- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 0
- 130
-
Sparkle (0)
One of my New Year's resolutions this year is the same one I make every year: To read more. More books, more news, more interesting blogs.
Two blogs I started reading recently are Womanist Musings and Wood Turtle. Womanist Musings is written by a Canadian woman named Renee Martin, who insists that she is a womanist, not a feminist and writes profusely about racism and intersectionality. I first discovered Martin's work a few years ago, via the site Feministing. Even though I agreed with most of her points, I found her writing overly confrontational. Then, in February, she wrote a scathing piece about Jessica Valenti, someone whom I greatly admire, and I was completely turned off.
I've since come to admire Martin's work quite a lot. Even though I still think her critique of Valenti was unfair and, quite frankly, almost malicious, I understand where she's coming from. Reading her work has enlightened me to some of the more covert ways in which people of color, particularly women of color, continue to be marginalized. Stories about her son being called a "nigger" and raising kids with a white man are heartbreaking and fascinating. Her anger is never unjustified. She is commited to discussing a wide range of issues on her blog, including transphobia, homophobia, sexism, and ableism, and she is willing to apologize when she's wrong. I think the world is a better place because of Renee Martin's work.
I discovered Wood Turtle, written by a hijab-wearing Muslim feminist with a young daughter, through Womanist Musings, where she often guest posts. In our post 9-11 era of rampant Islamophobia, her work is more interesting, relevant, and important than ever. Her post about her thoughts on her toddler putting on the hijab is incredibly fascinating. I look forward to reading more of her work this upcoming year.
I would recommend anyone to these blogs. Check them out, learn something new, hear a new perspective.
Finally, I would like to ask for recommendations for new blogs. What blogs or websites do you read? Link me!
Happy New Year!
College student, future history teacher, and feminist.
