[beware: stream of consciousness]
Re: #metoo
so this whole #metoo thing, I've been thinking a lot about the myriad responses coming from all different corners of the emotionalverse. And, because I'm trying to hold myself accountable to different communities beyond the dirty, soul-draining yet oddly comfortable ivory tower, I've joined the Women's March-turned-Alliance FB groups for Atlanta Georgia, and my district. And I comment rarely, unless there's just something gnawing at me. This lady posted a rebuttal to how #metoo is forcing women to bare their trauma, etc. And, that's a bit of a fucking overstatement. The author didn't convince me that the line between sharing and being forced is such a clear thing. But that said, the lady, who's shared that she also is holding onto years of sexual trauma said that "we've been saying this for years, people need to offer up some other thing." my first response in my head: "then perhaps you have enough experience to share ideas of your own? especially since you've have the time.." then I dial back, ya know, trying to be respectful and outside of my head I decided to frame my critique not towards her but this weird pattern of everyone criticizing any kind of digital protest.
like.
other than pessimism or ignorance, why would anyone assume that a digital protest is the extent of someone's actions of empowerment or dismantling [lib speak heterosexist misogynist patriarchal blah blah blah]?
Like. Really.
Why do we assume that when I put on a shirt with angela hillary etc. (yeah, commodification is another convo) that that's my only history as an active feminist?
there are fifty bagillion other situations in the world where people have provided tomes of information, studies, ideas, projects, actionable items that people sleep on or assume no one is using (and yes, it is very possible that people don't use it, like--- so called antiracist white liberals who can't read a book on their own, or black feminists who only cite chima to display their knowledge of so called third world feminism, or men who say they just don't know what to do about sexism can you please help me please). I am growing to distrust these think pieces even more because they're not really good at capturing the dissonance between the phenomena of internet protest and things people are doing in non-internet real life. like, yes, me too, almost every black woman (or .. someone else, I guess I'm being discriminatory here, I've never chatted with a nonblack woman who reads Ebony) who reads Ebony knows this phrase is old, yes, it's being attributed to white women (WHOSE SUHPRISED HURR?), but there are subtle differences being flattened out by just recognizing that me too was a phrase-turned-project and metoo is a hashtag that could inspire lazy antiracists to do things or can inspire longterm antiracists to rethink their strategies to fit with the current euphoria of internet feminism. i also question the integrity of men saying omg imma change now, and the big wall being built for sexual harassment to be a project that bills itself as open to harassment across the sexes. i ain't all about OMGMETOO changed my life, but damn, it's always the people who do nothing but blow the hottest air who use writing to critique and get clicks or responses but they never put shit into action. if she was like "yo. this has been a thing for a while. we've already been saying it. if you're interested in engaging more deeply beyond a post, get at us." i feel like that basic ass thing would help a lot for the people who want to build socalledcoalitions. like. you don't gotta give everyone your syllabus. people learn better with effort. but damn, give someone an oreo and let them get the milk to wash it down.
