Letterman Quietly Ushers in the Next Wave of Feminism

It's not your mother's feminism. In fact, it's so revolutionary that the word "feminism" is being updated. The next wave is here. The players are different. The words are different. The asks are different. The weapons and tactics are different. Even the feel is different.

We knew it was coming. We just didn't know when or what it would look like. Quietly, cloaked in the unfortunate choice of David Letterman's words, the next wave has washed ashore, sight unseen by our national media. This explains why the media's constant query of "where are the feminists" is not being answered. The "feminists" are still there, yes. But the media is peeking under the wrong rocks as this next wave sweeps calmly over them and reaches our country's shore.

Gone is the "women's movement." This wave is not focused solely on women. This wave is primarily about the next generation -- our daughters and granddaughters. We see the sexualization of the next generation. We see the disturbing parade of misogyny and sexism. Mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers are sick and tired of the constant assault against women and girls.

Gone is "equal rights." This wave is not focused solely on above-ground demands for legislative change. This wave is about reaching down beneath the surface to eradicate the roots of sexism that lie deeply buried in darkness, ignorance and bias. The next generation deserves to be safe and be given a fair shake, yes; but we realize our daughters can only get there by changing our culture.

Gone is "domestic violence." The words in this wave will be completely different. In fact, part of this wave will be renovating the words that our culture has used to keep women and girls in their place. Domestic violence with its connotation of "a private matter, behind closed doors, none of our business, stay away," is being replaced with violence against women, and violence against girls. And as we see the escalation of violence against women and girls, we see how Letterman's words enable the sexualization of our daughters.

Gone are "protest rallies." Picket signs are being replaced by keyboards. This wave is cresting with alliances formed on the blogosphere. With writings critical of the media's culpability in blaming the victim. With the organization of boycotts. With the country's weariness of an attack on a mother and father defending their teenage daughter. For the realization that, in their shoes, we would all do the same.

Gone is "feminism". The word, hijacked by few into an exclusive clique with liberal, pro-choice rites of entry, is being put to rest. This wave is about inclusion. This wave is about unity. Every woman, man, girl and boy have a place in this wave regardless of their party, religion, race or sexual orientation.

Gone is "anti-male". In fact, this wave is hardly anti anything. This wave is about moving forward for the sake of the next generation. This wave is the culmination of our collective sigh of "oh, not again" and "I cannot bear to watch anymore." This wave is a quiet acceptance that yes something must be done. That sexism is alive and well in our country, and we do not want this to be the legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren.

And perhaps most revolutionary of all are the unlikely alliances being forged to fight against the words of David Letterman. Women who have had abortions are joining hands with those whose religion forbids it. Men who voted against Proposition 8 are joining hands with lesbian couples. Women who pulled the lever for a Republican are joining hands with men who voted for a Democrat. All uniting in the name of common decency and the desire to make things better for the next generation. It's a "how did we let it come to this" type of moment.

And although Sarah Palin and her daughter were the target of Letterman's words, it could just as easily have been Hillary Clinton or Cindy McCain or Michelle Obama or Nancy Pelosi or any of the women who were targets of the 2008 misogyny-fest. You see, it's hardly about Sarah. It's about our county and the next wave. And Sarah Palin may or may not even realize at this point, that the next wave has her back. A year ago today, the battle with Letterman would have barely registered in our national psyche.

But not so now -- not as the next wave washes ashore. And we see concrete impact of the actions of the next wave, such as the RNC pulling their "Pussy Galore" video targeting Nancy Pelosi, or Playboy's So Right It's Wrong article disappearing overnight. So is anyone surprised that this time, the women and men of the next wave are not backing down? Word to the wise, CBS: this isn't your mother's feminism. And yes, you should be concerned.

Follow Amy Siskind on Twitter: www.twitter.com/http://twitter.

Comments

[Malkin71]

So Amy,

Are you going to bash your little sweetheart Sarah Palin for her disrespectful joke about John Kerry?

Or does the next wave of feminism not involved practicing what you preach?

[hauty007]

When you think of the word "feminist" do you compare it to "malignant narcissists"?

Well, that's exactly what many MEN think, especially women who have earned a high level position.

Do Men feel threatened of WOMEN in power?

[hauty007]

Great article, the double standard that persists today of bashing WOMEN is disgusting.

Do men fear or HATE Women?

Some may question whether misogny is the foundation which drives a double standard in the American culture.

Think about it, sad but TRUE.

