Science fiction and fantasy serve as important vehicles for feminist thought, particularly as bridges between theory and practice. No other genres so actively invite representations of the ultimate goals of feminism: worlds free of sexism, worlds in which women's contributions (to science) are recognized and valued, worlds that explore the diversity of women's desire and sexuality, and worlds that move beyond gender.
— Elyce Rae Helford
History
As early as the English Restoration, female authors were using themes of SF and imagined futures to explore women's issues, roles, and place in society. This can be seen as early as 1666 in Margaret Cavendish's The Blazing World, in which she describes a utopian kingdom ruled by an empress. This foundational work has garnered attention from some feminist critics, such as Dale Spender, who considered this a forerunner of the science fiction genre, more generally.[4] Another early female writer of science fiction was Mary Shelley. Her novel Frankenstein (1818) dealt with the asexual creation of new life, and has been considered by some a reimagining of the Adam and Eve story.
Women writers involved in the utopian literature movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries could be considered the first feminist SF authors. Their texts, emerging during the first-wave feminist movement, often addressed issues of sexism through imagining different worlds that challenged gender expectations. In 1881, Mizora: A Prophecy described a women-only world with technological innovations such as parthenogenesis, videophones, and artificial meat.[6][3]
en.m.wikipedia.org/…
Second-wave feminism
By the 1960s, science fiction was combining sensationalism with political and technological critiques of society. With the advent of second-wave feminism, women's roles were questioned in this "subversive, mind expanding genre".[18] Three notable texts of this period are Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness (1969), Marge Piercy's Woman on the Edge of Time (1976) and Joanna Russ' The Female Man (1970). Each highlights what the authors believe to be the socially constructed aspects of gender roles by creating worlds with genderless societies.[19] Two of these authors were pioneers in feminist criticism of science fiction during the 1960s and 70s through essays collected in The Language of the Night (Le Guin, 1979) and How To Suppress Women's Writing (Russ, 1983] Octavia Butler's Kindred (1979) tells the story of an African American woman living in the United States in 1979 who uncontrollably time travels to the antebellum South. The novel poses complicated questions about the nature of sexuality, gender, and race when the present faces the past.en.m.wikipedia.org/...
(Arguably the most famous feminist story probably ever written);
Houston, Houston, Do You Read?
by Alice Sheldon (James Tiptree jr )
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/…
suhailrafidi.wordpress.com/...
Houston, Houston, Do You Read?" is a novella by James Tiptree, Jr. (pseudonym of Alice Sheldon). It won a Nebula Award for Best Novella in 1976 and a Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1977.enacademic.com/…
"written in the 1970s by Alice Sheldon. (Tiptree was her pen name.) Three male astronauts encounter a strange space craft after their own ship is damaged by a solar flare. They are unable to return to the planet as planned, but they're rescued by this other crew. The crew is human, but something's a little different about them.
The overall question is: what would future society look like, function like, if there were no males? Can males introduced to such a society adapt, or will their essential sexual-aggressive-warlike male nature always dominate?"
Winners of the James Tiptree, Jr. Award include "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell (1996), "Black Wine" by Candas Jane Dorsey (1997), Redwood and Wildfire by Andrea Hairston (2011),[29] The Drowning Girl by Caitlin R. Kiernan (2012), "The Carhullan Army" by Sarah Hall (2007), Ammonite by Nicola Griffith (1993), and "The Conqueror's Child" by Suzy McKee Charnas (1999). All of these authors have had an important impact on the SF world by adding a feminist perspective to the traditionally male genre.
Some Leading writers in feminist speculative fiction
Ursula le guin James Tiptree Kate Wilhelm Carol Emshwiller Octavia Butler Pat Murphy Joanna Russ....many more including: N.K. Jemisin Andre Norton Anne McCaffrey
Connie Willis Nnedi Okorafor C.J. Cherryh Jane Yolen Lois McMaster Bujold
Octavia Butler
Octavia Estelle Butler was an American science fiction writer, one of the best-known among the few African-American women in the field. She won both Hugo and Nebula awards. In 1995, she became the first science fiction writer to receive the MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant.
goodreads.com/...
