Something has occurred to me lately, prompting me to write this post. I recently saw the trailer for the documentary Miss Representation and it has had a BIG impact on me. Directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film highlights the shocking lack of realistic representation of women in media and the equally troubling lack of visible powerful women.
The film has made me look at adverts and TV shows more closely, read magazines with a sharper eye, pick apart the weird dynamic between male and female presenters, look at films and their characters in a new light; and you know what? Women are getting a shit deal. We are either “totty”, “eye candy”, “a loveable kook”, “bitch”, “cute”, “fashionista”, “shopaholic” or “an angry feminist”…
…we are one dimensional . Here’s the thing – I’m all of the above at one point or another, plus a hell of a lot more.
Women and girls need to be represented in all of their unpredictable complexity. I don’t want 1000s of smart talking Junos, I don’t want every female character to be “feisty” and “strong”, I don’t want female newsreaders that never giggle at their cohost’s terrible joke. Diversity is what is needed, women that let girls know that, sometimes, being unsure or shy or sweet or confused is all OK. As is being smart, feisty, strong and sexy. We don’t have to conform to one single ideal!
What has this got to do with me writing? As a writer I’ve struggled to find my place. I don’t fit into any boxes, mainly because I don’t want to be put in one. I struggle with “labels”, especially with the big one beginning with “f” that regularly gets placed on female writers and academics. I often wander by the shores of the Big F, tentatively dipping my toes in – only to often find the water is not quite at my temperature. That’s because I’m playing it by someone else’s rules. Feminism is too important to be shaped by whoever shouts the loudest. For me, at its simplest level, feminism is about women having courage in their own convictions and having the strength to act upon them.
Ever since me and my Mom had “the great talk” about my writing (highlight: “Don’t turn out like that horrid Julie Burchill or that Caitlin Whatsherface, she swears too much.” It was LOLs-a-plenty.), I’ve thought a lot about what I write. All I’ve decided is that I want to be honest – this doesn’t mean that every post will be deep and meaningful, I’m shallow and silly on an alarmingly regular basis. What you will get is me, a 27-year-old woman who wants to be defined by herself, not by a movement, a man or make up…
This blog is somewhere for me to figure things out, be it an existential crisis or my views on the new season’s hemlines. It is also a platform for me to showcase my writing talent, because I’m not ashamed to say that I have lots of that. Not everyone will agree with all my views, and there maybe times when I say something dumb; that’s because I’m human.
If this blog inspires anyone else, especially other women and girls, to go after their dreams, stop feeling scared or to feel better about themselves, then I am one very happy and lucky blogger.
Be the change that you want to see.
BBxx
Great post. You do inspire. I understand what you mean: I’ve had a hard time finding my niche as a blogger – I love fashion but I’m not an outfit blogger, I get bored to death posting fashion “news” or writing a diary in the manners of “today I did this…” and I’m just not a very bitter person, so being super-sarcastic all the time was tiring. But in the end I found my passion – cruelty-free fashion and lifestyle and I feel my blog is better than ever.
Thank you!
It has been cool watching your blog change and develop over time – the vegan/cruelty free angle is something that isn’t really covered elsewhere, so congratulations on finding your niche and writing about it so well! xx