The Feminist Review

My thoughts on the Church of the Brethren National Young Adult Conference come mostly from my attempts to organize to bring a recognized lgbtqa presence to NYAC. Since the last week of January, I have been organizing with other young adults who identify with the Church of the Brethren (CoB) in an attempt to bring a recognized lgbtqa presence to the conference. As a young adult who grew up in the CoB, I was hoping for the best, yet planning for the worst. In late January, I wrote a letter with Carrie Fry-Miller, and some others helped as well. This letter was signed by 22 young adults in the CoB, and sent to the Conference Coordinators at the Youth and Young Adult Office in Elgin. Our requests were simple, yet rejected in their own way: Read more »

Filed under: conferences on August 19th, 2008 by maggiehope | 3 Comments »

The Church of the Brethren’s National Young Adult Conference (NYAC) was a disappointingly realistic example of slow social change. Mirroring the denomination itself, NYAC attenders represented a wide range of social, theological and political positions. And like the denomination itself, leadership refused to take an official stand on controversial matters.

This refusal often comes from a heartfelt love for the Church of the Brethren (CoB) and a desire for unity and harmony. Instead, those in leadership find that no one is happy, and their authority is questioned.

Read more »

Filed under: conferences on August 18th, 2008 by Anna Lisa | 5 Comments »

I use this word in posts, and it merits a separate post all about it.

I realize that the word “queer” sounds offensive to some people. However, many people (especially in my generation) feel that queer is the most empowering word to describe our own identity.

Going through the acronym is usually still the most politically correct way to refer to LGBTQIA – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transexual, queer/questioning, intersex, ally people, but it’s pretty cumbersome. And when you’re using the acronym, how do you decide where to stop? There are more letters to add, like P for polyamory, O for omnisexual, TS for two-spirited, etc. Now doesn’t it seem simpler to just say queer!? Many people just use LGBT for simplicity, but that leaves people out.

Also, many of us can’t claim one of the words in this acronym. I don’t identify as bisexual because it sets up a gender binary that I don’t believe exists – implying that a person can simply be attracted to men AND women, keeping these categories distinct and separate. Gender is obviously way more complicated than two boxes, as other letters in the acronym point out.

Queer is also something that even straight people can be! People who are in a relationship with (or generally attracted to) someone of a different gender, but don’t have a traditional heterosexual relationship (non-traditional gender roles, or non-traditional commitment, e.g.) can identify as queer. Or someone, like me, who is in a relationship with someone of a clearly different gender, but who does not identify as straight – I can be queer all the time, regardless of my partner.

Queer is a label, an identity, a movement, an invitation (though it still sounds awful when it comes out of a homophobic mouth).

While these perceptions are often age-related, they transcend age as well. What words do you use to describe yourself? What words has your community reclaimed?

Filed under: uncategorized on August 18th, 2008 by Anna Lisa | 1 Comment »

Over 120 Indiana bloggers gathered yesterday and today in Indianapolis, sharing ideas, support and enthusiasm for social media. Since this site is a blog (a website with regularly updated text in reverse chronological order), I’m at the conference!

There are about 40 women here, as far as I can estimate (conference organizers, please chime with an actual number!) which is more than I expected. The women (like all the bloggers) here range from “thinking about starting a blog” to “blogging is my highest priority.” Six of 24 workshops were led by women – pretty much proportional with women’s attendance at the conference. Three of 12 panel speakers were women – also 1/4. Maybe Indiana bloggers are good at math…?

The conference was organized by two men (Noah Coffey and Shawn Plew), though women were involved in supporting and sponsoring as well (far less visibly). Having a woman front and center in leadership might increase women’s attendance in the future. So would thanking the women (like the wives of Shawn and Noah) who worked so hard on the conference. Read more »

Filed under: conferences on August 17th, 2008 by Anna Lisa | 6 Comments »

Two years of Etty Hillesum’s diaries have been gracefully collected into a fabulous book by J. G. Gaarlandt. Etty was a Dutch Jew of Russian descent who died in Auchwitz in 1943. Her diaries from 1941-1943 are filled with brave mysticism, bold social values, and bright philosophy.

While Etty did not ignore the horrors of the Holocaust, she considered the last year of her life to be the brightest. Her self-discovery during this time was incredibly radical; she

• had two ongoing lovers
• Read more »

Filed under: books on August 17th, 2008 by Anna Lisa | 1 Comment »

I discovered the 2006 masterpiece Once a bit late, but it’s worth reminiscing. While it’s been labeled a modern musical, I think it’s more appropriate to call it a film about musicians. Perhaps the distinction isn’t important, but I think it’s worth noting that no one breaks into song at bizarre moments, or magically knows the words and tune of another character’s back story.

Once is the most engaging and realistic love story I’ve seen in a long time. I won’t spoil the end for those who haven’t seen it, but I will say that, unlike standard Hollywood love stories, the credits don’t roll after the main characters clear up their first big misunderstanding.

A love story without sex and nudity is an awesome feat. Read more »

Filed under: movies on July 27th, 2008 by Anna Lisa | No Comments »

Kimya Dawson’s music has been fantastic for years, and is becoming newly popular thanks to its prominence in the recent hit film Juno.

Kimya’s playful and bold approach to songwriting is delightfully refreshing. She entertains kids and adults alike. And while her unique sound rests in its childlike melodies and rhythms, she doesn’t take on an innocent young girl persona to attract fans.

Kimya’s lyrics range from goofy and fun to deeply political, and best of all, can be goofy, fun, deep and political all at the same time.

She shares messages that are particularly important for young women to hear (check out “i like giants” “everything’s alright” and “the competition”) simply relevant (“loose lips” and “12/26″).

Filed under: music on July 25th, 2008 by Anna Lisa | No Comments »

Juno is one of the most exciting female movie characters of the decade. Bold, unapologetic, fierce, clever; she takes herself seriously, and everyone else can’t help but take this bizarre teenager seriously, too.

Juno is actually one of the decade’s most interesting movie characters of any gender: both self-reliant AND communal, creative, unashamedly weird, loyal and loving. The “being weird in high school” story line invokes Napoleon Dynamite, but with far fewer cheap shots at the characters; instead the audience can relate to and care for Juno.

Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t do Juno justice. Moreover, it sends a dangerous message to teenage girls about pregnancy. Read more »

Filed under: movies on July 25th, 2008 by Anna Lisa | 1 Comment »

This adult-friendly cartoon packs a wonderful array of important messages: environmental, anti-consumerist, grassroots revolution and relationship building. Alas, patriarchy and consumerism slip in, too.

It has some great gender statements as well, and a few disappointments. WALL·E’s character is not overly gendered – he has a male voice, but also carries precious cargo in his “stomach,” decorates his home, obsesses over romance, and longs for relationship. This longing is the compelling soul of the film, and provides redemption, not only for metal machines, but for fleshy humans and a barren earth.

EVE, on the other hand, is slightly more gendered, subtly reinforcing the patriarchal notion that male is normal, female abnormal. At least there are no eyelashes on this curvaceous, high-voiced robot. It seems that accepting robot love is wacky enough, but apparently Pixar thought that as long as it was obviously opposite-sex love, audiences would catch right on.

Read more »

Filed under: movies on July 25th, 2008 by Anna Lisa | 3 Comments »

Nellie McKay sings “Mother of Pearl” at TED2008:

Filed under: music on July 19th, 2008 by Chris Hardie | 1 Comment »