Comments on: There goes the neighborhood!

By: Chris H

Chris H — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:25:53 +0000

I think that a lot of this effort would be better spent in taking a close look at why Ren was driven away from the label, because she is far from the only woman who, while working for feminist goals, can’t comfortably wear the word. The very ugly abuse that’s been targeted at her by pseudo-radicals like Ginmar, Heart, and Twisty has never caused as much vociferous debate as Ren simply putting her foot in the door here. On the contrary, they’re considered legitimate voices in the feminist communities, despite repeatedly engaging in naked bigotry against sex workers and transfolk. Ren is in a difficult position: she’s been condemned for wearing the label, and now she’s being condemned for not wearing it. Instead of micro-analysing her posts, I think that this effort would be a lot better spent directed towards looking at why some women can have their voices so easily de-legitimized by feminists at large.

By: FemAcadem · Apologies

FemAcadem · Apologies — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:48:04 +0000

[...] the Summer project at the Youth Centre finishes. Until then I recommend you all go and read what Ren Ev ( I swear I am not fan gurling, honest) has to say over on Feministe about Sex Work [...]

By: Trin

Trin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:05:02 +0000

Snowe: I consider Ren as good an e-friend as I’ve got, and guess what? I was more bothered by the “dedicating a porn scene to Maggie Hays” than I was by the tire iron thing. Most people there weren’t offended at either.

What might that mean? Perhaps, gee, that different people have different boundaries and notions of what’s appropriate response to insult?

Say it ain’t so!

By: hexy

hexy — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:56:49 +0000

Lowest effort pot stirring EvAR!

By: Destructor

Destructor — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:44:08 +0000

This thread was entertaining, and I learned a lot from it.

By: Ravenmn

Ravenmn — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:26:17 +0000

Snowe, I think you are missing an important difference here.

You are correct that Ren does not call herself a feminist.

Nevertheless, Ren’s posts and her activism benefit women directly. She adds to the feminist project, even if that might not be her goal. My feminist practice has become more effective and more responsive because of what I’ve learned from reading Ren.

If we limit our experience in feminist venues to people who agree with us about the word feminist, won’t we will miss out on the writings of the majority of the women in the world?

Snowe writes: “However, I still feel that feminist blogs should highlight feminist bloggers…I don’t see what’s so awful about that!”

It’s not awful. It’s simply limiting.

Can you explain the benefit of excluding all those who don’t claim the word “feminist”?

You have repeated your statement, but you haven’t given any reason for it and I don’t understand your point of view on this.

By: oliemoon

oliemoon — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:50:07 +0000

I’m with you, Snowe. I found the tire iron imagery in that post pretty disturbing as well, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with questioning why particular guest bloggers are brought on board with reference to their past history as bloggers. It’s too bad that others here couldn’t disagree as politely with you as you did with Ren.

That said, while I don’t necessarily agree with the way Ren chooses to say some things, I am interested in reading her posts here and learning from her perspective.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:38:39 +0000

@ confused – it’s a trackback. If this post is linked elsewhere (on another blog, or in this case another post on the same blog) then it shows up as a comment. :)

Ahem, carry on everyone…

By: Silvy

Silvy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:17:00 +0000

Sorry for the double post, but I think people are being a little too harsh with Snowe. It’s not needed. Granted, I’ve only read the first 40 or so posts in this thread so I don’t know how things have progressed since then. Snowe has a dissenting opinion but it seems like it’s been done in a respectful and polite way and it does have merit. Calling her a a “motherfucking whiner” is a bit out there? Oh well. Well, that’s my opinion anywho.

By: Silvy

Silvy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:12:37 +0000

I’m really glad you have a guest blogging stint here, Ren. I’m a quiet lurker fan of your blog. I really admire your outspokenness and you have made me think about what it means to be a feminist. I don’t always agree with what you have to say or how you go about things, but you’ve got guts. You’re aspiring.