Comments on: Lilly’s Blog: Ten Commandments for a Teenage Feminist

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:38:53 +0000

Self involvement of the word feminism? Perhaps that is why she assumes the teenage feminist is not male — not to generalize, but Paul’s illogical sentiments are quite common among those who do not immediately see what they have to personally gain from identifying as a feminist (not to say there are not male feminists, just that it is easier for women to see why they should be free and how they are not than for men, especially young men, to see why women should be free or to be truly aware of how they are not).
Simply, you cannot purport to respect women and the womanist movement when you shy away from it’s terminology and deem this cowardice and veiled misogyny useful. You would like an equality on your terms and wherein you retain complete superiority and comfort, which is quite off balance.

Indeed! Indeed it is self involved for women to care about themselves. How horridly and wonderfully self involved.

By: MaryWitzl

MaryWitzl — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:52:43 +0000

Being a feminist isn’t a meaningless identity and it doesn’t preclude being broad-minded or compassionate. In a world where rape is widely used to subjugate, women are paid less than men to do the same work, and women are fighting for the right to control their reproductive lives, there is a place for feminists.

High five to Lily and others like her — boys included.

By: john

john — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:15:03 +0000

at several points this assumes that the teenage feminist is not a male, it seems.

By: paul

paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:02:36 +0000

why rope people into a meaningless identity like ‘feminist’ when you can get them to identify (more usefully) as broad minded, compassionate people? why limit your identity as a social activist to women’s issues? the pure self-involvement of the word feminist is ridiculous

By: Alison eatyoface

Alison eatyoface — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:42:09 +0000

thou shall not make a man a sammich.

By: Matthias Ibanez

Matthias Ibanez — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:16:12 +0000

Hi Lily,
I really enjoyed your ten commandments. Following your first commandment – “you shall verbalize” – I want to tell you that I was a little sad when I realized that you adressed female feminists only. You said that feminism should include men – it already does! While not a teenager, I am a young feminist and felt adressed by your commandments – until you wrote about “Standing up for yourself and for other young women” and told that “as young women [you] have an invaluable voice [...]“. Please don’t forget that some of those beard-growing fellows (including me) want an need gender equality no less that you (Lilly) do.

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 02:48:42 +0000

As a 31-year-old feminist, seeing young girls who identify and are willing to admit they are feminists makes me smile. Please recommend to your readers that they read Mary Wollstonecraft’s “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” and read more about the history of this movement, like G.B. Shaw’s and Henrick Ibsen’s roles.

I went to an all-women’s college and don’t regret that decision to this day. Thanks for a great list, and keep up the amazing work!

By: Lilly

Lilly — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:08:40 +0000

Thank you, Stephanie for being so brave. Welcome to the club

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 01:36:54 +0000

Wow! thanks so much! especially for number 6! I am 17 and have been a lonely feminist for the past 3 years. all of my friends share my views but don’t identify as feminists because of the reputation the word comes with. But I can honestly say to all you girls and guys wavering on your feminist views although it may seem like a lonely road at first, teachers, girl friends, guy friends and boyfriends have all respected me more because I project my views and try my hardest to educate others. so here’s to making feminism cool!

By: meagan

meagan — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 21:18:47 +0000

I see and respect what you are expresing in # 2. But I also think it is much more powerful to take a negative term like bitch and slut and turn them into positive terms. I’ll try to explain myself, hope you get what I’m saying. Alot of the time you see feminist who use the term bitch in a positive way by saying things like ” Head bitch incharge!”. Also I think it’s important to turn slut into a positive term aswell becasue there is nothing wrong with being a female who is sexual. By embracing the term and making it posisitve you are saying ‘yes I’m a girl, yes I’m sexual and that’s ok”. Rather then banish the term slut, say there’s nothing wrong with being a slut so let’s embrace the word. I think it’s so much more powerful to embrace the term then be victimized by it. Do you get what I’m saying? also I loved what you wrote, it mad me soooo happy. If you have opinions on what I wrote please do email me! I’d be glad to get your opinion on everything!