Thoroughly modern millennial

Tag: Misc

  • Ways To Support The Women’s March (if you can’t attend in person)

    Ways To Support The Women’s March (if you can’t attend in person)

    We may be only a few days away from the inauguration of President Trump (vomits), but there’s a much more significant event happening in DC just a day after.

    The Women’s March on Washington is due to take place next Saturday (21st January), with many sister solidarity marches happening all over the USA, and in the UK, Australia, Canada, and many other countries. After a fraught and divided 2016 the mission for the march is to bring forth a global conversation about women’s rights, diversity and equality. It’s affirmative, non-violent action in the face of a year that has both physically and vocally threatened the lives of women and minority groups. More importantly it’s an opportunity for people around the world to stand united in the face of corrupt, misogynistic governments, institutions and people.

    “…We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.”

    – Women’s March Mission Statement

    Whilst attending marches and protests is a powerful tool, I know there are many passionate activists who cannot attend for financial or logistical reasons, are not physically or mentally able to attend. But there are many other ways in which you can participate, some of which don’t even involve getting off the sofa.

    Financially support protesters

    Protesting is costly. There’s travel expenses, accommodation fees, and food bills to consider, all before you even pick up a placard. Even if you can’t make it to a march, there may be someone who is dying to go, so why not help them out. If you are financially able donate to the Women’s March fund, sponsor transport, or have a look on their Facebook group or individuals on GoFundMe. Even the smallest donations make all the difference – think bottles of water, the cost of a return bus ticket or even printing costs for posters and banners.

    Educate yourself on the issues and organisations the march is trying to protect

    People aren’t marching for the sake of marching. The issues that underpin a protester’s motivation to march is just as important as showing up on the day, so swot up on what’s at stake. There’s a heavy focus in the US on protecting reproductive rights and Planned Parenthood – who’s federal funding is likely due to stop once Trump’s Administration in office. In the UK the Women’s Equality Party, Amnesty International, Verve, The Equality Trust & Unite are all key sponsors for the London March, and there are countless other charities around the world that are aligning their values with the protesters this weekend. One easy way to support these organisations is to learn about them and what they do. The next step, support them financially, volunteer, or educate others.

    Get loud online

    Linked with the last point, once you know what rights and issues are at stake, shout as loud as you can about them. Scour hashtags, promote the march on social media, repost articles, or encourage others who are based in nearby cities to attend in your place. Tweet media outlets and journalists urging them to cover the marches and the issues they are raising. Share articles and correct facts to stop the spread of fake news. And don’t limit yourself to your Twitter feeds. Get the message out on Instagram, Snapchat, your blogs (wink wink nudge nudge) and Facebook. Engage everyone you can, as vocally as you can.

    Keep talking

    Long after the protesters will leave DC, New York or London, the issues they have marched for will still (unfortunately) exist. The DC organisers have already noted aiming their rhetoric at Trump himself is not effective. Take Trump out the equation and we still have a divided world filled with racism, sexism, and homophobia. They have instead insisted the Women’s March’s priority is to raise awareness of pro-women issues. And we need to be consistently vocal about that fact. Hate does not dissipate over night. Which is why these important conversations need to be kept alive. The march is step one, it’s up to us to follow through.

    — — —

    I’ll be making the most of these tips myself (as I’m unable to attend the London march *sad times*), but I hope you guys take these on board too!

    Ria Xx

  • Poetry | A Feminist Prayer For A New Year

    Poetry | A Feminist Prayer For A New Year

    I.       Write
    Tell tales of a Brave New World
    less damaged than our own
    fragmented universe
    Or else, allow us to escape
    into a tangled narrative of imagination

    II.     Fight
    Like a girl. Like a boy. Like them.
    Like you, for them
    Bite bullets with a passion so loud
    it seals your imperfect skin
    from the burn of a thousand suns

    III.   Rise
    among the voices.
    Among the trauma, the hurt,
    the gut wrenching loss
    Together we a stronger,
    but you must first feel the call
    Can you hear now?

    IV.   Rinse, clean

    And repeat.

    – R. Cagampang (5.1.17)

    — — —

    A little ditty inspired by my personal feminist work ethic for the coming year. Enjoy.

    Ria Xx

  • The Issues That Really Matter On #InternationalMensDay

    The Issues That Really Matter On #InternationalMensDay

    (Heyo! Click-baity blog post title)

    It feels disingenuous to be writing about men’s rights after my last post about the US Election. I don’t often talk about men on the blog or on social media (mainly because every time I do I get shouted at and called an idiot), but I do think it’s so important, now more than ever to engage men in discussions around gender equality.

    My main issue with days like #InternationalMensDay is that more often than not the only thing I see online is men stating that they’re oppressed. When in reality, they’re a) not telling me what they’re doing to actually help other men, b) seem to be spending the entire day venting all their anger at feminists, and c) focusing all their efforts on the rights of cis-white men.

    Just like feminism, men’s rights need to be considered intersectionally and there should be conversations around what is it like navigating the world if you’re male but not straight, cis, white, or living in the Western World.

    So, hey guys! You wanted an International Men’s Day? Well here it is. Instead of turning today into a gender war, here are just some of the issues that really matter and deserve some press:

    • The systematic mass incarceration of men of colour as highlighted in Ava Duverney’s 13th on Netflix.
    • The rights of transgender men, which still largely ignored even in the LGBTQ community – not gender specific but the Gender Trust have some amazing resources on this.
    • Toxic masculinity and its damaging effects on young boys growing up – take a gander at The Mask You Live In documentary for this one.
    • The unlawful killing and attacks on African American men by police forces in the US and around the World.
    • Male suicide rates, the lack of emphasis on male mental health and even the idea that it’s taboo for men to cry (check out the amazing work being done by CALM for this.
    • Male rape cases and the fact that physical and emotional domestic violence by women and men towards men is still seen as a punchline.
    • The fact that Asian men are still stereotyped, emasculated and are never seen as the heroes (*cough* #StarringJohnCho *cough*)
    • The lack of non-binary, gender non-conforming and femme-male in mainstream media.
    • Despite the great work being carried out by cancer charities such as Prostate Cancer UK, there’s still a lack of education and funding around male cancer research.
    • Neo-facism and the online recruitment of white me into alt-right groups, especially in the current political climate.
    • The ever present problem of racial profiling of Muslim men.
    • The ongoing stigma towards men in traditionally ‘feminine’ job roles i.e. nurses, primary school teachers, nannies etc., which is linked with ideas around toxic masculinity.
    • The women who will cut men down in the name of ‘feminism’, I hate misandry just as much as you guys do and for the most part these people don’t understand the fundamental idea behind feminism is raising women to the same level that men are at, no lowering the bar for men.

    And a final point, there’s a reason why feminist issues are consistently making the headlines nowadays. We’re even more determined than ever not to let these issues fall through the gaps. It’s a mindset that we, as women are used to as a largely oppressed group. We have always had to shout to be heard, so we shout consistently to be heard.

    Men already have a leg up. You are a largely privileged group (especially if you’re white/cis/het), so use that to your advantage. Be the advocate for the marginalised within your gender and really talk and support them. Don’t just sit on the Internet and troll feminists.

    Ria