Activism and imposter syndrome

[Ranoutoflette]

So I attended Filia last month and listened to lots of incredible women sharing their stories and the work that they/their organisations are doing. And now I feel like an imposter!

My activism extends to petitions, retweets, stickering, getting put on a list so local politicians ignore me forevermore, etc. I've been GC for several years now so I'd love to start being a bit more involved. I just don't know how.

I believe in a lot of radical feminist ideas but don't feel I have any authority to speak about them, only to listen and support others who do. But at the same time, it doesn't feel like I'm doing enough.

E.g. I've no direct experience of domestic abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking, sexual assault, abortion. I'm not a lesbian, I'm not a mother. I have no legal / academic / safeguarding / policymaking background. I've never been any kind of activist before this.

So many women are get up and go types, and women's creativity and capacity to get shit done is boundless! I suppose I just feel a bit... lost... for where to begin and how to belong? Can anyone relate?

Hi, OP. You might get more interaction on the other board.

But anyway: What about doing some reading? A course in feminism, if you can find a decent on that hasn't become 'gender studies'.

Lots of places look for volunteers - perhaps your local women's group/refuge need help?

Maybe seek out local feminist groups for organising? There are the 'shoppers' groups in Scotland, and I think WRN elsewhere.

Not everyone is a superhero and wars aren't won with generals, they are won with foot soldiers.

While stickering and petitions and talking on social media does not seem as much, it all adds up.

Before I got banned on reddit i had a lot of conversations on there and while some might argue that arguing online with TRA is not useful, I would argue it is. I got many private messages of women thanking me for speaking out for them and asking me how to find more of us. Even a teenager messaged me saying they were thinking that they were trans but my arguments made them think more and pay attention for over a month and they realised they almost got swept into a cult and mutilated themselves.

For every person that thanked me, I know there are a lot more who did not PM me or forgot my username but who felt the same. Or where my words lingered in their brain and it helped them see clearly.

Seeing a sticker while walking to work might give a woman who feels alone in this a moment of relief and sense of belonging that she is not alone. It matters so much.

If you want to do more I think standing for women has a locals group maybe contact them or look on X for women in your area. You can also travel and go to a let women speak event.

But don't feel like an imposter for just spreading awareness and signing petitions. Every small thing helps.

I find myself in a similar position OP.

I think I have concluded that being brave enough to talk about the issue to people in real life rather than just online is important in itself. This conversation has been closed down with women being name called and shamed into not speaking up about their reservations and that's how we find ourselves in such a shit place.

I have found that picking one issue (like TW in sports or in prisons etc) and talking about it is the best way to engage with people, When I first peaked with this it was hard not to go full-on with EVERYTHING, (Because fucking hell it's insane) but that risks switching people off from listening. Have a few examples of it happening in real life so they can see how it might actually affect their daughters etc. It's amazing how many people agree once they realise they won't be shouted down.

One person at a time is how I approach it.

Well done for going to FIlia btw, that looked great.