It has been an incredible last few weeks. I quit my job that I’ve been with for almost 4 years and have since watched way too many episodes of The Office (U.S. version) while on vacation this week. Well, kind-of “vacation” since I don’t have a job… And no, I don’t have another J-O-B to replace it, but I do have plenty of projects on my plate: Essentially two categories—entrepreneurial stuff and feminist stuff, oh and screenwriting. We’re creating an app and I want to keep figuring out my role in the feminist world in NYC, meanwhile continuing and blogging here more, writing more articles, maybe another book? and now organizing with the Women Information Network’s Women of Color group. And I must say, I am really excited about my screenplay dream. Though still figuring out how to pursue that. Hmm… Essentially, transitioning to being a freelancer and also entrepreneur, simultaneously (?). Oh, and teaching a beginners co-counseling class. So I think I will be quite busy. I also decided last night I would start (letting myself) to read fiction again. Yes! Any suggestions are welcome!
The real point of this post is that I recently saw an amazing play performed and written by young women and girls called Facebook Me. (I think their show may have finished their run this year, but who knows, let’s hope they come back in the near future!) It totally brought tears to my eyes several times. It was incredible and shocking and realistic how they described their present-day realities (sexism) and how it’s all affected by online social networks—namely, Facebook.
One girl was a Facebook “virgin” and just creating her account for the first time, another girl’s dad completely humiliated her in front of her friends and his friends online by posting “I thought temper tantrums ended at the age of 3, but apparently not since [daughter's name] is having one right now” and tagged her. Another girl was conflicted by the amount of attention her breasts drew, at the same time both wanting the attention but also not wanting to be called out on wanting it. So, the same kind of teenage angst and drama that a lot of girls had at their age but also exacerbated by the kind of teasing and “coolness” and meanness that is especially unique and often comes with online social networks. Even if their Facebook “friends” aren’t commenting anonymously (and apparently you can have online friends who don’t and won’t talk to you offline) they are still saying things online that they most likely wouldn’t if in person. Many girls are pressured to feel they must portray a certain image of themselves online, like on their Facebook “wall”, including photos in poses with sexual innuendos and generally making their profile look as “cool” as possible.
Is sexism worse now? Do young women and girls have it harder now than 20 years ago? I don’t think it’s helpful or fair to compare and say a certain generation of women had it harder or easier, but it is important for us adult women to know and start learning what’s going on with girls these days. How can we consider ourselves feminists otherwise?
