Feminist activism...?

[bliss_eternal]

...anyone here involved in feminist centered activities, groups, etc. away from this board and the internet?

I understand (and respect) everyone's privacy, so only share whatever you are comfortable with. I just recieved my monthly request from NOW (requesting $$ for Hilary --heavy sigh--) and I wondered what kinds of things people here are involved in.

:hi:

[noamnety]

1. I am

occasional (alright, rare) clinic escort. Rare because it's a kinda long drive away, and I am torn between the use of gas, vs. the cause.

and a local radical feminist group. at the last meeting, we did some signs for freeway blogging. :)

[bliss_eternal]

6. Freeway blogging is so cool!

Seriously. :thumbsup: I always get a kick out of seeing a great message on an overpass.

I didn't realize anyone still utilized clinic escorts--that's awesome! Such important work. What women have to go through just to enter most clinics is beyond ridiculous--and scary.

[ismnotwasm]

2. Off and on

Mostly off the last couple of years. (However I'm going to day shift and hope to change all that) Lately I'm just a keyboard warrior and a snail mail letter writer. Amnesty International is one organization I belong to and while it's not strictly feminist, it helps me stay on top of human rights violations women face around the word. BTW I get snail mail AND email every single day asking for money--Everything from the League of Women voters to organizations I've never heard of.

I'm lucky, There are some great opportunities in my community, I get action alerts from several organizations. NARAL especially has all kinds of things to volunteer for. I hope to do more over the next few months, especially as the campaigns heat up.

[bliss_eternal]

5. Like you...

...I get mail from so many organizations--I wonder how some got my name. LOL! :shrug: I figure it's from signing on-line petitions.

[ThomCat]

3. I wish.

I haven't been able to do any volunteer work in two years now.

I miss being a volunteer geek. It's a big part of who I always thought I was. :(

[bliss_eternal]

4. Sorry, Thom.

:hug: I hope you're able to resume your activities eventually.

[lightningandsnow]

7. Some stuff

I volunteer at a local feminist bookstore, and even when I'm not volunteering there, I still hang out there all the time. Also I went to Ladyfest last weekend...which was amazing, by the way.

[Katherine Brengle]

8. Well,

other than the usual letter writing, angry blogging, and book reading, I try to focus my efforts on my friends and family - I figure that if we ever want another really strong wave of feminism to get off the ground, we need more recruits, so I talk myself hoarse every chance I get.

It took me a long time to be able to do that.

I've been thinking for awhile of getting trained to work in a rape crisis center, but I'm not quite there yet.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

9. I'm in my local NOW group

I've been going to the meetings because they are close to my job. We usually have some interesting speakers and I like the people in the group (we actually have a few male members!). Lately they've been pushing me to sign up for the Clinton campaign, which is annoying, since I've made it clear that I don't care for a lot of her stances and I consider her to be GOP-lite.

Between NOW and the labor people supporting her, I don't know which surprises and disappoints me more. Just because she's a woman and pro-choice (albeit with all those overtures to the other side) doesn't mean she is the best choice for women. Yes, she'll appoint a pro-choice pick to the SCOTUS, but it will be a pro-choice corporatist. She will support economic policies that are bad for all non-rich Americans, and that will always leave women the worse off.

[bliss_eternal]

10. You aren't the only one...

I sent NOW some money and within a few weeks I rec'd something from them announcing their endorsement of Hilary. :( I can't begin to express how surprised I was.

How do they respond after you've made it clear you aren't interested in working the campaign? Do they ignore you and continue to ask?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

11. Yep.

As far as they're concerned my hesitation is just a minor blip in the path to my inevitible acquiescence. She's a woman, you're a woman, ergo you will support her. As I said in a previous post, with the older women it's understandable. This is their last chance to see a woman President. Of course, I'm far too kind to inquire if they were supporting Carol Moseley-Braun when she was running.

With the women who are around my age or younger, I'm far less charitable. We have plenty of time to grow and support candidates who truly embody feminist and progressive values. Yes, it would be wonderful to have a woman in the top office but Hillary Clinton is not the right woman by a long shot. If I want someone who panders to corporations, free traders, warmongers, and fundies I'll vote for a Republican, thank you very much. Yes I will hold my nose and vote for her if she gets the nod. I'll probably help out on the campaign if it looks close between her and the GOP candidate. Other than that, hell no.

[ismnotwasm]

12. You it's funny, the ANA

(American Nurses Association)In their magazine this month had an editorial about presidential endorsement, seemed to recognize the fact that a jump up and do it because she's a woman is not good policy, (they didn't put it that way at all of course) and also acknowledged that whoever the ANA-PAC endorses, it will "create strong feelings from members" I thought it was a great way to handle the endorsement thing, as a process, a thought out one at that.

I understand why NOW did it I suppose, but I'm still disappointed at the timing and the method.

[bliss_eternal]

13. That was cool of them.

I like the ANA. I had positive experience speaking with some in their offices, they were very helpful. I was preparing to write an article about their work against Arnie (in CA).

I was so impressed with their efforts to maintain appropriate patient care ratios, and the way they gave Schwearzennegger hell. lol. Anyway, spoke to a super cool woman about it, got some great references ready to interview--pitched it to the periodical I had in mind...and the guy gave me bs about "not offending their advertisers." :eyes: I decided to NOT write for them. AT. ALL.

Funny thing, I don't even see it around anymore. Maybe it folded or went entirely on-line. :shrug:

[Name removed]

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