It’s sunny and summery today, in the low 70s, but the wind is fierce. Some trees have started to blossom, but with the higher temperatures, it looks like the blooms are already fading.
So it goes some springs.
Yesterday I was talking with a friend who works in a position that relies on government funding to provide education and services largely pertaining to women. The organization has a bit of diversity, not a ton of it, but as the funding has dried up, somehow it was the women who were not white who were told their positions were unlikely to survive the year.
One person from their section of the org was saved; she was white.
It segued firmly into a discussion about white feminism, and how, when the times are tough, the circle of wagons gets specifically small. And then we talked about other things we saw, women being awful to other women, men being horrible in general, and I told her my entire view of the world as a feminist felt like it was shattering to shards.
“If I’m not a feminist, what am I?” I asked her.
“How about a FAFOist?” she replied.
Did I mention my friend is brilliant? Because she is.
Anyway, she was right. In this new era, with new sides and very, very exposed sides, there is only one thing to be: a FAFOist.
If you don’t know the acronym FAFO, please take a moment to search it and pop back. We’ll be here. It’s something you need to know because you’ll see it a lot.
So basically, as a FAFOist, we believe in the power of people living the consequences of their actions. Of people being responsible for their choices, and no longer providing uneven support. Not cleaning up messes we’d tell them they’d make long before they made them.
Most of you are already members, we just didn’t have a name for it.
Of course we still believe in equality, in ending gender oppression and subjugation, but as someone said a long time ago to me, in this world, at this time, “feminist” is synonymous with “white feminist.”
And no, that doesn’t mean a feminist who is white. It means a feminist who centers whiteness. A feminist who, ironically, actually serves the white male patriarchy.
By nature of that exclusive wagon circle.
Back at my friend’s org, the safe side may not be so safe after all, which is a reality along every single sector relying on federal funding. Absolutely nothing is certain right now. Talk about your leopard face dinner party.
Which is why it’s best to live as a FAFO.
Don’t do that first part, you won’t need to worry about the second.
Have a great Tuesday.
A Bit to Read 
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