Wow. I have lots of thoughts about this kind of thing, and have been having them for a long time. It's so complex that I suspect we could pick it to pieces for ever, and yet I think it's worth doing that forever really.
One thought about that link - doesn't claiming 'geek' in place of 'woman' deny gender power differencess within the group of people who call themselves geeks?
When I was little I desperately wanted to be a little boy. I feel annoyed about that now. I'd taken on some idea that maleness was somehow better. I don't believe that anymore. I think I tried to engage in activities I found less interesting in some cases because I perceived them as masculine. I think I have aspects of myself that might be labelled traditionally masculine and others that might be labelled traditionally feminine, and I expect most people do.
I read someone's journal post a week or so ago about how she felt feminism wasn't relevant for her because gender wasn't high up on her list of ways she defined herself. I said that I thought it was relevant to me for exactly the same reason. For me, feminism should enable me, a woman (because I do regard myself as a woman), to define myself however I like and to value whichever of my characteristics I like regardless of traditional views of gendered characteristics. I think the Stitch&Bitch movement has been a bit like that. People might mock, but it's basically people saying "Fuck you. Knitting's just as pointful a thing to do on a Saturday afternoon as football." And we're right; it is.
no subject
One thought about that link - doesn't claiming 'geek' in place of 'woman' deny gender power differencess within the group of people who call themselves geeks?
When I was little I desperately wanted to be a little boy. I feel annoyed about that now. I'd taken on some idea that maleness was somehow better. I don't believe that anymore. I think I tried to engage in activities I found less interesting in some cases because I perceived them as masculine. I think I have aspects of myself that might be labelled traditionally masculine and others that might be labelled traditionally feminine, and I expect most people do.
I read someone's journal post a week or so ago about how she felt feminism wasn't relevant for her because gender wasn't high up on her list of ways she defined herself. I said that I thought it was relevant to me for exactly the same reason. For me, feminism should enable me, a woman (because I do regard myself as a woman), to define myself however I like and to value whichever of my characteristics I like regardless of traditional views of gendered characteristics. I think the Stitch&Bitch movement has been a bit like that. People might mock, but it's basically people saying "Fuck you. Knitting's just as pointful a thing to do on a Saturday afternoon as football." And we're right; it is.