Mansplaining Feminism

A unique voice in the feminist movement, Firestone's Dialectic of Sex was a best-selling revolutionary text arguing that we need to end traditional gender/sex roles. Science, she argued, had finally allowed total domination of humans over nature, so it was time this domination was used to free women from their 'natural' roles.

Mary Ann Weathers called for a new feminism movement which centred around the experiences of black women. Her argument was that Black women were caught beneath patriarchy as well as racism as well as most frequently the ones suffering most from the injustice of capitalism. We talk about her famous essay "An Argument for Black Women's Liberation" as well as Colin Kaepernick, Martin Luther King and why Billy was attacked at work.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VBqGiB...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mansplainingf

We start on one of the more radical characters in the history of feminism, with Valerie Solanas. The SCUM Manifesto, SCUM standing for Society for Cutting Up Men, divided the feminist movement as not everyone shared Solanas view of a utopia which was free from the male.

The manifesto is not however, just random collections of anti-male propaganda as some might think and can be seen as an ironic reaction to misogynist literature. Whatever you think of it, it certainly isn't boring. 

 

(00:00) Introduction

(01:04) Scum Manifesto and other good titles

(01:50) Valerie Solanas background, abusive upbringing and academic breakthrough 

(03:35) SCUM Manifesto and the connection to Valerie Solanas' abuse

(04:19) Men are walking abortions, mistakes and scum. 

(05:50) Men are jealous of women and want what they have. 

(07:30) Men want to be housewives

(08:43) Every man, deep down, knows he's a worthless piece of shit

(11:38) The break from de Beauvoir - men lack any worth whatsoever

(12:18) Is SCUM genuine or ironic? 

(13:35) SCUM Manifesto a socialist manifesto. Removing the money system and destroy so-called great art.

(16:02) Valerie Solanas and Andy Warhol

(18:42) What was the reaction to the SCUM Manifesto?

The Feminine Mystique - Betty Friedan 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VBqGiB...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mansplainingf

We've reached the funky 60s and another major text in the feminist movement. The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan called out the "problem that has no name" but that was felt so clearly by many women in the US since the end of World War two.

Criticised for being centred on a specifically middle-class and white demographic, the book was nevertheless a major turning point and was highly influential. 

 

(00:00) Introduction

(00:31) Billy's new feminist glasses

(01:24) Betty Friedan is American so it matters more

(02:33) Betty Friedan was a socialist, Jewish and feminist activist

(04:00) The problem that has no name, American housewives and their lost potential

(09:16) The feminine mystique and the female stereotype

(13:33) "Housewife fatigue" and the problems of patriarchy according to Friedan

(15:10) Mad Men, Betty and her unnamed problem

(16:05) The response to The Feminine Mystique 

(17:18) Critique of The Feminine Mystique from LGBTQ and Black feminists

Simone de Beauvoir - The Second Sex - Part 2

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VBqGiB...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mansplainingf

Still on Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex", we now discuss the second volume where de Beauvoir sets out her main theory of immanence and transcendence. She explains what it means to be truly free as a human being, and how that freedom is often denied women. We also look at Tupac Shakur for some reason.

 

(00:00) Introduction

(00:33) What happened in part 1? 

(01:42) One is not born, but rather becomes a woman. Leaving Freud. 

(03:07) Simone de Beauvoir's view on becoming a woman. Departure from the first wave. 

(05:13) The different stages of becoming and being a woman. 

(06:18) The discovery of the genitalia. The boy and the penis. 

(07:10) Transcendence and Immanence - real freedom and the status quo. 

(07:51) Tupac Shakur and Transcendence versus the housewife and immanence

(11:33) Solutions to the gender problem by Simone de Beauvoir

(12:22) Boys love trucks and women love dolls

(15:28) The reaction to the Second Sex and the ideas of transcendence and immanence

(17:54) Why there aren't many women geniuses according to Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir - The Second Sex - Part 1

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VBqGiB...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mansplainingf

In this episode we look at the 1950s and what many call “the feminist bible”: The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir. How are women actually oppressed? Can they ever be free? These are the fundamental questions de Beauvoir tackles in this giant book.

 

(00:00) Introduction

(00:31) Hi Billy…

(00:57) The Second Sex and some background

(01:21) So who was Simone de Beauvoir?

(02:48) Why is she famous? How did she contribute to the history of feminism?

(04:00) Sperm and Ovum

(05:39) Simone de Beauvoir and the second wave

(07:00) So this is a huge leap forward compared to the first wave?

(08:54) Does the book lead to any change in society?

(10:32) Women have a tougher life than men!

(12:39) Just to summarise…

Episode 1

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VBqGiBvqFa98qw603kJxq?si=18f52b7b834c4eab

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mansplainingf

In this episode we look at the Declaration of Sentiments, among other texts from the 19th century. We discuss the role of Cady Stanton and her allies in arguably kicking off feminism in the Western world.

It's the first episode of a long journey, and we hope, a step in the right direction.

(00:00) Introduction

(00:39) Purpose of the podcast

(02:39) Mid-19th century American feminism and the Declaration of Sentiments

(05:16) Sojourner Truth and Ain't I A Woman

(07:14) Billy summarises the Declaration of Sentiments

(07:40) Abolitionist Movement and Feminism

(08:24) Religious arguments for women's liberation

(10:40) What did they do with this manifesto? What were the results?

(12:20) Conclusions and what to expect in future episodes