how much should UK feminist activism be divided between UK issues and global issues?

[aubergineinautumn]

I don't have an answer to this. Sometimes I feel guilty that my own, as well as the wider movement's focus is too focussed on UK issues at the expense of global issues. Not that the UK issues aren't huge and don't deserve lots of time/money/effort just that global feminist issues seem so much more life and death and feel like they would be easier to tackle (maybe a fallacy, though?).

But I can see the other side of the argument that who are we to tell other women in different cultures how to be when we don't even have our own house in order. Is it colonialism or is that a cop-out?

I'm sure no matter what brand of feminism you belong to we should all have a common ground when it comes to women globally - contraception, education, equality in law, rights to anti/post natal care, sanitary products, etc.
I recently attended a seminar on the citizenship of post trafficking women of Nepal, who because of no fault of their own not only endure being a social outcast resulting in not obtaining citizenship, which in turn leads to not being able to work. There is pressure on the government for change but in the meantime these women are often left destitute.
Are energies used in campaigning against Miss World better being channelled into helping the post trafficked women of Nepal ?

I also think people should channel their energies into areas that they individually have an interest in or an aptitude for dealing with.

I think the key thing is to ask the women in other cultures what they need, and give them the resources and support to help themselves. Plus to make sure NGOs and government aid are not being used disproportionately for male agendas. I definitely agree that we need to be careful to avoid imperialist attitudes though, for example it's none of our business telling women how they ought to act, or that their culture's beliefs about marriage and dress are inferior to ours. It's up to them to decide how they want their culture to change, and ours certainly isn't perfect!

I think we should ask for what we need from them, and welcome resources and support from them too - Ayann Hirsi Ali is an example of someone who has a lot to teach IMO.

Sorry, I know that is obvious but it's important not to assume we'll do all the giving, because we won't.

(And using 'we' in that post was completely problematic!)

We should focus on what interests us, what we're good at, what we know about and what we want to.

We're half of humanity. There's plenty of us to go round. We can all play to our strengths and let other people play to their's. I don't see any problem tbh. FEminism has always been a global movement, women from all cultures have always reached out to each other to compare notes and exchange ideas.

Yes, I think she's great. I'm still reading Infidel very very slowly because it's hard but things she says really stick in my mind and make me think.

I've read next to nothing! And I've not read that. I keep meaning to come and participate in bookclub but haven't got to it ... I do lurk though!

I might see if it's in the library instead. But it does sound good.

I think btw that the way we can draw on all sorts of books is relevant here - it doesn't too much matter what bit of feminism is your cabbage patch, as your way of tackling problems and raising consciousness will be relevant to other people in other areas. So if what you do best is very local, it still all contributes to getting feminism out there.

Damn, you're not helping with me not spending money on Amazon here!

Where does propping up capitalism by buying feminist books fit into the hierarchy of activism?

Ah, cunning.

Since I can't be doing with kindles, I will take comfort that I hoover up second-hand books that'd otherwise languish unloved.

"I think we should ask for what we need from them, and welcome resources and support from them too - Ayann Hirsi Ali is an example of someone who has a lot to teach IMO."

You're right LRD, I'm being offensive in suggesting that it should be a one way relationship - thanks for calling me out on it.

Oh, no, I don't think you were being offensive ... I was adding to your post rather than trying to correct it.

SGM - ok, will do!

My dh is Dutch, so I heard of Ayann Hirsi Ali already several years ago (certainly since 2006). She is my personal hero.