So often this blog is filled with the unhappy stuff in life--discrimination and oppression, misrepresentation of girls and women in the media and the like. It is so nice when I get to write about the hopeful moments, inspiring people, and how I rejuvenate with a little vitamin F! I spent the last two weekends in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to loving the hip and friendly city, both of these weekends were filled with feminist inspiration. The first weekend was a fun trip that my husband and I made to see Ani Difranco in concert. I have been a fan of Ani since a friend introduced me to her work in college. Ani is considered by many to be an inspiration and a feminist icon. As a folksinger for over 20 years, Ani's music has touched the hearts and lives of so many people (lots of them women!) with her honest and thoughtful lyrics. She unflinchingly writes about love, sexuality, feminism, politics, and life. I commented to my partner on our drive home that I can not imagine the talent it takes to write such meaningful things in ways that are catchy and moving. Her latest album Which Side Are You On? continues this tradition with lyrics like: "feminism ain’t about women Seeing this artist push the limits to speak truth as she sees it, and do it in a way that gets a room full of people singing, was incredibly inspiring. I was back in Columbus the following weekend for work. The governing board (Implementation Collective as we call it) of the Association for Women in Psychology was having our fall meeting. As a member of the Collective, I was geared up for two long days of meetings about the ins and outs of the organization and planning for the March 2014 conference which will be held in Columbus, Ohio. I have been a member of the Implementation Collective for two years now (we serve three year terms). We work hard to keep the fantastic feminist organization going. We are a volunteer board, so we have to create time in our already busy lives to fill these roles. For me, it is worth every second and every ounce of energy. We challenge ourselves and each other to be better people and help AWP lives its mission to be a diverse feminist community of psychologists and allied professionals invested in the integration of personal, professional, and political power in the service of social justice. We also support each other and learn from each other. This meeting was particularity fun for me as I got to drive with and room with an amazing women and enjoyed the time getting to know her better. AWP is a space where I feel like I can be my truest and authentic self. It is a space where I feel appreciated and understood. It is a space where I feel connected to other people who share my vision of a just and inclusive world without sexism and oppression. And by being together and working together, we are making that vision come alive. So turn up the music, find a good community, and give yourself a healthy dose of vitamins. Comments are closed.
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AboutEMPOWERTAINMENT aims to take a critical look at media in regards to how gender and women/girls are portrayed. From popular articles, videos, and websites, to original submissions, we want to not only examine the media and its relation to gender, but help shift it. Archives
November 2017
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