Feminism

ISIS Clip 90

Thanks to Grace de Jesus-Sievert of Isis International - Manila for this cartoon.

What is a feminist? Rebecca West (1892-1983) said "People call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat ". A daily dose of feminism is the aspirin that keeps women's rights circulating.

WEL member Eve Mahlab commented (Australian Financial Review 29/9/2005) on the appointment of High Court Judge Susan Crennan explaining that "In feminist terms Crennan's success is simple. She thinks like a man and works like a dog".

Generally, Eve says "Women, no matter how qualified, are overlooked. It requires affirmative action to make them visible. I believe the Women Lawyers Association took such affirmative action when they presented the AG with a list of women qualified for the job."

Our name "Feminist" - Read on: Feminist is not a dirty word.

Paul Norton has written an article debunking the idea that feminism is dead. Read on: Decline in Feminism - The Backlash Myth.

Women who are feminists--who can think and behave as interesting human beings--are sexy according to this article. Read on: Anti Post Feminism.

Feminist Colours and Symbols

White (for purity) was used by the 19^th century Women’s Christian Temperance Union and was an important element in the suffrage campaigns in Australia and New Zealand.

The largest and longest-established organisation, the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) adopted the colours red and white to advertise the first big suffrage demonstration in London in February 1907.

Mrs Pankhurst, leader of the more militant Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), planned a rival event to take place a week after the NUWSS demonstration, She adopted the colours White for purity in public and private life, Purple for dignity, self-reverence and self-respect and Green for hope and new life.

The Women's Freedom League (WFL), to which the Australian suffragette, Muriel Matters belonged, used the colours gold, green and white. These colours are still used by feminists in South Australia.

Vida Goldstein was almost certainly responsible for the introduction of the Purple, Green and White colours into Australia.

The second wave of the women's movement was distinguished from the first not only by the use of the WSPU colours but also by the widespread use of the female symbol. This stylised version of Venus's looking glass used in science to denote the female (the male was given the shield and spear of Mars) was appropriated to assert a new pride in the collective identity of women. (acknowledgements to Marian Sawer)