Post from Reading List:
What is Feminist Media?
Bad? Brilliant?
You can rate this post.
Register or login now and
tell us what you think.

Adele M. Stan, one of my co-bloggers at TAPPED, brings up a great question. How do we define a "feminist publication?" Here at the WAM! conference, many of the speakers hail from "women's issues" all the time outlets, such as Bitch and Feministing.com.  But how about publications with a broad progressive outlook on issues like the Iraq war, inequality, labor, health care, education, and so on? Are they a part of the "feminist media?"  

Here are some of my own criteria for considering a media outlet a "feminist" one:

1. Women are in positions of power as content gatekeepers who can assign stories.

2. "Women's issues" such as reproductive justice, childcare, and the gender pay gap are covered both on their own terms and within the context of larger struggles within the progressive movement for civil rights, labor rights, universal health care, and so on. 

3. Although bylines may not yet achieve gender parity, editors recognize the importance of recruiting female writers across all topics (not just "girl stuff"), and aggressively recruit new writers.

4. Content recognizes gender as a crucial category of analysis, but also race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and class.

 Is there anything else you look for from "feminist media?" 


Reader Comments

Comments are closed for this post.

  
Feminist media?
By uspatriot Mar 31st 2007 at 3:00 pm EDT
Anything else I look for from feminist media?

Sure.

Militaristic agendas of anger.

Hatred.

Whining.

Lesbianism.

Anti-marriage, anti-Christian, anti-men, anti-baby rhetoric.

Agendas to infiltrate schools and indoctrinate children.
Re: Feminist media?
By Michael Apr 3rd 2007 at 5:13 pm EDT
I love that this guy has started consistently commenting on the site.

Conservatives' images of feminists are so simplistic--Uspatriot, I'm guessing you probably think all feminists don't shave their armpits and still burn their bras, right?
  
All that and...
By Allyson Mar 31st 2007 at 3:29 pm EDT
a lack of abusive advertising! I don't want to read a really informative and provacative article on a seldom-covered topic, just to turn the page and see the notorious Gucci gang-rape ad. This is what turns me off with a lot of feminist publications. They have to pay the printer, right? But do they also have to sell me out? I hope that's not the case.
To clarify -
By Allyson Mar 31st 2007 at 3:58 pm EDT
Not to say that I've ever seen that specific ad in a "feminist" pulication. I was being hyperbolic. I meant that I don't want to see advertising for Kellog's flavored protein water, miracles of modern science like wrinkle reducing skin creams, etc.
  
Transnational Feminism
By Holly Apr 1st 2007 at 10:33 am EDT
In addition to point 2, "women's issues," how about extending that attention along a transnational trajectory--paying attention to women's issues, renderings, politics, etc, throughout multiple cultures & classes, paying extra attention to drawing parallels (but NOT imposing a western-feminism) between women's situations, struggles, etc.?
  
Women in Politics
By Theresa Chaze Apr 2nd 2007 at 11:27 am EDT
I would like to see more article that explore politicians view points on women's issues such are reproductive rights, wages and day care. Not just the glossed over promotions that say nothing; I want to know what they will really do or have done. Also stories about successful women--how did they get there? What advice would they give other women? Lastly civil rights of women--increasely they are being volated and the violators are using the old excuse of "boys will be boys." There are many who are trying to turn back the clock to a time when white Christian men had all the rights. It's time to turn the spot lights on them so they will scurry back into the shadows like the roaches they are.
  
Campus Progress

Please remember that Campus Progress' terms of use do not allow promoting or endorsing any particular political party or candidate for office. Posts or comments that do this will be deleted.

Campus Progress