11:30 am - 12/02/2012
Après Carla Bruni, le déluge. Or at least that's what happened when the former French first lady was quoted in the latest issue of Paris Vogue saying, "My generation doesn't need feminism." Cue the backlash.
In a swift response, French women’s-rights group "Osez le Féminisme!" ("Dare To Be A Feminist"), sent a call out to Twitter, asking followers to tweet why feminism is needed using the hashtag #ChereCarlaBruni (#DearCarlaBruni). We're sure the ensuing barrage of responses made Carla think twice about her statements.
French female senator Laurence Rossignol sent out a particularly noteworthy response to the call, replying in a tweet that translates to, "#ChèreCarlaBruni As long as I get asked whether I am the senator's assistant, the next generation will need feminism."
So, naturally, when Elle.fr spoke to the former supermodel during a phone interview, conversation turned to the pink elephant in the room: any second thoughts, Carla? Well, yes, actually. The supermodel claims that she "completely understands" the negative response, but her words were taken "out of context":
"This phrase is very clumsy and poorly translates my thoughts. It should have read: 'I have never personally felt the need to be a feminist activist'... I imagine I am [a feminist] if feminism means claiming one's freedom. But I am not if it means being committed in an active way to the fight that some women are still leading today... I admire their bravery a lot, but I have chosen to commit myself elsewhere."
Source
Carla Bruni Apologizes For Feminism Remarks After Twitter Backlash
Après Carla Bruni, le déluge. Or at least that's what happened when the former French first lady was quoted in the latest issue of Paris Vogue saying, "My generation doesn't need feminism." Cue the backlash.
In a swift response, French women’s-rights group "Osez le Féminisme!" ("Dare To Be A Feminist"), sent a call out to Twitter, asking followers to tweet why feminism is needed using the hashtag #ChereCarlaBruni (#DearCarlaBruni). We're sure the ensuing barrage of responses made Carla think twice about her statements.
French female senator Laurence Rossignol sent out a particularly noteworthy response to the call, replying in a tweet that translates to, "#ChèreCarlaBruni As long as I get asked whether I am the senator's assistant, the next generation will need feminism."
So, naturally, when Elle.fr spoke to the former supermodel during a phone interview, conversation turned to the pink elephant in the room: any second thoughts, Carla? Well, yes, actually. The supermodel claims that she "completely understands" the negative response, but her words were taken "out of context":
"This phrase is very clumsy and poorly translates my thoughts. It should have read: 'I have never personally felt the need to be a feminist activist'... I imagine I am [a feminist] if feminism means claiming one's freedom. But I am not if it means being committed in an active way to the fight that some women are still leading today... I admire their bravery a lot, but I have chosen to commit myself elsewhere."
Source
I wonder if this post will have a bunch of white feminists confirming Woc (who do not consider themselves feminists) negative feelings towards feminism.
Also, I will point out there were many ones that were understanding.
as if there wasn't a silent "despite white men and white women and white feminists" at the end of that sentence
Look I wouldn't mind feminist posts on ONTD if people actually knew how to discuss the topic , but that is hardly ever the case
It s just a bunch of judgemental folk trying to revoke people's lady cards because they don't want to identify with being a feminist.
Being a woman of color I do not identify with america's idea of " feminism " cuz it ain't done shit for me.
I try no to think about it. All -isms are really complicated, they're intricate, due to political correctness shit, people just disguise them better or fester them, with them coming out in disgusting ways one day. I just, don't like to think about it sometimes because it stresses me out. I see why so many minorities get burnt out early on in the job market no matter how qualified because all the shit we gotta deal with. Gotta worry about a mfer being racist, being sexist, like got damn...let me L I V E. Worst part is women dominate the job field but hold the least position of powers declaring them a minority, now that's some shit.
Edited at 2012-12-02 05:49 pm (UTC)
So what she is saying is she believes in women's rights but not enough to ever do anything to further the cause.
Her clarification is no better
Of course she has never personally felt the need to be a feminist activist. She was born rich, became famous and married a powerful man. She doesn't know the first thing about the struggles of an average woman nor cares.
can someone explain this to me pls
Some women have become disenchanted with feminism due to the movement's privileging of the concerns of cis, straight, able-bodied white women and denial of intersectionality (the theory that those who are experience prejudice from multiple fronts experience that combination on multiple simultaneous levels. So, for example, a lesbian woman of color would experience sexism in a different way than a straight white woman).
Edited at 2012-12-02 06:12 pm (UTC)
not because i hate men as individuals or judge women who don't conform to some kind of negative or positive ideal, or because i'm the uglier darker sister of some feminist white ladies who think i should push my race and class aside to fight for rights that may not even trickle my way
I personally identify it as the best chance women have of affecting change in the many and varied ways that women are systematically encouraged to take part in our own subordinate status. I believe in the idea of a world where women aren't forced into poverty, withheld education, hold the blame for being raped, and generally are not offered the same opportunities in life as their male counterparts, and GENERALLY, where a minority group is not offered the same opportunities as the majority because of circumstance and prejudice. I'm pro-affirmative action, pro-intersectionality (the approach of taking in gender, race, class, etc when forming opinions/theories/etc), pro-elevating everyone without the need to put anyone down in place of that. That's what feminism is to me.
It's not what feminism is to everyone-- even if I wish it were.
what made you see sense, bb?
Arrgh, I have so many opinions about this issue but I always have trouble articulating them properly, IDK...
And TBH, if Carla Bruni says that: 'I have never personally felt the need to be a feminist activist'.... then I think that maybe the anwser is to listen to what she's trying to say instead of assuming she must be wrong for sure.