“Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It’s about making life more fair for women everywhere. It’s not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It’s about baking a new pie.”
-Gloria Steinem
Dear Writers,
For many of us, it was a very tiring week. For many more of us, a week of rage and fear and disgust.
A week of helplessness.
A week of self-care, especially if we wanted to be even a little bit creative.
It was a week when we needed our friends.
No matter which lens you look through, the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was heroic and frightening and triggering. She spoke for many many women who have never been able to speak their truths. She spoke under duress.
I do not know a woman who was left unaffected.
That’s why I paused when on Saturday night, I received message after message to black-out my profile on Sunday. This request was intended to show men that we count. That we should be heard. It was offered as an action of solidarity.
First thought: I understood the imagery. I imagined what it would look like: square after square shrouded in black.
I am all for solidarity of women.
I want to make a difference. I understand the importance of doing things as a group.
But I felt uncomfortable with the idea of erasing my face at a time when speaking out has never been more important–when our voices need to be heard. Especially women’s voices.
So I didn’t do it. I left my profile alone.
And I paid attention to Facebook so I could listen to others.
This is what I discovered:
We are strongest when we feel heard by our community. By other women. By friends. (This was not a surprise.)
As the day progressed, I listened to a lot of conversation. And women’s voices.
I watched many friends discussing the importance of being heard and gaining power. And working together. I listened to frustration that more had not changed since we were girls. I talked to women who wanted to take the rage of the week and turn it into positive action.
In our world of writing, this is an essential conversation. Books are all about giving new voices a platform. For many of us, a single unheard voice is the motivation to write.
This why I read.
It’s why I am learning so much from #ownvoices.
In our stories, we offer readers a chance to see themselves and know others. We invite them to feel what someone else might feel.
This is the magic that will make the world better and stronger.
We give our readers strength.
We address their fear.
We give them the ability to practice being brave.
Our voices are necessary.
They are vibrant and diverse and important.
Thank you for sharing them.
So this morning, I ask you to think about all the ways you are using your voice.
For each other.
For our readers.
For the future.
I also ask you to get louder. As loud as what feels comfortable. In any way that works for you.
There are a lot of ways.
We can write letters–to our representatives. To our faith leaders. To our community leaders. To each other.
We can band together. In person. And online. On Skype. In the classroom.
We may not all be extroverts, but when it comes to readers, my guess is that we are all ready to act.
Let’s also vow to listen actively to each other–because there are still many women who are not being heard.
Because we don’t always hear women’s voices the same way we hear men.
And that has to change.
If you haven’t yet, read posts by #kidlitwomen. Read books by #kidlitwomen.
Let’s stop inadvertently telling girls that their voices should be softer
sweeter
or more likeable
than the voices of boys.
Can we model that?
I think we can.
Writers, erased faces were never going to be the answer.
Our collective voices are.
Our collective knowledge is.
Our collective hearts are.
We are strong.
We have something to say.
We can change the world IF WE SAY IT.
Want to help me say it?
Are you ready to stretch?
What is YOUR TRUTH? For writing? For life? For what you want to offer readers?
Post it on Twitter. Tag me. (@sarah_aronson).
For one random person, I’ll send you a writer’s care package.
Have a great writing week!
sarah