Over the last thirteen months I have been to an extraordinary number of gala events. Actually more than I have been to in the previous 58 years. There is something peculiar about such events and I have really struggled with what it is. Fundamentally, it may just be answered in the question, “Who are these events for?”
Mostly these events are a meeting place where the workers of the Feminist Waves in the American Women’s Movement meet. What is repulsive, literally, is that stars of the past dazzle the street activists with no visible shame for the implicit elitism. Five college students pool their funds to buy gas and drive through Taco Bell to clap and adore sequined speakers on the stage; and what do they learn? Difference. They learn hierarchy and difference.
Over the last week I have contemplated what would I have done if it was mine to design. First, the registration table would have been entirely staffed by the most renown people of the event. Can you even imagine what would be the lasting impact for a 20 year old feminist to slowly spell her name for Gloria Steinem to check off the list? Or to wait in line to have Peg Yorkin welcoming her to the event? Consider if a Senator or Congresswoman was standing with clipboard and pen, asking if you need direction?
I would have made two colors of tickets and directed people to sit next to someone with a different color ticket. Free tickets green and paid tickets blue. To equally balance feminists to sit side by side; years in the field and experience to share with the one on the right or the left. And wouldn’t it be great when the 60 year old asks a 20 year old what are HER issues – could it re-enlist her senior sister right back into the street?
Instead, I was told by a close friend in her early twenties – “look it’s a who’s who of the feminist movement over there” – and all I could think was that she was the legs in the field, the hands of service to those in need, the working feminist and the real who in Feminist Whoville.
Oh they learned all too well that rich and famous is what is important. Media and money make the stars. Not a lesson I want to impart. Any woman who is in need and calls for help; chances are a college student, maybe an unpaid intern, will answer the phone at NOW, Planned Parenthood or the local shelter. They are my Who’s Who. I am honored to know them, work with them, sit with them. I hope they will remember when they are 60 that 20 year olds will carry on and to teach them equality through their galas.
Zoe-
I was reading bell hooks book, Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, and I was thinking about this post that you made. I found a passage that I wanted to share with you regarding the idea of "hierarchy and difference" that you mention in your blog.
"'Movement women have always been turned off by the media's necessity to create celebrities and superstars. This goes against our basic philosophy. We cannot relate to women in our ranks towering over us with prestige and fame. We are not struggling for the benefit of the one woman or for one group of women. We are dealing with issues that concern all women'"- (an excerpt from Sookie Stambler's Women’s Liberation: Blueprint for the Future). bell hooks states, "As more and more women acquired prestige, fame, or money from feminist writings or from gains from feminist movement for equality in the work force, individual opportunism undermined appeals for collective struggle" (7)
I thought this passage paralleled what you were discussing, how glorifying particular feminists can lead to estrangement in which you can no longer identify with that person. I think praise should be given to those women for their feminist efforts, but it makes me think about you, or any feminist that devotes their whole life to feminist issues or even any individual that contributes to combating these issues! How come you do not receive equal gratitude for your efforts? Anyways, I really like the way that you would have designed the event, and I want to thank you for your continual feminist work.
Posted by: Liz | December 31, 2007 at 01:33 AM
zoe,
i love this post. and i completely agree with you. i wrote a blog about this situation as well (maybe it sounds familiar because i saw you there!) - if you're interested in reading about it, you can go here: http://feministrising.com/2007/12/03/feminist-majority-foundation-and-ms-magazine/
thank you for this post.
abby
Posted by: abby dicarlo | January 17, 2008 at 08:06 PM