The case for feminist blogging.
I became a feminist at 16 years old. At the time, the word “feminist” wasn’t nearly as popular as it is today. In fact, I vividly remember trying to explain sexism and gender inequality to my high school friends outside of movie theaters and coffee shops — to blank stares.
When I was 17, I read Angela Davis’ auto-biography (as well as Women, Race, and Class) and felt my life and feminist identity evolve: I was provided with language for the pain I was feeling as a woman of color in a white supremacist patriarchy. I had an old typewriter which I used to write “articles” about my thoughts on society and power (although I would probably cringe if I were to read them today). I had no clue what feminist blogging was and used to carry around my crumpled up articles in my pockets, or in the side-doors of my car, and share them with my friends.
At 21 or 22, however, I was introduced to feminist blogging. I was enamored with the idea that women were creating platforms on which they were responding to sexist media culture and racist representations. I remember the first time I submitted a guest blog post to a feminist website. I was so nervous and scared, but it marked the beginning of my entrance into the online feminist world, one through which I’m still meandering and on which I’m attempting to leave my mark.
I have guest blogged extensively and have created two websites: Aphro-ism as well as my newest website, Black Vegans Rock. Blogging is an experience from which so many young women of color in particular can benefit, but which seems also to intimidate and confuse many. Here are my tips, based on my own experiences, for how to navigate a digital, feminist terrain that has been previously dominated by white women.
1. Read before you write.
In order to be a good writer, you have to read as much as you can because before you can write an article or contribute to theory, you have to know what has already been said. It’s easy to assume that you’re the first person to articulate an idea or observation, especially if you’re excited about it. But you have to acknowledge the legacy of thought leaders who have come before you and give credit to those who have said similar things. Doing so will ultimately benefit you by pushing you to extend or build upon what they’ve said. To this day, I still read more than I write: I make sure to read a handful of essays every week and reflect, as reflection is also necessary for rich, critical analysis.
2. Confront the fear of rejection.
So many potential bloggers let their fear of rejection of criticism intimidate and dissuade them from submitting their work for publication. But getting into the habit of having other people read your work, no matter the outcome, is crucial for any writer. I always view each submission as, at the very least, an opportunity for free editing and feedback. Having multiple people touch your words will only make them better, as will challenging yourself to try to write for many different audiences.
3. Find the confidence to invest in yourself.
Guest blogging is important, but so is starting your own space altogether. Minoritized people especially tend to feel ambivalent about inserting their voices into broader dialogues and often stay in the shadows, fearing that they might “mess up” or not say the “right” thing. Don’t worry. Everyone makes mistakes, and it’s important to get in the habit of recognizing that your voice deserves to be as loud and as heard as any other. Considering that mainstream feminism is still largely dominated by white women, we need as many diverse people as possible to start their own spaces and contribute their diverse perspectives.
4. Embrace risk-taking.
The scariest thing for me as Black woman was pressing the “publish” button on my own website. I was terrified to post an article because it meant that my words would be “out there.” I would even spend weeks and months over-analyzing my writing because I was sure that I messed something up or that I didn’t say something right. It’s important to know that blogging is risky, so don’t be afraid to mess up or say something awkward. Don’t practice silence just because you’re afraid of what others might think.
5. It’s okay if you change your opinion over the years
All feminists should be open to the constant evolution of their activism. When I started blogging, for example, my analyses were totally saturated with white-centric thought. Years later, I’m allowing myself to indulge in and experience black feminism and explore how my relatively recent vegan identity impacts my feminist views. It’s absolutely okay to change your mind about issues and your beliefs over the years — don’t feel trapped by your past words. I like to look at old blog posts like digital fossils that show my social evolution over the years and sometimes reads posts I wrote four years ago to recognize how much I’ve changed — and grown.
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Perhaps one of the most feminist things you can do is unapologetically share your voice in the context of a society that is still largely resistant to it. Acknowledge any fear or trepidation, look within your for the confidence and fortitude to overcome it and blog away!