Definition Of Terms

Before studying my BA in Performing Arts, I would never have described myself as a feminist, mainly because the word held negative associations for me. Namely...

Feminism = Man-Hating Razor-Evading Bra-Burning Lesbians

...associations that are know are held by many young women of my generation, who continue to recoil from the dreaded F Word.

I suppose I also assumed that there was no longer any need for feminism - we have the vote, we can get the same jobs as men (with the possible exception of 'penis model' although even that is possible thanks to new advances in surgery...) so why bother being a feminist?

The main instigators for my change of heart were:

* A newspaper article written in 2006 highlighting the alarming fact that some women are still being paid less than their male counterparts

* Reading Luce Irigaray's seminal work This Sex Which Is Not One

* Having the privilege of being directed by Lucy Richardson and attending the lectures of Helen Spackman - both extraordinary women, talented artists, inspiring lecturers, proud feminists, and committed mothers (to list but a few of their qualities)

Of course, there are many sub-categories of feminism, three Waves of the movement (to date) and several points of conflict arise between liberal/radical, essentialist/non-essentialist feminists and so on.

My musings may well alight upon these conflicts at some point, but for my first post I just want to define my own personal feminist position:

* I believe that all creatures on this earth have the right to be treated with respect and humanity, and that no particular category of creature is "superior" to any other

* As human beings, it seems obvious to me that we should do as we would be done by

* Men and women, in my opinion, retain fundamental differences as a result of their biological functions

* Although men and women hold such essential differences, cultural ideologies and the framework of social conventions also influence the behaviour of every individual

* Whilst I would prefer to live in a world where there was no need for such a movement as feminism (just as there is no need for "maleism") I align myself with it as a result of the continuing iniquities performed against women in a patriarchal society

* I would like to see a world in which men and women work together in equal measures to create a peaceful and well-functioning environment

And to briefly explain the love-sick/romantic nature of this blog: I am indeed love-sick being (as I am) helplessly in love with a man I can't have. No doubt he will arise in future posts.

I would also describe myself a "romantic feminist" because, whilst I assert my independence, stand my ground against patronising sound engineers when I play gigs etc, I do also love it when a man opens a door for me or walks on the outside... Perhaps this points to one of the fundamental sticking-points within feminism: as empowered women, we want to be independent from men. But to live entirely without them...?

This paradox lies at the heart of this blog.

So. I guess we'll just see. Won't we?