You asked: Part 7

Question: Where the hell have you been?!

Well, thank you all for asking. I’ve missed you too. Here’s what happened: I started a feminist blog in Bulgarian. And all hell broke loose.

I dared to suggest, among other things, that:
- even though men and women might be equal in the face of the law, there are still actual inequalities that take the form of gender stereotypes and prejudices that need to be addressed
- sexist and racist jokes are not funny
- female managers face different sorts of expectations from their employees than male managers and backed that up with a scientific study

Radical and revolutionary, no?

The blog got TONS of attention and for the most part, it’s been a good experience. I find it refreshing to have my core values challenged…like…when I needed to explain why I don’t think a woman can only feel fulfilled when she has a husband and a child. Or when I had to figure out the polite way to say FUCK OFF to people who believe that women are almost inevitably worse managers than men. I feel like I’m back in my Intro to Gender Studies class way back when…only that I am the one doing the explaining.

I find Bulgarian attitudes toward feminism totally fascinating. Back in the 40s, communists declared us all equal and thus considered the “women issue” resolved. Women could work and prosper together with men. They opened state-run childcare centers, paid for extended maternity leave and encouraged women to pursue traditionally male occupations. Somewhere along the way, however, something seems to have not quite clicked. Because, from what I see now, women here don’t think highly of themselves and men…ah men. I would really hope that you guys would help me figure this out…

But…what do you know…I plan to persevere. I emailed my political theory professor from grad school, the virtual equivalent of throwing my hands up in desperation, and she said to me, Yes! Sometimes what seems hopeless (and endless) is what most needs doing!

Thank you all for sticking around.