Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the Feminist Majority Foundation / Ms. Magazine Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles. CGU sponsored the Applied Women’s Studies students to attend. I arrived not really knowing what to expect out of a “anniversary gala”, but the format of the event ended up being a very straightforward collection of short presentation by prominent feminist activists, which included FMF and Ms. leaders as well as actors, politicians, and performers. Among the speakers were Gloria Steinem (!), Eleanor Smeal, Margaret Cho, Kathy Najimy, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Amy Brenneman, Curtis Armstrong, Tyne Daly, Peg Yorkin, and more.
What I came away with from the event was inspiration that seems so foreign in the world of academia. I have to say it was great to be surrounded by fellow students and feminist activists, who together created a fervent and passionate energy that carried the evening into the night.
However. I was disheartened by the ratio of older feminists to younger feminists (or second-wave to third-wave). The event was an anniversary, which could explain the fact that the only two young feminists spoke (together regarding campus feminism) at the very end (after Eleanor Smeal, whose appearance was clearly constructed as the climax of the event). But the references throughout the evening to the ultimate importance of young feminists, along with the constant insistence that feminism was not stagnant, exclusive, or prescriptive (all of which I agree with), would (to me) suggest that second-wave and third-wave feminists would be presented as a unified force, working together for future feminist activism. Instead, I came away with a feeling of a significant *split* among feminism. I’ve reflected on this feeling since last evening, and I’m hoping this feeling isn’t misconstrued. Because I am relatively new to organized feminist activism, I truly hope that I wasn’t misconstruing my perception of the FMF / Ms. gala. That said, I believe there are some truly relevant and articulate young feminists out there who may have been able to contribute to the event – Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards (who I believe have ties to Ms. Magazine), Jessica Valenti (who has become a contemporary feminist icon), and I’m sure choices from a litany of other prominent third-wave feminists could have brought a cohesive element to banish any hint of a generational gap.
I appreciated the opportunity to attend this event and came away feeling inspired and hopeful. But I think I was looking for myself in that collection of presenters. And I don’t think I was the only one. Many southern California women’s studies programs attended the event as well (as we all sat up in the balcony together). Being able to see and hear prominent second-wave feminists speak was incredible. So incredible that it was almost intimidating to watch. To include third-wave feminist activists as well would have been to include representations of many southern Californian students, representations that may have further inspired, not through presentation alone, but through interconnectedness and relatability, the capability to see our own generation’s effect and involvement in feminism now.
