Fight Like a Girl

How to Be a Fearless Feminist

Megan Seely

• Publisher: NYU Press
• Year: 2007
• Print ISBN: 9780814740026
• eBook ISBN: 9780814741214
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Feminism & Feminist Theory
• Index: Social Sciences

A blueprint for the next generation of feminist activists

Fight Like a Girl offers a fearless vision for the future of feminism. By boldly detailing what is at stake for women and girls today, Megan Seely outlines the necessary steps to achieve true political, social and economic equity for all. Reclaiming feminism for a new generation, Fight Like a Girl speaks to young women who embrace feminism in substance but not necessarily in name.

With an eye toward what it takes to create actual change, Seely offers a practical guide for how to get involved, take action and wage successful events and campaigns.

The book is full of valuable resources for novice and committed activists alike, including such features as "How to Write a Press Release," "Guidelines to a Good Media Interview," "A Feminist Shopping Guide," and a list of over 100 Fabulous Feminist Resources, including organizations, websites, and events to attend. Each chapter is full of ideas, both big and small, for ways to get involved, get active, and make a difference.

Exploring such issues as body image and self-acceptance, education and empowerment, health and sexuality, political representation, economic justice, and violence against women, Fight Like a Girl looks at the challenges that women and girls face while emphasizing the strength that they independently, and collectively, embody. Seely delves into the politics of the feminist movement, exploring both women's history and current–day realities with easy-to-follow lists and timelines like those on "Women Who Made a Difference," "Chronology of the U.S. Women's Movement," and "Do's and Don'ts for Young Feminists."

A Third Wave manifesto as well as an introduction to feminism for a new generation, Fight Like A Girl is a powerful blueprint for young women today.

1

Fight Like a Girl

In my work as an activist and teacher, I hear people ask, “What can I do?” One of the main goals of this book is to answer that question. Activism can often seem out of reach, but in truth the best part of activism is that anyone can do it. Activism can easily be incorporated into our daily lives—from the conversations we have with friends to where we decide to shop. Activism is individual, but it is also collective. The action we take impacts those around us directly and indirectly. Whether small and individual or large and in a group, the steps we take to change the world connect us with others. True equality and respect have not yet been achieved; activism is still necessary. Sharing our realities to educate one another on the challenges that persist is an important step to politicizing our lives and recognizing that the issues we face are shared by others. The largest hurdle to activism is finding commonalities with one another so that we share the common goal of ending all discrimination and creating a world where we are not only treated but also regarded as equal. Beyond this hurdle, we learn that all of our voices are valid, that activism takes many forms, and that activism can be incorporated into every aspect of our lives.

As young adults today, we are confronted with the challenge of how to strike a balance between our desires and our social responsibilities. We have inherited a sense of equality that leads us to believe that the fight for justice is complete. We are told that feminism and social change are no longer necessary. Unfortunately, the emphasis on individuality, along with the misconception that equality has already been achieved, leads to the failure to fully appreciate the necessity of activism and feminism.

Let there be no mistake—equality is not yet enjoyed by all, and feminism is not dead. Indeed, we have achieved many rights and made many gains, but we are not there yet. The fight for true political, social, and economic justice continues. And, while we often enjoy the benefits of a fight for equality that we were not required to undertake, we must realize that this equality is not universal and that it is this generation that must take up the fight. This movement belongs to us all. We each have a stake; we all can contribute. All voices, experiences, perspectives, and visions can be incorporated and represented, for we all benefit from shared and practiced equality. We can raise our voices to speak against injustice at every level—individually and institutionally. We can elect people to office at every level of government who will honor and protect us all. We need to make sure that women are represented in leadership in every social institution within our global society—so that women are represented in any and all decision-making bodies. Women must have control over their bodies, sexualities, choices, and lives. Women must be safe at each and every turn—no exception. We can join together, work together, protect and support one another. We can be individuals who also find a common ground from which to speak collectively. We can share our stories, lead by example, and be activists in our daily lives. This is what it means to fight like a girl.

It is terrifying how many gains have been undone or have come under serious attack in just that last two years. It serves as a powerful reminder of how much work remains to be done. Jen, 30, white, heterosexual, Colorado

Grass roots n. 1. ordinary citizens, esp. as contrasted with the leadership or elite. 2. the people inhabiting these areas, esp. as a political, social, or economic group. 3. the origin or basis of something.

Ac·tiv·ism n. the practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political or other goals, as by demonstrations, protests, etc.—ac·tiv·ist, n., adj.

HOW TO FIGHT LIKE A GIRL

No act is too small; you may never know the full extent of your impact. Activism is contagious. While you may be one person, your voice and actions can touch others, whose voices and actions can touch still others, and so forth until we experience change. This is how activism works. This is how Title IX was achieved, how sexual harassment was recognized, how laws are passed and policies created. Social change begins on a small level with a small group of people who envision a new way. But before we get too far, let’s get right to it. Here are some actions you can take:

• Talk to friends, family, students, and/or co-workers about political or social issues that concern you. Gather information to share with them from organizations, Web sites, books, or classes.

• Make a phone call to an elected official, advertising sponsor, business, or school to let them know how you feel about their policies, practices, or products.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in response to an article about women, health care, politics, or any issue that interests you.

• Set up a table to give out information in your community or on your campus. You may need to get permission from your campus or community business, or check into using a free-speech area. Make sure that you stand in front of the table to hand out materials and answer questions—don’t hide behind the table; be accessible. Let the table hold your materials, not you! One variation to a table is sidewalk chalking. When I was in college, we did a sidewalk chalking where we wrote meeting and event information on the sidewalk in front of the student union and main buildings—requires less people power and still gets your message out!

