29th Jan 2008
How It Feels to See Second Wave Feminism Lose Moral Integrity
There was a time when I admired second-wave feminism. Really. I read Betty Friedan. I read Gloria Steinem. I was a member of NOW. I got that “the personal is political.” This is really my mom’s generation of feminism. I’m steeped in it. I get it. At least I thought I did.
Yet, I knew that, much like first-wave feminists, second-wave feminists basically responded to the needs of white upper-middle class straight women in the first world and left out anyone who was lesbian, bisexual, a person of color, or not upper-middle class in the first world. I knew this. I tolerated it as sort of an anachronism as I engaged in third-wave feminism.
But now that time has come to an end because my annoyance threshold has been reached.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 28, 2008
11:11 AM
CONTACT: National Organization for Women - New York State
Marcia Pappas, 518-452-3944 - 518-469-2661
info@nownys.org
Senator Ted Kennedy Betrays Women by Not Standing for Hillary Clinton for President;
Ultimate Betrayal Felt by Women Everywhere
I didn’t feel any betrayal except by NOW-New York, which has sexistly assumed Kennedy must support Clinton, who (obviously) must represent all women, thinking much along the lines of Steinem’s editorial a few weeks ago. This is the stupidest most sexist assumption I’ve heard. This woman doesn’t speak for all women. But ahem that’s always been the problem with second-wave feminism.
I agree that the press release is stupid and wrong. I agree that second wave feminism won important battles for women but was actually rather uninclusive when you took a good look at it. What I do want to know, however, is whether NOW-New York is in fact staffed by second wave feminists. NOW of course was created during the second wave, but do we know for certain that the current people involved in crafting these sort of insulting, backfiring press releases are second wavers and not actually third wavers at this point (i.e., what are the ages and general orientations of the actual human beings who wrote and disseminated this text)?
I got over being insulted by feminists a long time ago when I was told for the umpteenth time that as a man I couldn’t be a feminist. I decided I didn’t give a rat’s ass what some people said and would just keep on doing what I thought was right as well as I could, without paying heed to people with narrow minds, be they on the right or the left.
There is at least one former-NOW employee commenting on feministing, and maybe more, I didn’t read all the comments. Her experience seems similar to what I’ve heard from other former NOW-employees (or Ms. Magazine employees). It’s my general sense that most third-wave feminists have shifted away from NOW, but I’ve never seen any actual data on that. And, of course, this is the New York NOW, which is different from the national NOW.
Evidently they heard the screaming. From the front page of both NOW-NY’s and NOW’s websites:
NOW’s Response to Sen. Kennedy’s Endorsement
Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy
January 28, 2008
The National Organization for Women has enormous respect and admiration for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D- Mass.). For decades Sen. Kennedy has been a friend of NOW, and a leader and fighter for women’s civil and reproductive rights, and his record shows that.
Though the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee has proudly endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president, we respect Sen. Kennedy’s endorsement. We continue to encourage women everywhere to express their opinions and exercise their right to vote.
http://www.now.org/press/01-08/01-28.html
How stupid. And who is Kennedy supporting, by the way?
@LizardEater….some relief though I fear the Steinem editorial blew it for me in terms of integrity.
@h sofia….Kennedy endorsed Obama in a passing the Kennedy torch sort of way. And there is a Kennedy-Clinton friendship that goes back decades, so no doubt the “betrayal” felt yesterday was by H. Clinton. Apparently Kennedy was sickened by B. Clinton’s behavior in S.C., though I’m sure there are other issues with the endorsement.
The NOW-New York statement is so bad in so many ways. I can’t imagine that the organization actually supports it. I wonder if it was just the rant of a spokeswoman who should be moved into another position?
On a lighter note, I saw flashed on a TV screen this morning at my workout place a newspaper front page picture of Ted Kennedy giving his endorsement of Barack, with the headline above in gigantic letters “BAMALOT!”
I haven’t read the rest of the press release but I almost burst out laughing at “Ultimate Betrayal Felt by Women Everywhere”!
LOL at Bamalot.
And Shelby, I just noticed when reading your comment that their hyperbole on speaking for all women everywhere is just the same stuff of most second wave feminist statements (my upper-middle class white straight woman point of view is everyones!!!)
Speaking as a second-wave feminist (well, sort of - I’m in between generations), I view Steinem’s & Pappas’ pronouncements as out of touch with reality. I feel betrayed by a lot of things (the Patriot Act for starters), but not by Kennedy’s endorsement of Obama.
I suppose I am technically in between too earthbound spirit. I just wish that second wave feminist thinking could really realize some of its weaknesses rather than trying to speak for everyone. That drives me nuts.
When you become a parody and a punchline to your original high minded ideals, it’s time to change.
Ms. T - If this is what the second wave feminists are saying today they’re not speaking for me, either.