[IUAlumna]

So the next wave of feminism is here, and it's clear it can't take a joke. Context, please, people. Letterman's joke was clearly about Bristol, not Willow. Bristol, usually dragging Trig along, was paraded by her mother in front of the world as proof that Palin was anti-choice. I can't remember another politician who tried to parlay her family situation into as much publicity as Sarah Palin. (Take this test: quick, name all Al Gore's kids. John McCain's? Joes Bidens?) I felt sorry for the poor girl during the campaign, but publicity cuts both ways, and it is the rare Personality who doesn't take a hit on late-night television. Bristol is a personality now, thanks to Mom Palin. To call Letterman "elderly" is just ageist, if we're throwing PC "ist" names around. He's doing his job, just like Conan does his. Sarah Palin is not a feminist, and to take her side just fuels her anti-choice, anti-woman agenda. Unless, of course, you think it's nifty to make women pay for their own lab work when they've been raped.

[MeetJohnDoe]

Like there was something *wrong* with your mother's feminism, young lady?

Go clean your room.

[malodorousgit]

We need a fourth wave of feminism to stop elderly comedians from making jokes about famous people's children? It seems...out of proportion. There has been a lot of trash talk about women the last few years (democrats and republicans) but it seems to me that it's partly because women are in the the fray, and if Sarah Palin is any example, women can give as good as they get. I think she enjoys a good scrap, and the attention. Being a sexy victim, however revolting it appears to self-respecting women, is a calculated and in some ways powerful political choice because it appeals to her base. Feminists don't need to have her back. Or Bristol's back either, for that matter, since she seems well on her way to outdoing her mother as a hypocrite.

It is unclear what feminism is right now or where it's going, maybe it needs's thinking about. But it's hard to see how any effective form of feminism can benefit from an alliance with Sarah Palin and her particular brand of right wing demagoguery. It seems more likely to be an unholy alliance that will destroy feminism completely, as us old Third Wave feminists go WTF? and young women reject the entire mess as ridiculously overheated and at the same time, no fun at all.

I'd like to know what Bristol thinks about all this. Bet she and her friends are like "Dave who?" and laughing their butts off at all the fuss.

[2008CaliforniaFan]

If there is one person that the term ' trashes Women ' applies to it would have to be Sarah Palin.
Listen to the YouTube clip where she is just laughing it up with two radio DJ's as they are calling one of her fellow Alaska Legislateurs ( Lyda Green.... who had Cancer ) a B**cH and a cancer.

Palin thinks THIS is Funny. Why didn't she scold the DJ's and ' defend ' a Woman...? Because SHE thinks it is funny. She never apologized to Lyda... why not...? The REAL Sarah Palin.... in her own words on the tape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJdZr4rByrw&feature=PlayList&p=345119C8DBC7949E&index=112

[malodorousgit]

We need a fourth wave of feminism to stop elderly comedians from making jokes about famous people's children? It seems...out of proportion. There has been a lot of trash talk about women the last few years (democrats and republicans) but isn't that because women are in the midst of the fray, and they seem to give as good as they get. Our Sarah enjoys a good scrap, and the attention. Being a sexy victim, however revolting it appears to self-respecting women, is a calculated and in some ways powerful political choice because it appeals to her base. Feminists don't need to have her back. Or Bristol's back either, for that matter, since she seems well on her way to outdoing her mother as a hypocrite.

It is unclear what feminism is right now or where it's going, maybe it does need thinking about. But it's hard to see how any effective form of feminism can benefit from an alliance with Sarah Palin and her particular brand of right wing demagoguery. It seems more likely to be an unholy alliance that will destroy feminism completely, as us old Third Wave feminists go WTF? and young women reject the entire mess as ridiculously overheated and at the same time, no fun at all.

I'd like to know what Bristol thinks about all this. Bet she and her friends are like "Dave who?" and laughing their butts off at all the fuss.

[Izzle]

OH GIVE ME A BREAK!

Feminism is about gender equality. Sarah Palin was asking for was special treatment.­..anything to avoid the much deserved criticism, ey?

She pulled the be grieved woman card to get back at someone who accurately made fun of her own ineptness. I refuse to go along with the non thinking "feminists" who agree with whatever some loud woman tells them. I do not see how his jokes offended all women. What? Because Palin said so? She just doesn't like Letterman. Plenty of people have said the same thing if not worse. Even this site has actual quotes. The lack of consistent outrage diminishes the credibility of the so-called cause.

And why can't people realize that using your sex as a means to avoid criticism is well, sexist.

Feeling bad for that frail little flower, that had NO PROBLEM comparing the President to a terrorist? All of a sudden, the same woman who claimed people like me aren't "REAL AMERICANS", she's going to go on a crusade to help women? I highly doubt her heavily publicised "motives".

This is a perfect example of someone not being able to take what they dish out. You, and NOW, and all those pseudo feminist groups need to open their eyes. You are totally falling into the hype trap. Sarah Palin used the "sexist" card to avoid criticism. This only hurts the credibility of feminism in the long run. And you played right into it.