Writers such as , Octavia E. Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, Minister Faust, Nnedi Okorafor, N. K. Jemisin, Tananarive Due, Andrea Hairston, , Nisi Shawl, are among the writers who continue to work in black science fiction and speculative fiction.History · 19th century · Early 20th century · Afrofuturism
Sep 7, 2018 · Yes, this is another post-apocalyptic world where men keep women in breeding pits. But it's such a good one
Feb 2, 2019 · Conventional wisdom holds that science fiction was written almost exclusively by men until the advent of feminism in the 1960s and '70s
8 Must-Read Feminist Science Fiction Books
From Ursula K. Le Guin to Joanna Russ to Octavia Butler, feminist sci-fi writers have been using science fiction to tell powerful stories about space heroines, female commanders and rulers, and general bad ass futuristic females that explore important themes of gender, sexuality, and race. They're stories from the female perspective, about the female perspective, and, as often is the case in real life, they're stories that end with the girl saving herself.
www.bustle.com/...
Overcoming rear-guard resistance, American Indian writers and their allies are blasting a place in the speculative genre for an Indigenous worldview
Petition:
The Federal Parliament of Somalia is set to vote on a heavily amended "Intercourse Bill" that will further violate the human rights, agency and bodily autonomy of children, women and girls in Somalia.
www.change.org/…
WOW LINKS for week
8/15/20:
[Three days from now (Aug. 18th) marks the 100th anniversary of the final ratification of the 19th Amendment, which added these words to the United States Constitution:
"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of Sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."]
Joe Biden picks Kamala Harris as his running mate in Historic first for a Woman of Color
theguardian
Washington (CNN)It took President Donald Trump less than two minutes to reach for the word "nasty" as he reacted to California Sen. Kamala Harris' historic selection as the first Black woman to join a major-party ticket.
The insults all played into racist and sexist stereotypes about Black women and made clear that Trump does not intend to throw away a playbook filled with misogynistic attacks and dog-whistle racism that have imbued his political career, even as the Biden campaign advances a barrier-breaking ticket
www.cnn.com/...
The Trump world’s approach to Harris was somewhat scattershot, with the Biden campaign counting at least 20 lines of attack the president’s campaign used against her. Apparently it’s still trying to figure out how to best smear her. But racism and misogyny were central to the attacks.
www.huffpost.com/...
Hilarious McSweeney's piece on the "totally not racist or sexist" attacks we're going to hear on our historic VP candidate.
this Women’s March petition to Biden & Harris, asking that they put “women leaders at the center of the Cabinet and every department", and fight "for progressive policies that improve the lives of all women”, once they’re in office. And also, a graphic regarding Harris being the VP nominee, that could perhaps be embedded in the diary.
Yesterday was Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, and lastly, a couple of news items:
Supreme Court Decision on Birth Control Is a Threat to Women With Chronic Illness
Texas clinics say later abortions rose after state's temporary ban
.
Analysis of John Roberts' strategy:
https://slate.com/…
from Haaretz Middle East News — Aug 10 — Egyptian Women Suffer the Government's Social Media Hypocrisy —Egypt doesn't do much to protect women who have been raped or sexually harassed, but wakes up when young women appear on TikTok videos and imprisons them “as if it were the Middle Ages,” as one Egyptian commentator put it.— Great photo at that link of women protesters with signs, “Control your SONS, not your DAUGHTERS”, and at this July article,Accusations of Serial Assault Spark New #MeToo Wave in Egypt — Over 100 women have emerged online, accusing a former student at American University in Cairo of [multiple attacks of] sexual harassment, assault, blackmail or rape — photo from a 2014 protest, “Don’t tell me how to dress, tell THEM not to rape.”
(From May , but it's still happening):
Women Are Losing More Jobs In Coronavirus Shutdowns
www.npr.org/...
