Feminists: What where they thinking: Review and reflection

Netflix Documentary

Cynthia Adams, a photographer had captured pictures of women during second-wave feminism (1970s) and published a book named 'emergence'. 40 years later, this documentary explores what were they thinking back then and what do they think now.

Source: Screenshots

You can't help but notice how free, bold, confident they all look. Poised and elegant with their own identity. The rational thinker in us would say, But, aren't all poses for any magazine the same? Just a pose? Aren't you over reading? Well, these pictures could as well be another act, expressing how freedom might be rather than how it was for them. But, that is the thing, I wonder what would my magazine picture pose be? how do I think freedom looks like on me?

source: google

You'd see that most women opted to be nude in their emergence shot. But, they have consciously chosen it. And No, they weren't in the entertainment industry and were not pornstars. They were regular people with regular lives. One difference - they had realized what their freedom looks like. Like, I know for a fact that i can never go nude for a magazine shot because of my years of conditioning that nudity is always and only associated with sexuality. This is a chained thought. And i am not free with chained thoughts. 

Have you wondered though, what would your emergence shot be like? How do you think you would look like when you are at your innermost free self?

Exploring further, the documentary gives snippets of demonstrations and sloganeering that are very catchy and just make you feel you were there, with them, on those streets, with your own placard. As one of the feminist says "I felt an embryonic kicking of feminism, even though i did not know i was pregnant".

Source: Screenshot

Wendy Lee is a filmmaker from our generation who thought she did not have to be openly feminist and especially because all/most men around her call themselves feminist, and it is such a cool statement to make, a cool stance to take. Throughout the documentary, going through the Book, she explores everyday sexism in her own life and recalls her own narratives and experiences during all those times.

Everytime, there is a demonstration scene on the film, my heart almost skips a beat, to see hundreds of women who have taken to the street to voice their opinions and fight for what is Right. As an organizer myself, I know how difficult it is to gather even 100 people in my city. And this is in 2019, with the most advanced technology. Men and Women would rather sit at home and tweet/post rather than show up and unite. Don't take me wrong, i love tweetathons, but they are never a demonstration. And to think that hundreds and thousands could gather in 1970s without any mobile communication is crazy awesome. Respect and gratitude, to all of them.

Why do we smile so much? Why do we try to be so appealing? why are we so afraid to show our anger? Why is anger considered not feminine? - Susan Brownmiller

Well, I am a Hangry feminist for one. But, let me reserve my hangry opinions for another blogpost.

Jan Fonda - actor, activist says "We are all feisty as girls and as puberty hits, we are told, Be a Good girl. Stuff that anger. Be a good girl, it naturally implies that you are not good".

The quintessential good girl - that is what all of us aspire for as we grow up thanks to our rich cultures and traditions and rituals. How good is good and for who is something all of us struggle with as we grow.

Source: Google

At the 2017 Women's March, a mother and daughter duo explain why they felt a need to partake in the March and how the mother herself was part of such a March when she was a teen with her mother and says, she cannot believe she is still asking for the same basic Rights.

"anything that helps half of the human race, helps the other half as well."

Another feminist says how she discovered her path to liberation by participating in demonstrations for other causes. It made her realize that there are so many other wonderful feisty women around us and we must associate more with such likes. "There is the wave and i am getting on it".

Now, sometimes i act as if i coined the term feminism, that i am so confident about what i say and how i react and it just feels overtly natural although deep inside i am always confused, weary and anxious. A feminist recalls this feeling and i soooo resonate with it. "I sailed into second-wave feminism as if i was born for it. The fact that the leaders among us may have been strong-willed and rebellious and already bent on accomplishment with a ferocity. But, women were no longer just competing one against the other for a man. Women were now all part of a team fighting for all women's freedom"

Source: Screenshot (Also, need a time machine, NOW)

Another excerpt - "For those who think that the women's liberation movement is a joke, vaguely connected with burning bras and getting in the men-only bars, i disabuse you of that notion. It is about equal pay and equal opportunity in the job market". It is so sad that even today, almost 50 years later, men and women do not understand feminism and dont even try to. They know what feminism has done for them, especially the women, but they are so deep down the male-appeasement lane that it is a mammoth task to trudge back. They want to be the cool girl who is cool with cool boys around. I must say and accept, I was this exact person. But, not anymore. I don't resonate with that person anymore and i regret not having found feminism any sooner.

I am a feminist. But, what has feminism done for me, what are my contributions to feminism, how do others react/respond to it, what can i do to change it, which wave do i belong to, would it be the same for a tribal woman in a remote forest, how will she ever realize and have a chance for her own liberation, wouldn't it be wonderful to see Indian Women on screen recollecting their feminism,  and so on. The confused social worker is very well today with a working beating heart and she will read on and march on - for equality. 

In conclusion - Watch it. And let's have a chat later!

P.S. An entire post next week on what have these amazing women changed for us. How were things back then and how are things now and why we need feminism now more than ever.

Disclaimer: The views are personal. But, we all know personal is political. :D