The Angry Feminist



Power concedes nothing without a demand. --Frederick Douglass

What does an abolitionist from the 19th century have to teach us about feminism and the struggle against male supremacy today in the 21st century? Everything.

Below is an exchange that took place recently with MIT President Charles Vest. Pres. Vest took it upon himself to alert the community about an incident that occurred on our campus that was no doubt hurtful and alienating to some members of our community. His letter follows:

Please post or forward the following message from President Vest.
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October 5, 2003
Thursday evening a small group of MIT students held what they termed a Ghetto Party in their residence hall. This event was advertised in advance by an e-mail message that I have read and find to be outrageous and mean spirited in its derogatory references to poor people and its overt use of racial epithet and negative stereotyping. Our community draws strength and joy from its diversity in many dimensions, including that of race. We have a broad tolerance for speech, humor and thought. But unthinking and demeaning behavior such as this party and its advertising can invade our collective soul and destroy our ability to pursue our mission of learning, growth and leadership. Students on this campus, whether minority or majority, and whether directly involved or not, should not be subjected to such an environment. I will be further troubled if, as a preliminary investigation indicates, it turns out that no one who read the invitation pointed out to their peers how hateful and harmful its language and racial implications were. Passivity amplifies the mean-spirited actions of others.

Race in America remains a troubling matter, but we look to the leadership and good will of talented young men and women who are privileged to be part of great institutions like MIT to move us beyond this and improve our world. It is sad and disappointing when even a few choose to take the opposite path. MITs administrative and student governance systems will deal swiftly and fairly with those responsible for this event. But we all must move equally swiftly to pull together, to learn the lessons of this matter, and to work together in mutual respect and common purpose to live up to our potential as friends, colleagues and leaders.

--Charles M. Vest

One student pointed out that much of this text was recycled, leaving doubt as to the sincerity of the statement. Dean Vandivir responded to this charge by stating that it is the statement itself that matters, not the freshness of the words. This was followed with a response from a member of the Thistle collective:

President Vest's response to racist and classist incident
Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2003 16:32:01

Dear Prof Vandivir and President Vest,

Prof. Vandivir is correct to point out that restating what is already true is in no way inappropriate when events call for a restatement of our expectation of an open and welcoming community. Pres. Vest was certainly in the right to raise awareness about the existence of such hurtful actions and behavior on our campus that could serve to make some students, staff and faculty feel unwelcome in our community and I commend him for taking the time to put out a statement.

What I don't understand is why there is a double standard when it comes to sexism. All bigotry and alienating behavior should be discouraged if we honestly strive to be an inclusive and diverse community. Yet, when it was brought to Pres. Vest's attention that a student publication had published comic strips and other material that trivialized rape and murder of women, no such statement was forthcoming. When a fraternity plastered the campus with fliers for a "Playboy Party" during prospective student weekend, no such statement was forthcoming. When a student was heard to say "Patriarchy Rules!" in response to the announcement of the class of 2003's decision to return to the two men design on their class rings, no such letter was forthcoming.

Letters, in the end are only words. Actions such as resisting the inclusion of rape awareness training in freshman orientation[1], gutting ob/gyn services in the graduate student health plan[2], failing to intervene appropriately in a case of stalking, failing to provide funds for maternity leave for post docs, failing to provide any maternity leave for graduate students, and failing to provide affordable access to child care are much more serious lapses on the part of the MIT administration. But at the very least, a letter when such male-supremacist behavior waves its head on campus would at least give the illusion that inclusion of women is also an important part of promoting diversity on our campus.

Sincerely,
Aimee L. Smith, PhD '02

But the truth is, we know the answer as to the origin of this double standard. As one woman pointed out, it is because society recognizes that certain oppressions are wrong and not others. Yes, but why the difference?

First, let's be clear. I am not trying to compare oppressions or for one second trying to argue that having such a statement circulated in any way atones for this nation's long legacy of racist genocide, enslavement, and military conquest. Nor do I think that such statements in any way undo the harsh reality that those in our society with less money are more likely to have no medical insurance, more prone to exposure to environmental toxins, and moire likely top be forced into the economic draft:to risk life and limb as hired guns in the service of the empire. Such a statement is a sign only of the most modest attempts at recognition of the unjust nature of these systems of oppression. At the very least there is a groundswell of support for the idea that racism is bad, even if that realization does little to push forth concrete changes in behavior. Classism is usually ignored, this is actually one of the first times I have seen it publicly addressed.

But in the case of the struggle against male supremacy, we can't even claim such modest support. We live in a society that claims to liberate women elsewhere, but looks the other way as 1 in 4 of our women have been victimized by rape and many more have faced other forms of sexual assault here at home. The most common reason for women to go to the emergency room in certain age groups in the US is because a partner or spouse has beaten them. Then there are all the other indicators of injustice that can be seen equally with race bigotry such as lesser representation in better paying positions of employment, lesser pay for similar work, and on and on. Clearly things are not equal among women and men in our society. So, why do so many of us women and men deny that it is unequal? Why do we tolerate a climate of media that is so demeaning to women? Why do all male living groups get the boys will be boys treatment when they harass women in our workplace? Why does a student review committee let the stalker off the hook because, as one member put it to me, he didn't seem to mean any harm. That misjudgment seems to have cost our community one life. How many other such mistakes have there been and how many more will happen?

The answer is simple. The answer is because we who love justice, be we woman, man or intergender, have not bothered to come together and build a movement that will DEMAND an end to male supremacy. We in the women's liberation movement have no Malcolm X. We have only made timid requests for minimal improvements. And for those who did move out in front to create rape crisis centers and to defend access to abortion clinics, well, the rest of us left them hanging. There is no women's liberation counterpart to Malcolm X because we have never created the climate that would allow such a figure to emerge. Voices, like the crystal clear analysis of Malcolm, can only float upon a sea of ferment and challenge. The fact that we have heard of him means there were millions of others challenging the dominant myths about white supremacy, asking deep questions about the very foundation of our society, figuring out how to link up with others to create strength in numbers, and adopting discipline and commitment to face injustice with courage and a straight back.

Yes the government retaliated with COINTELPRO. Times are no easier now. But if we really want freedom, and are not just saying it. If we can feel the cry for justice and freedom in the marrow of our bones, then we will be willing to do whatever it takes to secure it - by any means necessary.

[1] Campaign for Rape Awareness Program in MIT Orientation Thistle, Vol 13, no. 4
[2]MIT Gives Women the Shaft Thistle, Vol 15, no. 2