Here's the second part to Charlotte's piece on feminism's new tactic "call-out culture" growing amongst Generation Z.
Any part that sparks your interest, please, leave a comment and let us know.
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Any educated feminist will likely tell you that all this action sometimes feels thankless. Despite the significant leaps to equality that have been made over the years, recognising those who remain stuck in regressive ideals often leads to being called a "humourless snowflake" - just a tad frustrating.
People have just had enough, feeling like we should be further along by now. So tolerance is low and reactions are high. In the age of likes and retweets, online communication can often resemble an echo chamber with any rebuttal immediately dismissed. Being at the centre of a "calling-out" in the fast-moving digital world can feel overwhelming, with notifications popping up like tiny stabs.
I have definitely seen how transformative calling out uneducated and problematic attitudes can be on an individual level, because I've been called out. As a teenager, I claimed I wasn't a feminist because I shaved and didn't hate men. I argued with the outspoken feminists in my classes who I considered rigid and unreasonable. Then, my sheltered life was breached by the harsh realities of being a woman in the working world - those feminists shook me awake. So I can certainly see where calling out is the only way to break through. Also I agree with the fact we need more men calling out their lad mates on bullshit, misogynist "jokes" as they won't take is seriously coming from a woman - hence the misogyny part.
The problematic ideals that have subjugated women for hundreds of years are engrained norms. But the volume of policing people in order to achieve instantaneous change is unrealistic and will only cause friction and more push back.
I believe International Women's Day is about acknowledging the women who have made a positive impact both personally and publicly. But I also see it as the day to start the newest agenda for women to prioritise. An annual "Woman-ifesto" if you will.
This International Women's Day, women should continue to reinforce the importance of encouraging one another and giving praise when it is due. But, if I could be so bold, I'd like to pitch the agenda for the next year: prioritising the reformation of infrastructures that perpetuate the systematic oppression specific to individual nations and occupations. Call out leaders' rhetoric and behaviour, call out inaccessibility (education and healthcare are still out of reach for many females), call out the policies.
We've done amazing things this far, so let's focus on what's important. Maybe a change in tactic can provoke a chain of behaviour where younger girls and women create campaigns inspired by the diligence and composure we, Generation Z, established.
- Charlotte Greer
(Image via Pinterest)