering constructive strategies for change. Looking back after years of feeling comfortable choosing whether or not to wear a bra, I can remember what a momentous decision this was 30 years ago. Women stripping their bodies of unhealthy and uncomfortable, restrictive clothingbras, girdles, corsets, garter belts, etc. - was a ritualistic, radical reclaiming of the health and glory of the female body. Females today who have never known such restrictions can only trust us when we say that this reclaiming was momentous. On a deeper level this ritual validated women wearing comfortable clothing on all levels in our lives. Just to be able to wear pants to work was awesome to many women, whose jobs had required them to be constantly bending and stooping over. For women who had 31