Definitions:
Ecofeminism is a branch of feminism that sees environmentalism, and the relationship between women and the earth, as foundational to its analysis and practice. Ecofeminist thinkers draw on the concept of gender to analyse the relationships between humans and the natural world.[1]
Ecofeminist theory asserts that a feminist perspective of ecology does not place women in the dominant position of power, but rather calls for an egalitarian, collaborative society in which there is no one dominant group.[4] Today, there are several branches of ecofeminism, with varying approaches and analyses, including liberal ecofeminism, spiritual/cultural ecofeminism, and social/socialist ecofeminism (or materialist ecofeminism).[4] Interpretations of ecofeminism and how it might be applied to social thought include ecofeminist art, social justice and political philosophy, religion, contemporary feminism, and poetry.en.m.wikipedia.org/...
In the 1993 essay entitled "Ecofeminism: Toward Global Justice and Planetary Health" authors Greta Gaard and Lori Gruen outline what they call the "ecofeminist framework". The essay provides a wealth of data and statistics in addition to outlining the theoretical aspects of the ecofeminist critique. The framework described is intended to establish ways of viewing and understanding our current global situations so that we can better understand how we arrived at this point and what may be done to ameliorate the ills.
Gaard and Gruen argue that there are four sides to this framework:
- The mechanistic materialist model of the universe that resulted from the scientific revolution and the subsequent reduction of all things into mere resources to be optimized, dead inert matter to be used.
- The rise of patriarchal religions and their establishment of gender hierarchies along with their denial of immanent divinity.
- Self and other dualisms and the inherent power and domination ethic it entails.
- Capitalism and its claimed intrinsic need for the exploitation, destruction and instrumentalization of animals, earth and people for the sole purpose of creating wealth.
They hold that these four factors have brought us to what ecofeminists see as a "separation between nature and culture" that is for them the root source of our planetary ills.[8]
en.m.wikipedia.org/...
Resources:
The LSA Womanist/Feminist Forum
(The Internet's largest African American Forum.
from an African American perspective.)
"There's a lot of different and very specific types of feminism out there. Which one(s) do you most identify with?"
· Womanism/Black Feminism - Racism and gender discrimination are two sides of the same coin. (I assume we all know the meaning of this)
· Liberal Feminism - Advocates for equality between the sexes through social and political reforms, and legal means. Importance of an individual, and believe that every woman can assert her place in society and gain the rights she deserves is stressed. Leans more towards 'sameness' perspective, and seeks to bring about a change only in the present state of society, and not a revolution as such.
· Radical Feminism - Belief that it is the male-dominated hierarchy (or patriarchy) which is responsible for the oppressed status of women today. According to this branch of feminism, if changes are not brought about in this hierarchy, there can be no equality between men and women, and that a total reconstruction of the society is necessary to bring about the desired reforms.
· Cultural Feminism - Developed from radical feminism, although they hold many opposing views. Belief that there is a "female nature" or "female essence." This feminism acknowledges the uniqueness of female qualities and the difference between them and that of men's. These qualities are not entirely biological but also psychological and cultural nature. Female essence should be celebrated, and infused with the male-dominated world to provide the right balance to the working of society. It is believed that this will lead to fewer wars and violence.
· Marxist/Socialist Feminism - Belief that the oppressed status of women can be attributed to the unequal treatment at both the workplace, and in the house. Financial and personal exploitation, the institution of marriage, childbirth and childcare, prostitution, and domestic work. The capitalist system is to blame for the inequalities women face.
· Intersectional Feminism - Feminism that is inclusive to all that are considered to be apart of a marginalized group in society. This includes but is not limited to all race, gender identities, sexual orientations, s3x workers, etc
· Separatist Feminism - Form of radical feminism that holds that opposition to patriarchy is best done through focusing exclusively on women and girls. Some separatist feminists believe that men cannot make positive contributions to the feminist movement and that even well-intentioned men replicate the dynamics of patriarchy.
www.lipstickalley.com/...
Bill That Would Allow Child Marriage Comes Under Fire In Somalia
The proposed legislation would allow a girl to be married once her sexual organs mature.
The new Sexual Intercourse Related Crimes Bill “would represent a major setback in the fight against sexual violence in Somalia and across the globe” and should be withdrawn immediately, the United Nations special representative on sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten, said in a statement Tuesday.
