Jessica is what all of us feminist’s aspire to be. Her voice hasn’t just been heard but people are listening! The room was packed. On April 7th in Health and Human Services JMU had the honor of having Jessica Valenti speak at our university. You could feel the eagerness of fellow feminists in the room. Hearing the things we think, feel, and believe announced in front of a crowd was exhilarating. It was nice to have someone speak out for all of us. It was not just refreshing but it was almost like feminist church. We got to sit and listen and ask questions about the things that matter most to us. It was exhilarating to listen to the feminist activist of our time.
Jessica shared the purity myth with us. She explained that we need to stop treating sex and virginity as good or bad things. Sex should not be an issue of morality like it has been for so long. There is a huge virgin/whore dichotomy and we’re basing sex on ethics instead of our bodies. The double standard needs to stop. Women need to embrace sex in whatever way they see fit for themselves and stop judging others based on their decisions.
We also got to take a good look at her blog “Feministing”, which is widely read and very well known. It is currently the most read feminist publication. After “Google”ing women’s feminist blogs a couple years ago and only receiving one page worth of information, which was ten years old, Jessica decided something must be done. So, she started her own blog. She explained it as “edgy, political and fun” with “a multiplicity of issues”. They discuss everything from tabloids to pop culture to politics to underwear in Walmart. There are issues of racism, classism, homophobia, economic injustice, sexual assault, abortion, spotlights on women’s work and there is even reader feedback and a community blog. From the small section that we got to see there was definitely a serious tone of issues and a comedic funny tone pointing out absurdities in our world. Jessica’s blog has even gotten sexist products taken off the market and public apologies. For example, one time Jessica received anti-feminist hate email from Southern Illinois University’s College Republicans former public relations officer. Not only did he come to the blog and apologize, but he also renounced the ad in their college paper, and resigned from his position at CR, AND the SIU administration emailed Jessica telling her that they suspended the “anti-feminist” emailer from his emailing privileges. She truly believes if people were more educated on feminism instead of its stereotypes they would help, and from the looks of her success she is right!
Jessica’s speech was very inspiring and educational. I could tell from the reaction on people’s faces I was only one of so many that was changed by her words. She definitely sold some more books! If you want to read more about Jessica’s ideas grab her works Full Frontal Feminism and The Purity Myth, or check out her blog! And from all of us fans … a big AMEN to you Jessica!
To learn more about Jessica visit:
and to see more crazy products check out:
http://www.feministing.com/products/
Freida Frye
ShoutOut! James Madison University 