A few useful quotes to be bookmarked into the feminist logbook:
”Born on third base and thinking they hit a home run.”
Saw this somewhere on a Jezebel comment board and know I’ll be using it again and again. I can appreciate ambition and industrious work ethic, but few things irk me more than those who preach the pull-up-your-bootstraps-nose-to-the-grindstone-work-hard-and-prosper school of thought without acknowledging the position of privilege that contributed to their success. This neoliberalist attitude fails to acknowledge existing structures that elevate particular individuals and oppress others. I like this metaphor because it crunches theory into a simple accessible statement. Maybe it’s finally the bridge between my feminism and my sports-loving brother (any suggestions on how to make it hockey or football related)?
“Each snowflake in an avalanche pleads not guilty.” -Stanislaw J. Lec
This is all sorts of poignant to me. Not having thrown the big stones ourselves, t’s easy to deny our responsibility in social injustice, but it’s crucial that we carefully examine our own part in racism/sexism/classism/etc. What assumptions do we let go unexamined? What are our positions of privilege? What are our historical implications in injustice? When studying or working in areas of social justice, we sometimes slip into habits of wagging our fingers at the “bad guys” because it’s easier than acknowledging our own unquestioned beliefs. It’s hard to admit you’re part of the problem, but it’s the first step in creating change and breaking the system.
“If I can’t dance to it, it’s not my revolution.” -Emma Goldman
I’ve known this one for awhile but I’m officially adopting it as my life philosophy. Just gimme a beat.
