On Feminism

I've been very busy on Twitter today (obviously), and I know not everyone who is part of the community here is on Twitter, so, with apologies to those who are seeing this in both spaces, I'm trying to share the highlights.

It's amazing how much hostility has been generated by the simple suggestion to show gratitude to feminists/womanists. #tellafeministthankyou

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

Seems as though there's at least at much antipathy about acknowledging women's value & work as about feminism itself. Not a coincidence.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

I'm also unsurprised to see once again the attempts to discredit feminism by demeaning US activism. Feminism/womanism is global.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

And feminists/womanists aren't a monolith. There are iterations of feminism/womanism all over the world; it's different in different spaces.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

If you think there's a One True Feminism, you don't know a very basic thing about feminism.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

If you think hating patriarchy is the same thing as hating men, you are failing to understand a very basic thing about feminism.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

If you think that feminists are all alike, think all the same things, hold all the same beliefs, you fundamentally misunderstand feminism.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

If you think that men have nothing to gain via feminism, especially marginalized men, then you have a basic misunderstanding of feminism.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

If you think that no feminists can discern the difference between criticism and harassment, you are underestimating feminists.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

If you believe there is no need for feminism, you are not paying attention.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

If you think that feminist women can't be funny, you are missing out.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

If you think that feminist women have all the same needs and goals, let me introduce you to the concept of intersectionality.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

If you believe you don't need feminism in your life, you are very privileged. Lucky you!

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013

I invite you to feminism. If you engage it with good faith, it might change your life.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 12, 2013