Thinking of creating a co-op blog, similar to this one. Back in the fall I had the brilliant idea of starting a feminist magazine - sort of like BITCH, BUST and Herizons. Then school really started and I just don't have the time to devote to layout, publishing and recruiting. Email me if you're intrested in participating.
Later.

Signed Grrl Friday.

Viva la revolutione...

Second semester has started and I'm taking a whildwind schedule chock-full of women's studies classes. To be truthful, I wasn't looking forward to methodology or theory classes, but both have turned out surprisingly intresting.
This afternoon my Theories prof, upon discussion of the various waves of feminism asked my small class of ten what the third wave consisted of, this conversation, coupled with a phenomenal article in the Fall issue of Herizons has gotten me thinking.

Name the waves and you'll inevitably come up with specific answers.
First Wave: the vote, suffragists, prohibition and angel of the house.
Second Wave: reproduction rights (including the pill), conciousness raising, women's studies, civil rights, peace movement.

But what about the Third Wave? What about MY wave?

My peers and I are in the initial stages of the third wave, the world has changed - far more than can be pinned on the internet and September 11. Apathy, especially within my generation is running rampant. The anti-globalization movement is fighting against mass consumerism headed by two groups, us and our parents. My parents have always supported my efforts and interest in feminism but this evening at dinner my Dad said something that made me really stop and think.

A conversation was taking place about my day and what my classes had discussed. I was talking about my newfound involvement with the Women's Studies Student Association at school, and expressing the apparent tension between the Association and Student Fed, and my Dad suddenly said: "Grrl Friday, maybe you should stop associating yourself with the word FEMINIST. I mean, you're not really all that involved in it anymore anyway. There's a bit of a negative connotation that goes along with it."

I was shocked. Beyond shocked, I was outraged. I replied "Dad, when I was seventeen and I decided that I was okay with who I was, and what I stood for, and started being proud of calling myself a feminist I had a symbol permanently inked on my back. That is no small feat. I am, and will always remain a FEMINIST." I was pissed, my Dad recoiled and apologized. This has proven to me that there is still a desperate need for female advocacy, my dad - a man who was raised amongst the turmoil of the 1960s and the subsequent revolutions shared the same opinion as the frat boys who make fun of me behind my back.

It is imperative that we continue the work that many, many, many women and men have created. Choose a topic or issue you support and go go go! This blog is my arena, and I'm always trying to make it better and more accessible to my readers and their interests. Questions, comments, concerns or article ideas? Just click on the email link on the top right-hand corner to drop me a line. I'd especially like feedback regarding a message board idea that's been floating around in my mind.

In closing I just want add that I've added a new >>geurilla activism and quote of the month (courtesy of Herizons magazine)

Signed Grrl Friday

New Year? Same Old, Same Old

I am angry. I need to rant.

Yesterday I narrowly missed catching a shoplifter at work. I am extrememly pissed off about this. We have been having a huge theft problem lately and I had a chance to stop part of it yesterday and I didn't because I was scared. When I get suspicious of people for shoplifting I get a huge adrenaline surge and I start to get shaky and mess up my words, so being able to act all cool and calm when dealing with a shoplifter is a bit tricky.

Next time I'd do it differently.

Along with the shoplifter thing, I feel like my workplace is falling apart at the seams. We had a management shift not too long ago and I miss my old managers. I loved my old manager, we were friends, she had confidence in me, I felt secure with her around. Things got done, she was always on top of things, she made our store into a well oiled machine.

Now with the new managers things are different. They have never closed the store, so me and the other supervisors and staff always have to - this is not fun as my store stays open quite late. There have been some problems between staff members and I don't think they're doing anything about it.
They changed the payroll password this week because I made a mistake on their payroll the week before. I felt like I failed, I don't like it when people react that way. All they needed to say was this was what you did wrong, this is how you don't do it again. That's how I work.

The store is a mess, and work's not getting done. The shelves are dusty, the paperwork is pilling up - I have no idea what direction we as a store are headed in.

I asked Markopoulous yesterday if he thought I was a good supervisor - I'm PMSing and insecurity and paranoia are beggining to manifest themselves. He said he did, but that I needed to calm down and let the managers do their work - flushing the shelves, sending off paperwork and defective items. I said I agreed, but that it wasn't getting done. I can't just stand around and say "Oh, well that's not my responsibility".

It's the diffusion of responsibility - the more people there are, the less likely it will be that someone does something about the situation. I learned all about it in my Social Psych class last year - and ever since I've tried to keep from falling victim to it.

I geuss I'll just have to wait and see what's happens, hopefully things will get better now that the holidays are done...hopefully.

Sue, I miss you.

Signed Grrl Friday