It has been a year since Andrea Dworkin, the courageous radical feminist who devoted her life to opposing male violence against women everywhere it is found, passed away. Yesterday, I went to a conference held at the University of Oxford in honour of her life and achievements. The speakers included Catharine MacKinnon, Julie Bindel, Sheila Jeffreys and John Stoltenberg. I was overwhelmed to hear such dedicated and amazing people speak, to meet so many women passionate about ending violence against women and opposing women’s subordination. I was lucky enough to meet the wonderful Aradfem for the first time, and to see Witchy-woo, who had moved away from the foot of her stairs to be there.
I am planning two posts that have been inspired by the conference. One will be quite brief, concerning the difficulty academics, even feminist academics, have in associating themselves with the philosophy of Andrea Dworkin. My second planned post was inspired (ironically) by the sole bad speaker of the conference, a pro-porn feminist whose appalling arguments attempted to liken radical feminism to the fundamentalist right. I hope to dissect and destroy the idea that speaking the truth ‘plays into the hands’ of religious fundamentalists, and show the (completely bleeding obvious!) differences between fundamentalist and feminist stances.
Two things that were said at the conference resonated deeply with me. Julie Bindel urged UK radical feminists to write, as we not as prolific or visible as our American radical sisters and our voices need to be heard. As a radical feminist who posts far less frequently than she would like owing to her worries about creating substandard posts, this meant a lot to me. Write something. You might even find yourself saying something. As long as you are ready to face the critics and stand your ground, and will readily admit it if/when you get something wrong, then you can and should write.
Catherine MacKinnon, in answer to a question about academia and radical feminism, noted that ‘if you compromise to get tenure, you compromise yourself’. The word ‘tenure’ could be exchanged for others such as ‘wealth’, ‘ease’, ‘praise’. I think I will type that up, and stick it by my desk.
I’ll look forward to reading those posts: I’m currently on a finance/edit-the-damn-thesis imposed conference ban, so I’ve stopped even looking at listings and I didn’t even realise this one was happening. Boh.
Comment by bookdrunk — April 9, 2006 @ 10:05 am
Looking foward to your upcoming posts, L!
Comment by Kaka Mak — April 9, 2006 @ 10:46 am
I too look forward to reading your post about a certain professor’s incoherent attack on radical feminism. The academic in question has co-edited a book that is often cited by British porn apologists passing themselves off as feminists and I must admit that I did feel a childish urge to gloat and rub in their faces said academic’s assertion that she has never watched pornography, but I’m better than that – only just…
Beatriz
Comment by feministfirst — April 9, 2006 @ 1:04 pm
heh Beatriz – that little snippet of information has at least given us a neat come-back whenever anyone cites that particular volume as evidence for a pro-porn argument
The conference gave us all so much to think about it’s hard to know where to start! Just the feeling of being in a room with so many other UK radfems was mind blowing and to actually meet women we’ve been typing to – for years, in some cases – was totally excellent. I’m still buzzing.
I’m looking forward to your forthcoming posts too, Laurelin, especially your demolition of the notion that radical feminism shares anything at all with right wing fundamentalists.
Comment by witchy-woo — April 9, 2006 @ 5:58 pm
Oh, I’m so glad all of you were able to go to the conference!
I’m waiting anxiously for the posts, Laurelin. And I appreciate that you shared your concern about writing something substandard. I’m much less prolific than I’d like, for the same reason. Our voices matter, and we need to get our thoughts out there. As you said, as long as we’re willing to acknowledge when we’re wrong-there’s no problem.
Comment by spotted elephant — April 9, 2006 @ 6:55 pm
i just started reading “pornography: men possessing women” last week and i have to admit that one does get strange looks when mentioning or discussing dworkin. people certainly have strong opinions about her. i’ve been a bit intimidated myself but i’m learning a lot and hope to understand why she inspires such hatred and anger from her detractors.
i’m really looking forward to reading your upcoming posts!
xoxo, jared
Comment by ms. jared — April 9, 2006 @ 7:32 pm
I am much interested in MacKinnon’s comment abotu tenure.
I amn in a battle right now as my Chair has not recommended me
for such. One reason–I had the nerve to ask him to not
refer to me as “guy” in meetings.
It is pathetic, I wish i had been more radical.
He says I don’t “fit” hell no, I don’t, hence the
radical-feminist-thing. I was up front when they hired me
and they were all about diversity…..
I should have known, when three years ago after I moved
into my office within 24 hours he called me to “talk about”
my sign in the office window which was I(heart)feminism.
He asked if I knew what I was doing. Duh.
Keep doing good work.
I will not compromise. I am hopeful in my rage.
Comment by Sooze — April 9, 2006 @ 10:34 pm
[...] Also of note: Laurelin in the Rain writes about the Dworkin Commemorative Conference that took place Friday (and promises follow-up posts), Spotted Elephant on The Bipolar View writes about her love for Andrea – part 1 and part 2 are up for now, with more to come, and C-A at Feminist Figure also writes about the recent conference and has a great idea for a new t-shirt. [...]
Pingback by Femivist » On Andrea Dworkin: Her message, her influence — April 10, 2006 @ 2:22 am
Julie Bindel urged UK radical feminists to write, as we not as prolific or visible as our American radical sisters and our voices need to be heard.
The same applies to us Australian feminists… with the exception of Ms Greer, who appears to have ditched us anyway.
It’s one of the reasons my blog has only just come into existence. I have a fear of standing out too much as a “voice” of Aussie feminism in the blogosphere should it take off.
*sigh* I shouldn’t.
Thanks for this entry.
Comment by hexyhex — April 10, 2006 @ 6:23 am
Thanks for adding me to your blogroll Laurelin! I really wish I could have come to the conference but was away on holiday – will definitely come if there’s ever another one!
Lucy
Comment by shoutylucy — April 10, 2006 @ 6:35 pm
“… Write something. You might even find yourself saying something…” that resonates with me today, it really does. And you’re right. We get it wrong, once in a while and when this becomes clear to us, we write again.
Comment by Rombo — April 12, 2006 @ 12:11 pm
Hey, you put me on your blog roll! *gets all shy* Wow, thank you!
Comment by hexyhex — April 16, 2006 @ 9:28 am
[...] This is Finn Mackay's speech on prostitution that she gave at the Andrea Dworkin Commemorative Conference. I have transcribed her speech from the conference audio files, as part of Aradfem's project to make a written record of the conference. [...]
Pingback by Laurelin in the Rain » A Speech by Finn Mackay — May 16, 2006 @ 11:21 am