Lucille is on the ball: The Plan for this Fall

Hey there feminist friends! As the school year kicks off to a great start, I am incredibly stoked to be returning to the ShoutOut crew for another semester of thoughtful and moving feminist discourse. Before diving into anything super serious (like Lady Gaga’s newest single “Perfect Illusion”? Check it out) I’d like dedicate this post to setting up a reoccurring theme for the rest of the semester.

Theme? Like a theme for a party? Do we wear costumes??

Costumes are not required… but highly encouraged. Let me clarify:

As I dig deeper into my feminist identity there are moments when I take a look at the agenda of problems facing our fight for gender equality and become pretty overwhelmed. I think of the big button issues- reproductive freedom, unequal pay, sexual objectification on all platforms, etc.- and think: “How do I even begin to tackle these problems?” On the contrary, because feminism has given me the capability to step back and visualize the bigger picture I often tend to dismiss the issues that stand right in front of me. Forms of subtle sexism like inherently sexist words or phrases, being mocked for feminine attributes, or the misinterpretations of what it means to be a feminist, often act as the basis for these bigger, societal issues.

So here’s my plan.

Within each of my posts this semester it is my intention to:

1. Address each individual topic on a macro and micro level. How does this issue or breakthrough affect the feminist movement as a whole and how might it affect each one of us on a more personal level?
2. Provide the tools and tips necessary to either combat the –isms (sexism, ableism, classism, looksism, etc.) or promote the work of other feminist activists.

For those of you, like me, who are admittedly NOT perfect, it’s easy to get caught up, confused, or even discouraged by the problems that face feminists every day. Being a feminist, or any type of activist for that matter, is no walk in the park. However, by working together, staying informed, and utilizing the resources that surround us we can start paving the way for tangible change.

I, for one, am more than excited to see what the future of this blog holds. ShoutOut is your number one source for feminist discourse and I encourage you to be a part of that conversation! If you have any additional tips or tools, different takes on a topic, or even suggestions for further investigation of a particular issue, let us know in the comments. Together, we have the potential to uncover relevant issues, tackle oppression at its roots, and put the conversations that we want and need to have back on the table.