In case you haven’t noticed, in the past few weeks we’ve been slowly rolling out a new web project. It’s called Zelda Lily: Feminism in a Bra, and it’s a website dedicated to women (although men are welcome!), and to bringing the concept of feminism back into the mainstream. I’ve long been bothered that the presence of “feminism,” particularly on the web, adheres to a strict, and often exclusive, doctrine. Being a woman involves so many more viewpoints and choices and ways of life than traditional feminism allows for, and I wanted to make a website that was about finding power and joy in being a woman, regardless of how you choose to go about it. The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive, so if you haven’t checked it out, please wander over to ZeldaLily.com and let us know what you think.
That said, one of our enormously talented writers, Maria-Mercedes Lara, has launched an advice column over on Zelda Lily. It’s called Bitchy Q’s, and its goal, in her words, is as follows:
Dealing with passive-aggressive friends or bully co-workers or annoying neighbors can be emotionally draining, especially when you know that “the high road” is going to be humiliating or just increase the stickiness of your situation. Sometimes you need to know how to handle situations with just the right touch of bitchiness, intelligence and tact, and that is why we are launching “Bitchy Q’s,” a weekly advice column where we (okay, I) tell you how to be more of a bitch. (With apologies to the New York Times “Social Q’s” column.) Just to clarify: I am not talking about being a screaming, embarrassing and unreasonably mean bitch; I’m talking about being the kind of bitch that gets her point across, gets things done and can logically explain herself to others.
You can check out the post here for more info on Bitchy Q’s, and please feel free to submit questions to maria-mercedes@zeldalily.com.
Cool idea. I find it odd when I hear women–or men–saying that they don’t consider themselves to be feminist. Don’t they realize what feminist means? It’s like that old poster:
“I’m not a feminist, but…
I appreciate the right to help choose my government representatives. I enjoy the option of wearing pants or shorts if I want.
I’m pleased that I was allowed to learn to read and write.
It can be very convenient to control how many babies I want to have. It’s awfully useful to be able to open a bank account and own property in my name.
I like knowing that my husband or boyfriend cannot legally beat me. It’s really swell to keep the money that I earn.”
Feminism
noun, the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.
I can honestly say I am not a feminist.
I am a woman who wishes she lived in the 1950’s. With feminism comes this social stigma for women who want nothing more than to stay at home. You constantly get people telling you that you HAVE to go to college and get a degree and you HAVE to have a 9-5 job and provide half the income. You get people telling you that you can’t get married until you’re at least 25 and shouldn’t have children until you’re 30. I’m wasting my time going to school for a bachelor of fine arts degree, with 80 THOUSAND dollars worth of student loans when I have no desire to do anything with that degree. It’s not my choice to go, I’m essentially being forced to. “A girl as smart as you, shouldn’t waste her intelligence on staying home” So with this whole equality thing, there comes this idea that since you are able to work, you MUST. The whole thing is so frustrating.
Well that is your own personal problem. You are not FORCED to go to school, as that would be illegal, you simply do not thave the strength to stand up for what you want in your life, which i understand because i feel those same pressures however…
Perviously there were LAWS MAKING IT ILLEGAL and POLICIES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE for women to vote, work, go to school, they didnt have the choice even if they wanted it. Big difference.
I am soooo looking forward to the Bitchy Q’s!!!
I’ve checked out the site a few times. I like it.
We have gained a lot as women but I still see a big barrier when it comes to women and being pregnant/having babies in the work force.
High five! ps. screw the high road.
Have you explored the concept of Womanism? The fact that you’re interested in Feminism-but-not-Feminism makes me think you’d be interested. Alice Walker (of A Color Purple fame) coined the term. She said “Womanism is to Feminism as the color Purple is to pink”( or something like that). Look it up. Awesome stuff.
I lovelovelove Zelda Lily. The stories are fascinating and relevant, the writing is solid, and it’s easy to navigate. Keep up the great work : )
building women up on one site and tearing them down on another. classic!
Exactly, the same person who just a few weeks ago was tearing down a celebrities wife for having “fat arms” now has a website about finding “power and joy in being a woman”. Sounds very genuine, right? Money maker Money maker.
Empowering the woman, you go girl! Fantastic site idea :D