Saturday, January 17, 2009

being oppressed means the absence of choices




I'm re-reading bell hooks' Feminist theory: from Margin to Center right now, hence this small portrait of her. I'm thinking about removing it from the frame & making it into a patch to put on a t-shirt instead (just have to find a suitable tee).

For those of you that don't know, bell hooks (or Gloria Jean Watkins, which is her real name) is an american writer, feminist & scholar that deals with the relationship between sexism, racism & class. I like they way she challenges the contemporary idea of feminism as a movement & an expression that could mean just anything, depending on who defines it. According to hooks, feminism must be "the struggle to end sexist oppression" & that means that the dominant liberal feminism of today, that doesn't deal with class issues, can never be real feminism. She is relentless in her assault on white, middle class feminists (hey, that's me!) & the movements unwillingness to acknowledge & analyze it's own racism & class issues.

But at the same time as she advocates a raging criticism against how white feminists have excluded & marginalized black women or other ethnic groups & made their own strive for equality with privileged white men the goal, she's very clear on what has to be done: a turn towards companionship, solidarity & bonding between women (a bond that does not have it's roots in an imagined shared role as "victim" or "oppressed", but in shared strength & resources). She's even written a book that is all about love. I really recommend reading bell hooks to anyone who's interested in the ways that sexist, racist & class oppression works together & has to be challenged together.

Monday, January 12, 2009

there she goes again


You have to take a look at the latest post on Radical Cross Stitch. I'm happy to know such an amazing political crafter who's genius, ambition, creativeness & quality works as a great inspiration.



Wednesday, January 7, 2009

knit 2, purl 2 (stuff I do instead of studying)


With some help from Stitch 'n Bitch & Roliga Stickboken, I finaly finished my first real knitting project.


It might not be the most revolutionary & prettiest scarf ever, but I'm still proud of myself considering that this was the result of the last time I tried knitting. I made it as a gift for my dad (he chose the color, not me) & it wasn't as complicated as I thought it would be. Now i'm thinking mittens, found some inspirational stuff here.

Monday, January 5, 2009

make up & ponies


I'm not too sure about the new header/logo. What do you think? & yes, I got the idea for from some of the designs at Urban Threads. Credit where credit's due.

I started two new projects today & got two other in mind. Since there is no money & no fun & just fucking cold in January, I'm planning to stay indoors & spend my time doing some serious crafting next couple of weeks.

Cute craft/diy badges that I bought last week at Hallongrottan, Sthlm:


 
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