Hi I'm Liz, the crazy liberal feminist from California. I'm here today to bring you a new weekly feature here at DollyMix entitled The Feminist Wetblanket. I'm a huge fan of pop culture and the media, and since I spend so much time analyzing it in my head, Cate asked me to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and jot these thoughts down in some sort of coherent manner. So here it is, your introduction to The Feminist Wetblanket and a little look into my brain and what it's like to analyze pop culture from a feminist point of view (like you don't do that already!).
Now that I've graduated from college and possess a BA in Women's Studies and Psychology, I find it harder and harder to just sit back and passively enjoy mainstream entertainment. I analyze everything. I may not analyze it out loud or share my thoughts with others, but my brain is working overtime analyzing the gender roles and the ways race and class intersect and create discourses that shape the minds of young audiences.
See what I mean? ...
I've often been told by my friends that they’re thankful I haven't turned into a feminist wetblanket: finding something wrong with everything and feeling the need to inform everyone I know about it. I understand that my opinions are fairly radical, so I keep the majority of them within my circle of like minded friends. There are some things, however, that are just so glaring - so jarring - that I can't possibly keep them to myself. Snickers superbowl ad anyone? Transition from college to work only made my life easier: working for a feminist organization has given me the place to air my opinions that I used to have in my college classrooms.
In these environments, and even with my friends, I don't feel like a feminist wetblanket by any means. I can enjoy mainstream entertainment, but I enjoy it with a grain of salt - which most people should. I think the most poignant example I have of this is when my boyfriend asked me what I thought about Casino Royale, the latest installment of the James Bond series. He asked me what I honestly thought about it, and it turned into an hour long discussion about the negative portrayals of women in the movie and how the series denies women any agency. I won't go into the details of what was said here (because, hello, introduction), but I was kind of shocked when I realized how much I had really thought about the movie without even realizing it. It wasn’t even a conscious process for me, my mind just automatically goes to that analysis now. It makes me very giddy to know that my mind just automatically "thinks" feminist.
I am rather thrilled at this idea, mostly because it makes me feel like less of a passive viewer and more like an active analyst of the media presented to me. I am, however, secretly mourning the loss of my ability to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy without going into race, gender, and sexuality stereotypes portrayed on the show. While I'd much rather have the ability to instantly analyze, I still feel I am justified in mourning my loss of naivete. However sad the loss, I am glad for it.
It's not to say that I didn't hold these same views before I was a Women's Studies graduate, because I did. It's more like my brain is now hard wired to think about the underlying messages of heteronormativity rather than just writing it off as another co-modification by Hollywood. I have to say, it is very interesting when your thoughts and views on the world become so pervasive and so obvious to you that they truly do impact your everyday life. While I'm sure the same can be said about racism, sexism, and homophobia, it’s nice to know that it can go both ways.
Liz Abinante is a recent graduate of University of California, Davis with a double Bachelor's in Women's Studies and Psychology. She's a little baby (only 21) and has been proving that feminists can be in National sororities since 2005. She works in California for the state's domestic violence coalition and she absolutely loves her job. She met Cate many moons ago (back before they had gray hair and 10 cats apiece) and wants her to return to this side of the pond. She's currently in the process of writing a feminist analysis of Harry Potter and applying for her PhD in Women's Studies. She likes to sleep, eat, and ride her scooter. Direct any and all death threats, hate mail, suggestions for topics, and praise of her intelligence to: eabinante@gmail.com.