Waving goodbye

Lisa Jervis, publisher of Bitch Magazine, has a thought-provoking essay in the current issue of Ms. Magazine. Jervis argues that it is time to put aside "Wave" (as in Second Wave, Third Wave) terminology in referring to the Women's Movement because such terminology creates false divides among the generations. She has an excellent point. As a Second Wave feminist, I have sometimes felt misunderstood and under-appreciated by the Third Wave, and I know I have permitted false images of the Third Wave to enter my consciousness.

I am now fortunate to be able to talk withThird Wave women on a regular basis, and I really don't see any difference between their anger and my anger, their goals and my goals. Here is a snippet from Jervis's essay:

It’s just so much easier to hit on the playful cultural elements of the third wave and contrast them with the brass-tacks agenda — and impressive gains — of the second wave: It’s become the master narrative of feminism’s progression (or regression, as some see it).

But when has it ever been a good idea to trust a master narrative?

Well put. It is the master narrative, invented by the news media and (put your hands over your ears, Ralph Nader) the American patriarchy that has cast us all--at one time or another-- as demanding, unrealistic, shrill, envious, ball-busting, sexless, promiscuous, neurotic, and God knows what else. Dividing a movement against itself is always the best way to destroy it.