• Host a consciousness raising group—bring together friends, family, or colleagues to discuss an important issue.

• Organize a house party to educate and mobilize your friends to vote or to support a feminist candidate running for office. Invite people to come over to discuss an upcoming election—have each participant research a different issue and bring the information to the group. Make it a potluck, or meet over coffee.

• Work on a voter registration campaign; register people in your community to vote in the next election.

• Offer to watch the children of someone you know so that the person can go to the polls and vote.

• Give testimony at your local city hall or before the state legislature or Congress.

• Organize a human billboard action—gather some friends to line a main street in your town with signs that have a message, each sign carrying a portion of the message: for example, “Honk… if you… support… equality.”

• Organize a candlelight vigil to raise awareness about an issue or to commemorate an important event/date. After a series of clinic bombings in northern California, I participated in a candlelight vigil that served a dual purpose—the vigil raised awareness about violence directed toward our reproductive healthcare providers and also provided some much-needed protection for a specific health center. We surrounded the building in shifts and camped out to protect the health center from attack that night.

• Organize a speakout, like the Take Back the Night rallies where women have the opportunity to speak about their experiences with violence in a safe and supportive environment. This can be done with any issue.

• Organize an informational picket—make signs, bring together a bunch of people, and walk back and forth in front of a business, courthouse, or legislature, sharing information with people passing by.

• Boycott—a boycott is the withholding of financial support (e.g., by refusing to buy a particular product) as a form of protest against the policies or practices of a business, institution, or organization. There are many legal guidelines for a boycott, so make sure to get legal advice before calling for one.

• Plan a girlcott or a “boycott” related to a specifically woman-centered cause. Sometimes, a “girlcott” is defined as bringing resources into an organization, business, or institution to support their efforts—in other words, the opposite of a boycott.

• Organize street theater. Dress up and act out your concerns in a public venue. During the 2000 elections, I was one of nine people who dressed up as the Supreme Court justices and then held a press conference about what we saw as a threat to the Court.

• Organize a benefit—for example, a walk-a-thon, a concert, a comedy night, an art show.

• Organize a rally—small, medium, or large. Have people come together in a central location to hear speakers and receive information about a given event.

• Organize a march—small, medium, or large. Have people gather in one place, hear speakers, and then walk in an organized fashion to another location. People carry signs with political messages and sign and shout chants to raise awareness about an important issue. Most notably, in April 2004, the feminist movement hosted the March for Women’s Lives in Washington, D.C., to emphasize the critical issues that women are facing today. The march has been called the largest march in U.S. history, with approximately 1.15 million participants!¹

The possibilities for action are endless; I’ve provided just a few ideas that I’ve taught. Talk to organizations, talk to friends, and come up with your own ideas. Don’t let taking action overwhelm you; start at the level you are comfortable. Throughout this book, I offer suggestions for actions you can take related to the issues discussed in the book. Again, this list is not exhaustive. Be creative. Have fun.

Regardless of the type of action you plan, there are a few guidelines that always apply:

Don’t try to do it all on your own. Involve others—delegate responsibility.

Develop a realistic time line and follow it.

Imagine all the things that could go wrong, and plan for contingencies in advance.

Develop a media strategy from the beginning.

Fundraise and recruit new people to help with future actions.

STEPS TO TAKING ACTION

Activism is critically important, and it should be fun. Participants, observers, and the press all respond better to something that is creative and fun. You don’t have to do activism on your own; invite others to join. Share the planning and the responsibilities. Look for creative funding to support the event—remember, there are many useful donations besides just money. Don’t be afraid to ask. Many grocery stores and shops are happy to support your work, and they can donate supplies, food, drinks, advertising, or prizes. When asking a company, make sure that it is a company with which you want to be associated. For example, given WalMart’s consistent opposition to unionizing and its track record of treating women workers unfairly, I don’t want to be connected to the store in any way. I particularly don’t want to give it recognition for donating to my event.

The following are twelve steps to help you in taking action.² I include these steps to give you the full range of assistance for the largest event you can take. Note, however, that not everyone will plan a major event. Depending on the size and extent of your action, you may not need all twelve steps. Remember, activism has many levels; start where you are comfortable and build from there.

1. Define the issue that you want to raise awareness on. Does the problem concern reproductive rights, motherhood, economic justice, ending violence against women, the environment, the media or young feminist issues, or something else?

2. Work with other activists, and dialogue the issue to clarify the feminist analysis of the problem and the solution. Keep in mind everyone’s perspective, and be inclusive: How does this issue affect young women, women of color, lesbians, mothers, disabled women, or older women?

3. Decide what action to take. Should you picket, create street theater, host a speak-out or a candlelight vigil, o...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Preface How I Became a Teenage Activist
• The F-Word An Introduction
• 1 Fight Like a Girl
• 2 Catch a Wave
• 3 A movement for Everyone
• 4 At the Table
• 5 Good Enough
• 6 Knock ‘em Up … Knock ‘em Down
• 7 Fighting Back
• 8 … Like a Girl
• Appendix A Timeline and Checklist for Action
• Appendix B Building an Activist Kit
• Appendix C How to Write a Press Release
• Appendix D Guidelines to a Good Media Interview
• Appendix E Guidelines to Creating and Earning Effective Media
• Appendix F Feminist Shopping Guide
• Appendix G Where to Donate Stuff
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Author