THE *F* WORD

We haven't used the *F* word in these articles and we
won't in the future. Whether it's -ine or -ist, we
will not use this word which was created by the hege-
monic media to label, control and RESTRICT our move-
ment.

Women throughout the ages have struggled to become --
to be accepted as human beings. This struggle sim-
mered, caught fire and exploded in this century. We
called it the Woman's Movement to Equality.

Then the spin-doctors, -nurses and -political media
defined our movement with the *F* word giving it a
meaning that both dissed our movement and (worse)
limited it. Most dictionaries will define *F* similar
or like this: `female nature'; `womanliness'; `charac-
teristic of women' and others which all define *F* from
the culture's established designation of what a woman
is and, more importantly, what that culture exerts
force to make her be.

Self-defined women know that we do not have a common
`nature'. We know that we are still exploring the
various methods of being woman. When we get enough
experience at becoming, WE, AND WE ALONE, WILL DEFINE
OUR `CHARACTERISTICS'.

So as we grow and learn, we are assaulted for being
_UN-*F*_! That is, we are being intelligent, unladylike,
shrill, nonconforming, smart, clever, strong, brave,
physical, large, tall, proud, bold, healthy (add your
own discovered characteristics here).

We are called *F*-Nazis, radical *F*, unnatural, man-
haters, lesbians (fill in any additional names you have
been called here).

Fueling the fires are sycophant women writers who, if
they ever were involved, have now lost sight of the
Woman's Movement in their desire to please the pater-
nalistic culture. We won't name them. You know who
they are by their words. They are backed by the far
right political/religious money and their books are
well financed, packaged and pimped by the media. You
will seldom see or hear of a woman writer who still
writes about us and our movement but when you do, it is
pure pleasure.

Yes, our Movement has been usurped mainly by those who
claim leadership by academic degree (decree). Using
programs that were designed to support women relative
to their becoming, these writers glory in mutual mas-
turbation. They create and exchange theories full of
smoke, sex and culturally-defined propaganda about woman-
kind. They dissect us, sterilize and reassemble us into
an image acceptable to the authority. Their main purpose
is to obfuscate issues. So we read their books and learn
that there is no Movement. It is no longer needed.
Rather, we are all either pre *F*; post *F*; neo *F* and
any minute now we expect to hear about *F's* for the 21th
Century or a space ship orbiting the earth called *F*!

Then there are those not connected with academia who
continue to dis women with books that give `rules'
which reinforce the stereotype that all women are lying,
scheming and untrustworthy.

*It is important to realize that not all academics or
other women writers have sold out our Woman's Movement
to Equality.* Thankfully they exist and if you know one
tell her how much you appreciate her bravery, her
efforts and her SACRIFICE. For their devotion to their
gender has cost them much in the way of pay and promotion.
We owe them a great debt for we cannot hope to change the
way our culture and our world views us until we change
ourselves. These women are our shining examples, pointing
the way for the rest of us.

We also owe much to the many men who have, and who continue to
supported our movement. They do NOT deserve the *F* word either.

Sadly, it is still the people who crap on the Women's Movement
that are allowed to reap the rewards of a grateful and
generous hegemony.

In preparation for an upcoming post on boy's clubs,
read or reread or review the Handmaiden's Tale (of
course you all know who wrote that!)