Feminist Shifts
Feminist Shifts
So many things on my mind today. Police brutality and the horrible murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, the mass shootings in California, the continuing saga of Russian interference in our democracy and Trump’s involvment, DeSantis’s efforts to ban important education in Florida. And I think George Santos is a Russian plant.
One story I saw today in the NYTimes that might go under the radar: South Korean women are boycotting marriage and having children. They are sick of the extreme patriarchal culture in South Korea and are refusing to participate. In the OpEd, the author Hawon Jung wrote: “President Yoon Suk-yeol, elected last year, has suggested feminism is to blame for blocking “healthy relationships” between men and women.” I find that an incredibly small minded statement, because in fact the opposite is true. The patriarchy is the problem. It is still the problem in many parts of the world, to different degrees, our own culture included.
The above cartoon was drawin in the 90’s during a time when Americans didn’t undertand the word feminism—many still don’t, but it’s better. The word is not a derogatory phrase in most circles, I think. I don’t advocate violence, but to me the little girl in my cartoon embodies the term, sticking up for her family, her self and what she believes to be true.
I read a positive article today about women in Hollywood, by the Times critic Manohla Dargis, where she sites incrimental changes that for her point to progress. I agree. Not only are more women creating film, more are speaking and are in leads, and these movies are making big money. Money talks. I remember when Bridesmaids came out in 2011, it was a box office success, and it was primarily an all female lead comedy (written by two women, directed and produced by male allies). It was groundbreaking and changed the landscape for women in humor. Perhaps all the streaming going on is democratizing film and tv. While still incredibly powerful, the big gatekeepers are losing some of that power and influence.
There are more women in cartooning than ever before, too. I have written about that a lot, and my analysis is in my book, Very Funny Ladies. Suffice it to say that when those in charge are proactive about change, when consumers are discriminating, culture can evolve. Hopefully the women in South Korea can being about some change in their culture.
So clever!