[WonderWomanGoddess]

Most of what you say above just doesn't fit with my experiences (of course I do live in Texas). I sincerely hope that blogs like this do not come to be the de facto representation of 'women's issues'. I do not agree with most of what you say, and I know a lot of women who don't either. Also, you are over simplifying many issues for the sake of verbal impact, and in doing so, shortchanging the issues. To suggest that Letterman (!?) is responsible for a 'new wave' of bigger, stronger feminism is laughable, and it's an insult to strong women who are really fighting the important battles (and have been). It's an affront to the issues to trivialize them to this degree.

I will agree with you, for instance, that the sexualization of increasingly younger girls is a big issue. But it's not just the people selling thongs for children that are to blame. I was walking behind a woman and her child in a store, and this child, under 10, was dressed in LOW rise jeans, a thong, 4 inch pumps... She was treated like an afterthought (accessory?) by her mother, and I use that term loosely. The poor child was trying to pull her pants up, pick at her thong, and teetering on those shoes. Who's to blame for that child's sexualization? Her **** mother. Women are to blame for a lot of ‘women’s’ problems, too.

[Malkin71]

If David Letterman should have to apologize for people misinterpretting what he said, then Amy Siskind should certainly have to apologize for intentionally mischaracterizing what the author from Playboy said...

While talking about the "hate s@x" article in Playboy in her first article on Huff Po, Amy Siskind changed the wording to "hate rape"? The author never talked about rape.

Anyone here know the difference between s@x and rape?

Then you understand it's a serious accusation.

Why has there been no call for Siskind to provide any kind of evidence or proof to justify changing the two words and thus implying the author is a "rapist" or at least a "rape" sympathizer?

If she wants Letterman to apologize, so should she....

[Freesia2]

50 people showed up to teach Dave a lesson. (I read a funny post - someone wondered how many of them were hired.)

Meanwhile in Anchorage, Alaska today - 1500 people showed up for a "get rid of Sarah" rally. 30 x the amount of people showed up to try to get her fired.

It's a good day for women.

[suigeneris]

50? I thought it was "15"? From the look of the video, I find the larger number harder to believe.

[Freesia2]

50 was the original figure given at the time I typed the post. It turns out that 35 of them were the media. In actuality they had a whopping 15 protestors. :-)

[Malkin71]

Meanwhile, all of these people who claim to care so much about equality have not said even one word about whether the joke was sexist to A-Rod?

[Wendy Johnson]

The Next Wave of Feminism sounds like a bunch of people sitting at home on their butts, writing angry emails when some celebrity screams drama on the airwaves. How is this a good thing? How is it different from any other Next Wave of activism ever since 2004?

Activism isn't point and click at some icon on your computer screen, and Sarah Palin isn't a feminist heroine. Amy Siskind, you may have the Next Wave of Feminism. I'll stick with the last one.

[OneBriiguy]

Dear Ms. Suskind,

I deeply appreciate the upbeat tone of your article, but I still can't figure out what you are talking about. The pattern of your prose in this article is to say that specific things are gone, but your descriptions of what replaced them are vague. For those of us that lack your insight, it would be great if you could let us in on what's coming (or is, perhaps, already here). What does it look like? How will we know it when we see it?

Thanks!

[FreedomFromWant]

I agree.

Crucially, I find it hard to fathom how a new movement could possibly have Sarah Palin's "back." You may not want to call it feminism anymore, but if this is about the next generation of women, then ultimately what informed feminism in the mid-late 20th century still matters now and in the future: this still strongly includes women's sexual and reproductive rights.

Sarah Palin can in no way be included in such a movement, no matter what you want to call it. She likes to think she is a strong advocate for women, but ultimately, she mimics what her male counterparts in the religious, conservative right have long talked about and acted upon. If this is the new brand of "feminism," I want no part.

[Izzle]

Exactly. If anything, standing up for Palin solely because she is a woman, is sexist.

[ANuttyReader]

David Letterman's comments were way out of hand, he should have not joked like that at all, I am sure he would no have liked it if someone - let's say Bill O'Rally said the same things about Mrs. Letterman

I don't like Sarah Palin, I think she is a phony and every step she makes is to gain the spotlight.. but to make sexist comments against her is not correct.

SP put ligth back into important subject that has been coming up, the sexist attacks agains women, Sotomayor, Clinton, Palin..

[snarkopolitan]

Agree that he shouldn't have made the joke. For which he apologized, fully. Unlike Imus, Letterman doesn't have a history of making abusive jokes. Palin's accusation that he was talking about r.ape and 14 year olds, though, as well as dragging her daughter into it by name, is outrageous.

She loves playing the victim, and I think she's trivializing the discussion, not enhancing it.