Bjorkman Thesis
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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Gail M. Bjorkman for the degree of Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Women Studies, Women Studies, and Philosophy presented on October 29, 2010. Title: The Third Wave: Not Your Mothers’ Feminism. Abstract approved: ____________________________________________________________________ Lani Roberts Examination of all known U.S. Third Wave feminist literature reveals that there is no coherent unitary theory. Explication of the Third Wave addresses the generational and cultural strife within the feminist family and provides a modern feminist response to the changing faces and locations of the isms. Identification of the wave’s primary characteristics leads to questions about the nature of womanhood, sisterhood, power and feminism. The Third Wave is a modern iteration of feminism that emphasizes multiplicity, pluralism, contradiction, playful resistance, cyber culture and relational power. ©Copyright by Gail M. Bjorkman October 29, 2010 All Rights Reserved The Third Wave: Not Your Mothers’ Feminism by Gail M. Bjorkman A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Presented October 29, 2010 Commencement June 2011 Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies thesis of Gail M. Bjorkman presented on October 29, 2010. APPROVED: Major Professor, representing Women Studies Director of Interdisciplinary Studies Program Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Gail M. Bjorkman, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to my committee members, Dr. Melissa Cheyney, Dr. Sharyn Clough and Dr. William Loges, for your presence and participation. A big thank you to my committee chair, Dr. Lani Roberts, for outstanding guidance, support, feedback and patience. Thank you to my dear friend and once instructor, Janet Lockhart, for hours of inspiration, laughter, support and encouragement. I finished it! Thank you to my ever-present and wonderful partner, David Conrad, for your love, encouragement and unshakable belief in me. Thank you to my loving parents, Jacqueline and John Bjorkman, for your bountiful support, hours of baby-sitting and unconditional love. Thank you to my partner’s manager, Susan Stewart, for authorizing countless half days and flexible work schedule so that David could watch our daughter and I could write. Thank you to my assistantship mentor, Rebekah Lancelin, for your insight, support, kindness and flexibility. Thank you to all the courageous feminists who marched before me. Your work made this writing possible. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 1.1 Overview of a Wave..........................................................................................3 1.2 Assumptions .....................................................................................................4 1.3 Terminology .....................................................................................................5 2. LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................................10 2.1 Categories.......................................................................................................10 2.2 Characteristics.................................................................................................17 2.3 Focus ..............................................................................................................31 2.4 Controversy.....................................................................................................34 2.5 The Wave Metaphor Problem..........................................................................38 3. THESIS ................................................................................................................42 3.1 What is Third Wave Feminism and Other Questions .......................................42 3.2 Unresolved Questions .....................................................................................44 4. CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................52 4.1 Third Wave Call to Action ..............................................................................54 BIBLIOGRAPHY.....................................................................................................57 DEDICATION To Mother and Dad who taught me to think. To Erik who reminded me to listen to my own voice. To David, my beloved, who heard me. And especially to Jacqueline Gail, my daughter, who taught me the power of a gentle whisper. Thank you. 1. INTRODUCTION The same water – a different wave. What matters is that it is a wave. What matters is that the wave will return. What matters is that it will always return different. What matters most of all: however different the returning wave, it will always return as a wave of the sea. ~ Marina Tsvetaeva The water of feminism has rippled through U.S. mores, culture and history since the drafting of the U.S. Constitution when Abigail Adams1 pleaded with her husband to “Remember the Ladies” (Rossi, 1988; Schneir, 1972). An emotionally charged political and social climate coupled with the media’s pronouncement that feminism is dead ushered in a new wave in the 1990s. Books aimed at consciousness raising in a younger generation of women and heightened awareness of institutionalized sexism and racism revealed by a contentious Supreme Court nomination drove the beneficiaries of Second Wave feminism to action. A swell in the feminist sea crashed on the shore of contemporary America. Third Wave feminism was born. Established feminists both in and out of the academy debate the validity of Third Wave feminism. This thesis addresses the question “What is Third Wave feminism in the contemporary U.S. moment?” in order to demonstrate the wave’s claim to feminism. Explication of Third Wave U.S. feminism examines the generational and cultural strife within the feminist family and provides a modern feminist response to the changing faces and locations of the isms. Clarification of the Third Wave presents an opportunity for feminists to move away from destructive internal strife towards understanding and synthesis (Bailey, 1997). It creates hope for the future by offering an updated feminist response to new, emerging and familiar expressions of intersectionality (Flanders, 2009). 2 The Third Wave is a modern iteration of feminism that emphasizes multiplicity, pluralism, contradiction, playful resistance and relational power. The numerical designation and wave metaphor are used to demark a new forward facing form of feminism that is rooted in established feminist praxis. “Many young feminists today are choosing to call themselves the Third Wave in order to herald the future” (Baumgardner & Richards, 2000, p. 69). In the course of writing this thesis, I discovered that I am a Third Wave feminist. Declared a movement in 1992 by Rebecca Walker, Third Wave feminism is frequently mentioned, discussed and labeled however, explanations and definitions remain vague. Do not vote for them unless they work for us. Do not have sex with them, do not break bread with them, do not nurture them if they don’t prioritize our freedom to control our bodies and our lives. I am not a post-feminist feminist. I am the Third Wave (Walker, 2006, p. 5). Third Wave feminism has increasingly become part of feminist conversation since the publication of Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards’ Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism and the Future in 2000. Manifesta calls young women to action and emphasizes activism and awareness while offering bits and pieces about the Third Wave. Self identified Third Wave organizations support specific causes, age groups and goals without differentiating the newest feminist wave from its predecessors. The Third Wave Foundation, a prominent New York City based non-profit, identifies itself: … A feminist, activist foundation that works nationally to support young women and transgender youth ages 15 to 30. Third Wave is led by a board of young women, men, and transgender activists striving to combat inequalities that we ourselves face as a result of our age, gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status, or level of education. By empowering young women and transgender youth nationwide, Third Wave is building a lasting foundation for young feminists around the country (Foundation, 2006). 3 This statement establishes feminist goals and a target audience in the name of the Third Wave without clearly delineating the meaning of the wave. This inquiry into the nature of Third Wave feminism addresses adult individuals, groups and communities who identify as feminist. It speaks about feminist waves in general rather than specific people or subcategories. Groups such as Girls Gone Wild are excluded. The troubling “I’m not a feminist, but…” declaration2 is also excluded. Twenty first century Third Wave U.S. feminism is the primary focus. 1.1 Overview of a Wave The phrase “Third Wave” originated in the 1980s from little known and nearly forgotten origins. Women of color used it to describe a new feminist movement that would recognize, analyze and fight against internalized racism. A never published Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press anthology by M. Jacqui Alexander,