Judging by the comments, the piece seems to have been felt as a condescending slap by people who don't share the same ideological label, but aren't all that massively in disagreement. (Not to mention evidence of a double standard where invalidation is considered bad, and listening to people's lived experiences is considered good, but it's totally okay to hand out a "I know what your life is like better than you do" list of ways one should feel oppressed.)
I have a lot of thoughts about why (starting with the second-person voice making it feel a lot more like someone's personally lecturing the reader on their own life experience), but is it even intended to persuade? Is it meant to reach out at all, or is it purely preaching to the choir?
Not knowing the author (or the intention) I am afraid I can't answer your questions.
But it feels like it is borne out of frustration. A kneejerk reaction to a up-to-date variant on 'let them eat cake'.
I don't know if it will change any minds, but what will? After all 53% of white women voted for Trump... The issue runs deeper than any single article.
It just reminds me of all of the stuff that fed into my "Feminism, ugh!" phase. Granted, a big part of it was me being young and immature (and seeking an easy way to annoy my very feminist mom - yes, I was literally a teenager), but what got me to reconsider was stepping away from "Let me tell you what your experiences as a woman are!" and getting into "Okay, your life is what it is, but look at these problems other people have." (My life tends to be atypical on multiple fronts, so I can never relate to standard What Women Experience lists.)
On point. I saw many comments about the Women's March, some women telling that the manifestants had to be ashamed about the little vagina hats or the slogans used. Anti-feminist women actually exist.
Like I say in another reply, we know that 53% of white women voted for Trump... And I'm sure their motivations were wide and varied, but I'm sure a good few were the kind that would not approve of the March.
I think it would have had a better reception if it had been written as 'we' instead of 'you', which gives the piece a slightly hectoring tone. Everything in there is true, however.
It's interesting how many people are critiquing this piece based on what amounts to tone, isn't it? Well if she was just NICER about wanting equality... Ugh.
You don't think tone is important when judging a piece of published writing? I'm trying to figure out what it's trying to do, because what seems like the obvious purpose (persuasion) is totally undermined by the tone, so either it's ineffectively presented or it's attempting to do something I don't understand. (Maybe it's only for people who already agree?)
Depends what the writing is. This piece is angry because it has a right to be. Not all essays are meant to persuade, sometimes they are meant to be a protest. We have a lot to protest lately, and it's unfair to expect everyone who are being stripped of their fundamental rights to be nice about it. Particularly since telling women to "be nice, be a lady, don't complain or you're a bitch" goes back to the dawn of time. It's okay for women to be angry. It's okay to voice that anger at anyone who wants to shut down argument. There are plenty of people who are fighting for justice with a measured tone, trying not to offend anyone. Let them, that's their right. But others want to illustrate the pain and rage, and right now, that's just as necessary.
I see. Probably misinterpreted it due to being too literal about it being a response to the previous piece. Obviously it resonates with some people. Fair enough.
Mind you, I think I know what piece this is a reaction against (or at least I've seen a similar one) and I don't think even the most nicely worded argument would have much affect. Some people refuse to listen. :(
Also major props for discussing this so calmly & politely. I love LJ & my flist. <3
I read the original post about not feeling like a second-hand citizen as a woman on FaceBook. My sister-in-law's MIL had posted it and I thought she had written it. I definitely gave her a piece of my mind (as respectfully as possible since I already got in trouble with my MIL on FB over my response to something she posted on there about Trump.) The author of this piece probably did a better job countering her arguments then I did.
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They do not mention Katharine McCormick, who did most of the science stuff and funding https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katharine_McCormick
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But thank you for the link. I knew the name, but am now better informed! :)
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Judging by the comments, the piece seems to have been felt as a condescending slap by people who don't share the same ideological label, but aren't all that massively in disagreement. (Not to mention evidence of a double standard where invalidation is considered bad, and listening to people's lived experiences is considered good, but it's totally okay to hand out a "I know what your life is like better than you do" list of ways one should feel oppressed.)
I have a lot of thoughts about why (starting with the second-person voice making it feel a lot more like someone's personally lecturing the reader on their own life experience), but is it even intended to persuade? Is it meant to reach out at all, or is it purely preaching to the choir?
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But it feels like it is borne out of frustration. A kneejerk reaction to a up-to-date variant on 'let them eat cake'.
I don't know if it will change any minds, but what will? After all 53% of white women voted for Trump... The issue runs deeper than any single article.
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Which is why frustration is never a good starting place, but sometimes that's just where people are at.
Here's to hoping that it'll have worked for someone.
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Although I presume it was written out of great frustration rather than careful consideration.
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But then it's easy to understand why the aggrieved party finds it difficult to be understanding, when the other is actively harming them...
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And that has always been an issue.
Mind you, I think I know what piece this is a reaction against (or at least I've seen a similar one) and I don't think even the most nicely worded argument would have much affect. Some people refuse to listen. :(
Also major props for discussing this so calmly & politely. I love LJ & my flist. <3
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Stacey
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I don't know what the answer is, but I felt like sharing this. <3
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Stacey
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Stacey
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