Feminism for teens and tweens

[ItBehoovesMe]

What do you think they need to know?

I have always been a feminist, but have recently woken up (still waking, I think) to just how much women and girls are oppressed. Only the other day on here, I came across the idea of gender as a hierarchy for the first time (in an excellent post by @Bloodmagic - thank you) and things slotted into place in my head.

This new knowledge is making me see everything a bit differently. I can't help wondering how different I, and my life, would have been if I knew more about radical feminism as a girl / young woman.

So, how would you explain, or introduce, radical feminism to young girls?

[ItBehoovesMe]

Bump

[BSJohnson]

Following in the hope of wisdom.

[QuarksandLeptons]

For a teen, how about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie- We should all be feminists
Very short and readable

[WhatTheWaterShowedMe]

1. They need to know that there are lots of was to be a woman
   
2. They need to know that puberty is rough on everybody and it’s normal to feel weird and uncomfortable in their own skin
   
3. They need to know that porn and sex are not the same thing
   
4. They need to see that women come in all shapes, sizes, colours and levels of hirsuteness and that it bears no reflection on who they are inside.
   
5. they need to know that periods should not be agonisingly painful, and if they are, they should seek medical help from a doctor.
   
6. They need to know about consent and they should be able to role play how to say no
   
7. They need to know that dick is plentiful and of low value, and they don’t need to be in competition with other girls for it
   
8. They need to learn that their bodies belong to them and if someone else is going to touch it, they’ve got to want them to and the other person has to treat them gently and with respect.
   
9. If all else fails, you can kick a dude so hard in the nuts that he’ll be a soprano for the rest of his life.

[LooseyInTheSky]

Hannah Whitton on YouTube. She is the god of teenage sex, feminism, periods, et al.

[WhatTheWaterShowedMe]

Good books:

Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls volume 1 and 2
Rejected Princesses
The Handmaid’s Tale
Terry Pratchett’s female-led Discworld novels: The Tiffany Aching series, the ones following the Witches, and Monstrous Regiment
Rat Queens

[ItBehoovesMe]

Top list, What (accidentally sounds like PG Wodehouse character)

Will check out Hannah Whitton and We should all be feminists, both sound good.

Thank you!

[RealityHasALiberalBias]

Girls Will Be Girls by Emer O’ Toole is largely about her experiences as a teen / young woman. It’s about how gender is performed and an easy read considering she’s an academic...

[HotRocker]

Just wondering if I could get my DS to read any of these. I can certainly try

[WhatTheWaterShowedMe]

@HotRocker how old is your son? The Terry Pratchett books are probably suitable from around the age of 11 or 12 (younger in the case of Tiffany). Rejected Princesses is absolutely brilliant in terms of learning about history’s forgotten women- the man who wrote it has a Tumblr you can check out. I’d say that’s more teen level. If he’s a teen I’d say he’s love Rat Queens.

[ErrolTheDragon]

I'd add to whatthewaters list (or actually, prepend as it should be taught to preschoolers well before 'tweenage') - don't believe people who tell you 'girls can't' or 'girls should'.

[WhatTheWaterShowedMe]

@ErrolTheDragon

I have a 5yo DD and she has been told in no uncertain terms that if someone tells her she can’t do something because she’s a girl, she’s to reply “that’s patriarchal rubbish” and do it anyway.

[QuarksandLeptons]

For your teen (not sure how old she is)

This hip hop video by a young female London rapper is pure radical feminism.

The subject matter of this video is domestic violence, so obviously you would need to take a view as to whether it would be suitable depending on your teen's age and personality.

The lyrics are great:


Head feels weak Bellies hurting again
Car dead quiet till they drop off her friend
Tension filling up her heart with dread
Won't dare move an inch she won't turn her head
Knuckles turn white as he grips on the steering
Signs of rage are quickly appearing
Eyes full of fear as she knows whats nearing
Tries not to blink itll bate up the tearing
Pull up to the yard and he opens the door
Runs round to her side
‘get the fuk out u whore’
Drags her out as she’s heaving inside
But she knows better than to let our her cry
He slams shut the door He punches her low
Holding her belly She can’t breathe from the blow
He knows where to hit her now so it won’t show
When she goes to work – not a single soul would know

Hook:
Know Your Rights. Love you first
Speak Your Truth. Know your worth
Trust Your Gut. Let It Be
Set Her Free. Set Her Free

Regain our respect n Drop the knowledge On 'em
Every single one of you was birthed from a woman


How can a boy be remorseful
When theres toys under the tree like grand theft auto
Violence to women as if normal
So disillusioned by the images in pornos
Who is the object and who gets to be forceful
Who makes the money whose at at the top and more so
Who decides whats sexy and whats voluptuous
Is beauty in the eye of the beholder or Presumptuous
Its All prevalent we are not just skin on a skeleton
Women are intelligent, inventors of medicine
The right to be president
Fight to be relevant
Mother nature is the root to all of your elements
Domestic violence on your own doorstep
One Every minute But whats not reported
Regain our respect n Drop the knowledge On 'emm
Every single one of you was birthed from a woman

Hook

He pushed up on the mirror and told her to watch
I didn’t wife no hoe but that’s what ive got
That ring on your finger it means that youre mine
Smiling at man in the club like im blind
Her make up smudged from the tears that she sobbed
Her forced her to take it innocence robbed
He didn’t even wanna go out in the first place
He said he'd make up for ruining her birthday
When did it change man when did she let him
Every night she cries regretting that she met him
Too shook to leave too shook to breathe
Battling dignity that no one would believe
Convincing herself that she does have a purpose ard when youre told daily that youre worthless
Will she leave will she run
This story may belong to any daughter or mum

[QuarksandLeptons]

Link to Shay D’s song - set her free

[Ineedacupofteadesperately]

My DD isn't quite a tween yet but I've given her a few books about historical women such as some suffragettes and suffragists and also women who were pioneers and were told they couldn't do things because they were a woman (like Florence Nightingale). Trying to gently introduce her to the idea that things weren't always the way they are now in this country for women and girls.

Also talked to her in an age-appropriate way about Umoja village (because I bought some jewellery from them for a friend - roughly speaking about how in that place women are seen as property not people and how some women rejected this and set up their own village).

I haven't introduced the term 'feminism' yet though!