Feminists in Turkey have called on the rest of the world not to forget the original context of Instagram’s #challengeaccepted trend, which was supposed to draw attention to skyrocketing rates of gender-based violence in the country before it was co-opted by western celebrities. www.theguardian.com/...
*Trigger warning violence*
*Trigger warning violence*
("Comfort" women)
Women don't need to 'lean in' like men –
men need to lead more like women
Arwa Mahdawi
We have been taught that if we want to get ahead we should act like men. Perhaps it’s time we stop doing that
www.theguardian.com/...
We’re living like it’s not happening': Michelle Obama opens up about menopause www.theguardian.com/...
Stop Telling Secular Western Women to be Quiet
THE WEST IS NOT A FEMINIST PARADISE
uncommongroundmedia.com/...
Black Women in history:
Mary Church Terrell and the Power of Language Sometimes freedom is a matter of timing. Mary Church Terrell knew that lesson well. She was born in Memphis in September 1863 — the middle of the Civil War. Her parents had been enslaved, but Mary was born free, and she charted a course of leadership that helped change the lives of women and men across the nation. She became a suffragist. She fought for the rights of all people of color. Holding America to the promises of the Declaration of Independence — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all — became her life’s work.
Mary Church Terrell (September 23, 1863 – July 24, 1954) was one of the first African-American women to earn a college degree, and became known as a national activist for civil rights and suffrage.[1] She taught in the Latin Department at the M Street school (now known as Paul Laurence Dunbar High School)—the first African American public high school in the nation—in Washington, DC. In 1896, she was the first African-American woman in the United States to be appointed to the school board of a major city, serving in the District of Columbia until 1906 en.m.wikipedia.org/...
The Amish Keep to Themselves.
And They’re Hiding a Horrifying Secret
A year of reporting by Cosmo and Type Investigations reveals a culture of incest, rape, and abuse.
www.cosmopolitan.com/...
Hibo Wardere: FGM Is A Life Sentence
www.malanational.org/...
Downing Street plans rape prosecution targets for police and CPS
The Supreme Court’s recent decision in June Medical v. Russo was hailed by many liberal court watchers as a win for reproductive rights, as the court declined to overturn Roe v. Wade and formally eliminate the right to an abortion. On Friday, however, a federal appeals court ruled that June Medical significantly narrowed the constitutional right to abortion access. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel swept away an injunction that had blocked Arkansas from enforcing a slew of abortion restrictions, including a requirement that patients pregnant as a result of rape notify their rapists before terminating their pregnancy. The appellate court’s decision confirms that Chief Justice John Roberts’ controlling opinion in June Medical will serve as a tool to eviscerate abortion rights. slate.com/...
Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty
2 months ago · ST. PETERSBURG
'Pussy Riot' Singer Says Latest Songs Challenge Domestic Abuse
https://www.rferl.org/....
Lawmaker With COVID: My Health Choices Are Up To Me. Critics: That’s What Women Assert.
Rep. Louie Gohmert, who believes women should be forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term, is suddenly all about (his) freedom of choice.www.huffpost.com/...
Women and words: why language matters:
From ‘bossy’ to ‘battleaxe’ and ‘spinster’ to ‘slut’ 'Karen' -many of the words used to describe women are laden with negativity, judgement and criticism. In Word of Mouth, Nikki Bedi and Professor Deborah Cameron explore how sexism is reflected in the English language and discuss why the words we choose are important. Here are a few of the interesting issues they uncover.
www.bbc.co.uk/...
Women are fighting back against porn culture
For too long, the fetishising of pain has encouraged killers to think they can claim their partner wanted rough sexwww.thetimes.co.uk/...
Benevolent sexism: a feminist comic explains how it holds women backwww.theguardian.com/...
A wonderful look (with the actual photos) at a 1947 Life magazine article on women coping with the work/home dilemma.
https://www.life.com/...
Next week Part 2:
"Science Fiction has a woman problem"
Saturday 8/22/20 8:00pm edt
dailykos.com
Thanks to EC, Mettle Fatigue, Tara, Ramara,OBSS, and everyone else,
for this week's:
(More older Links):
dailykos.com/...
