FEMINIST LETTER NO 22
To all feminists
In the last letter of the year I will attempt a summary. This is not altogether easy. A lot has happened and it is difficult to predict what future significance events will hold. One thing is certain – it has been a turbulent year for feminism. When the Feminist Initiative after months of media speculations was publicly declared, this was an occasion of historical significance. For the first time women from the different branches of feminism formulated common parliamentary (party) political ambitions, devised with the structural conflicts of the gender power structures as their starting point. F! requested a mandate to deconstruct the patriarchal power structure. The preliminary opinion polls revealed a voters’support of between 15 to 20 %. This bore witness to a widespread dissatisfaction with the way in which the present parties in parliament deal with issues of the rights of women. The criticism voiced in the media about everything not being ready and streamlined from the beginning(no party programme, no party leader, no media experience)was harsh at times, yet did not diminish the optimism many future members experienced.Prior to the summer, Swedish television showed two spectacular films that initiated a bitter debate, at times full of rancour, even hate. Feminism became a word of abuse (once again) and the internationally established concept, a gender power structure, was presented as a figment of the imagination, invented by conspiratorial homophobes. Gender research was subjected (once again) to pressure and the government representatives responsible for gender equality policies, headed by the Prime Minister, went into mental exile. They are not back yet. Not one government representative has had a word to say in the debate in which policies to promote equal opportunities, formulated from an understanding of patriarchal structures, have been disputed. One can only speculate as to what is the worst, whether the silence depends on ignorance or on cowardice. A combination of the two is probably the most likely answer, that’s the tragedy.
At the occasion of the first annual meeting of the Feminist Initiative media unhappily found the ideal opportunity to revel in person to person conflicts and to raise a few so far uncontroversial political demands to new heights of speculation. Rumours from behind closed doors were turned into political appeals. The message that was trumpeted abroad was that F! was in favour of bigamy and that Gudrun has the right to call herself George. The fact that the annual meeting decided on a whole range of issues is less well known, a 6 hour working day without loss of pay, individualised parental leave, full time and secure employment, more staff in schools and hospitals, pre-school care for free, improved health services in schools, more staff to deal with the mental health of children and young people, knowledge as to how women’s bodies differ from men’s in the health service, improved maternity care and better parental education, the abolishing of the regional level in responsibility for health, a gender perspective in education and training at all levels, strong measures to deal with men’s violence against women, a more distinct legislation on sex-related crimes, a gender perspective in building and town planning, working groups to facilitate female entrepreneurship, a feminist economy, new security policies etc.
The fact that feminism defends the respect and human dignity of lesbian women provoked a media hunt of an intensity that opened the eyes of quite a few to the role of the press in protecting the patriarchal order. Homosexual women should remain within the sphere of popular music. To have them on the political scene is apparently “going too far”. But the media went too far. A manifestation denouncing phobias against lesbians and feminists in Stockholm at the beginning of December gathered several hundred people, the speakers representing a wide spectrum of the feminist movement, including the ombudsman for gender equality. This was a unique occasion inspiring hope for the future.
We are now approaching the end of December, Christmas is round the corner and according to the latest opinion polls the Feminist Initiative has 0,5 %support among voters. At the same time, the group uncertain voters has never been larger, over 20%. The past year has clearly shown that the feminist veneer of the government is thin indeed, and that the general ideals of gender equality that so many profess they hold, not least among those in politics, must needs be considered vague expressions of general principle, lacking in commitment. – Of course we want gender equality, but let’s not exaggerate! is what some people say. It’s like saying: -Of course we need democracy, but let’s not exaggerate!
We have every reason to maintain that it is controversial to organise politically starting from the awareness that discrimination and subordination of women is not about individual women who find themselves in difficulties at particular moments of time, but that there is a pattern in society, a norm, a structure that distributes power between men as a group and women as a group and that this power structure must be dissolved if we are to continue to make civilised progress. This view of society does not fit in very well with a political scale of left and right. To introduce a new dimension in politics disturbs the accepted order. To address issues connected with power which clearly show that private life is political, that is to say, not to stop at the kitchen door, not even at the bedroom door maybe, this obviously creates unrest. By showing that gender-based power relationship are the same, both when we have discussions at the kitchen table and when we negotiate wages, the issues concern us more closely. By highlighting the fact that most male violence against women takes place in close relationships, the subject creeps under our skin. This can be frightening.
And yet there is probably not a single woman who does not know that this power relationship exists, at home or at work. It may be difficult to acknowledge, but in our heart we know how things work. We have experience of our own and we know of others. Of course we can close our eyes.We can choose to look at life with eyes half shut or with only one eye. But we also have the choice of using our two eyes and once we have done so, there is no turning back and perhaps recognising this is frightening. Once we can see clearly, there is only one alternative. Action. At home, at school, at work, in life. We can put on our feminist glasses and look around with curiosity. We can ask -In what ways do the patriarchal structures manifest themselves here, then? Try it. It is actually quite inspiring. Life becomes one big clss room. And in order to increase public awareness it is education we need to apply ourselves to, feminist education that provides us with the knowledge that enables us to see our own experience and activities in a wider context. This allows us to make the mental journey from victim (it’s all my fault) to actor(it isn’t all my fault – there is a structure here, a pattern that needs changing).
”Why is so little happening when we know so much?” is a title I have used on occasion for lectures. I think I shall change it to “Why is so much happening when we are prepared to take the consequences of knowing as much as we do?”. Why is there so much fuss when we want to set about doing something about all the unfairness pertaining to gender issues – when we know such a lot about them? What is so frightening about feminism? What is obvious is that in the super land of gender equality(Sweden), there is strong opposition to feminist policies that are firmly rooted in women’s lives, experience and financial circcumstances. Next year, when we launch in on the election campaign, it is going to be very interesting to hear the factual arguments put forward by our opponents. If the arguments are about financing, does that mean that we should respect human rights only when we can afford to!?!
The Feminist Initiative is a democratic initiative. We have started a movement that will involve a step forward for civilisation. We have done this in times of strong global regression. Instead of taking a step backwards as expected, we proclaim the necessity for a paradigmatic shift, a revitalisation of democracy and an opening up in politics for the most basic issue in society, that of power structures. I am convinced that quite a number of people will see the necessity of this impressive step forward when election day comes around.
You can already start the new year by becoming a ”certified supporter” of the Feminist Initiative! You can support the growth of a feminist alternative in the coming elections by ordering a ”certificate” which has now been produced and which will be sold at the price of 1000 crowns each (see attachment). You yourself, (or someone you are fond of) can be part of a historical context by being one of 1500 persons to contribute towards the election fund of F!. As a reward you(or the person you want to present with a gift) a signed and numbered poster of Joanna Rubin’s Snow-white fairy tale, created exclusively for the Feminist Initiative, and an embossed confirmation bearing your name (to show your grandchildren!).The fairy tale will not be published anywhere else, nor can it be bought elsewhere. First to the mill….
Transfer 1000 crowns or more to postal giro number 40 57 53-5, write your name and address, the number of posters ordered and below the name of the person you wish the certificate to be made out to.
Inspired by hopes for the future in these historical times I now wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Feminist Year!
Gudrun
Tillbaka till Tidigare Feministbrev
