Edition 13: The Ethics of Working with Liberals & Conservatives
May 5, 2017
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Kaeley Triller-Haver, from the Hands Across the Aisle Coalition, discusses the nuances of coalition-building between feminists and conservatives, emphasizing the importance of dialogue across the political spectrum. Natasha Chart, a board member of the Women's Liberation Front, shares insights on their decision to accept funding from a conservative group, igniting debate on ideological integrity. The conversation tackles the ethical complexities and potential risks of such alliances while addressing larger issues of women's rights, identity, and community engagement.
The podcast discusses the ethical dilemmas and complexities of feminist collaboration with conservative groups in advancing women's rights.
Speakers address the tensions within feminism about working with ideologically opposed allies, emphasizing the importance of shared goals amidst concerns of co-optation.
International politics significantly influence women's rights advocacy, spotlighting issues of credibility when oppressive regimes hold authoritative positions in feminist discussions.
Deep dives
The Importance of Women's Discourse
The podcast emphasizes the systemic suppression of women's voices across various political landscapes in America. It highlights how all sectors, from conservative to liberal, perpetuate male dominance, which stifles female discourse. This suppression creates a barrier to discussing women's issues authentically and robustly. The team aims to address these issues and provide a platform for women's narratives that often go unheard.
Feminist Coalitions and Right-Wing Alignment
The discussion addresses the contentious debates surrounding feminists collaborating with right-wing groups, specifically in opposition to the gender identity movement. Speakers, such as Kaylee Triller-Haver and Max Robinson, share their experiences and feelings about these alliances; while some see potential for shared goals, others worry about co-optation and the overall impact on feminist movements. The conversations reveal a tension within feminism regarding the ethicality of working alongside ideologically opposed groups for a common cause. This highlights the complexity of feminist politics in navigating such alliances.
Critique of Misunderstandings Within Feminism
Commentaries reflect on the oversimplifications and polemical criticisms that often characterize leftist dialogue about right-wing feminist alignment. Niall Pierce argues that hyperbole leads to misunderstandings that hinder true collaboration and dialogue across the political spectrum. This presents a significant challenge to building bridges among feminists with diverse beliefs. Recognizing the nuances within politically diverse groups could provide avenues for more effective advocacy and further the goal of total liberation.
Women's Rights in Global Contexts
The podcast also examines the role of international politics in women's rights, mentioning the controversial inclusion of Saudi Arabia on the UN Commission on the Status of Women. This raises questions about the credibility of global feminist advocacy organizations when countries with appalling records on women's rights are given authoritative positions. Criticism from various stakeholders, including Canadian politicians, emphasizes the need for genuine representation of women's rights in international discussions. Moreover, this emphasizes the holistic need for intersectional awareness within the feminist movement.
Defining Feminism's Boundaries
The podcast delves into the debate over who defines feminism and what it means within the socio-political landscape. Various speakers discuss the challenges of expanding feminism's scope to include diverse perspectives while maintaining core tenets of women's liberation. There is a recognition that feminist movements must adapt and evolve to remain relevant in addressing contemporary issues faced by women, regardless of their political affiliations. Ultimately, this calls for a more inclusive understanding of what constitutes effective feminist advocacy.
We are proud to present our 13th edition podcast focused on the ethics of coalition-building with both the right & the left as we work as radical feminists to hold and advance the rights of girls and women.
In edition 13, WLRN asks hard questions about the ethics and efficacy of WoLF's decision to accept funds from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative organization that is against full abortion rights & homosexuality.
This hour-long broadcast features interviews with Kaeley Triller-Haver of the Hands Across the Aisle Coalition, Natasha Chart of the Women's Liberation Front (WoLF) and commentary from Nile Pierce of the WLRN collective.
In addition, Sekhmet SheOwl reads statements by Stop Trans Chauvinism & Max Robinson of Re-sisters, both groups that are strongly critical of feminists aligning themselves with the right wing.
WLRN headlines are read by our sound tech and engineering goddess Jenna Di Quarto and feature a wide variety of stories including sound clips from a recent School Board meeting in Minnesota where two feminists, Tasha Rose and Emily Zinos, faced a room full of trans activists.
The songs featured for this edition were selected by Sekhmet SheOwl and are by Nina Simone & Alix Dobkin. Featured photo by Bettye Lane, 1972.
We received statements created by WoLF, Max Robinson of Re-sisters, Stop Trans Chauvinism & Ruth Greenberg, lesbian feminist from Great Britain, on the topic of this broadcast. May the discussions continue! You will find links to those statements on our web site wlrnmedia.wordpress.com under the post for edition 13.
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