10 ways to fight the patriarchy from home

Can we be real with you? We’d all love to be on top of our activism game. You know, smashing the patriarchy and taking names… But even in the best of times, it can be daunting to know how or where to start.

Cut to a global pandemic, when tensions are high and so many of us are already doing the most—adjusting to work-from-home, keeping tabs on friends and family, staying healthy and sane—and it can feel downright impossible.

So listen: if you want to exercise your feminist values in the middle of all this, we say be safe and start small. It doesn’t take a grand gesture to show support for women, expand your knowledge, spread the word, and immerse yourself in the inspiring work of female makers, movers, and shakers.

Here are 10 tiny, stress-free feminist actions you can take from home today:

1. Look the part

If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Right? Treat yourself to a new quaran-tee and rock your feminism all over… your house.

Yes, we know: shopping isn’t the purest way to be a feminist, but getting something empowering in the mail instead of the usual pantry items or utility bills can be a nice energy boost in troubling times like these.

So what statement do you want to make?

All of our tees are nice enough to wear on your next Skype call or Zoom meeting. Comfy enough to lounge around in. And fully badass because you’re owning your beliefs and supporting female designers, ethical production—the whole nine yards.

That’s what Michael Scott would call a win-win-win and, you know what? It feels good.

2. Follow your heart

This one’s about as simple as a feminist action can be, but staying engaged is half the battle, ladies. And if you’ve already got your fill of news in your inbox and on the net, then maybe it’s time to add a little feminism to your feed.

Here are a few of our current faves:

Oh, did you notice we plugged our own page? Shameless, we know. But what can we say? We do our homework and the content slays.

Pay it forward

Glennon Doyle, founder of Together Rising and author of Untamed says, “Figure out what breaks your heart in the world. That’s your purpose. Find the folks working to fix that thing… and join them. Those are your people.”

So what feminist value means the most to you?

Electing more women to public office? Check out She Should Run.
Access to family planning resources like birth control and abortion? Planned Parenthood is tried and true.
Supporting girls in STEM? Donate to Girls Who Code.
Providing resources for survivors of domestic violence? Try The Hotline.

For today, focus on just one thing. Maybe even find something local. And remember: one donation here and there might feel like a drop in the bucket, but if you start paying attention to a single organization or cause, you’ll see that it all adds up to some very real change.

3. Listen in

If donating feels a little out of reach at the moment, lend an ear instead. If you’re not a podcast junkie yet, well, good on you. But if you’re like us and can’t quit the sweet sound of endless streaming, then here are 3 feminist podcasts we’d like to introduce you to:

So Many White Guys
Phoebe Robinson of Two Dope Queens has honest, hilarious convos with celebs who (mostly) aren’t white dudes—we’re talking Lizzo, Padme Lakshmi & more

Here to Slay
Laugh, learn and be challenged on things like pop culture, politics, and life by two of the smartest feminist activists in the game

Still Processing
Two culture writers at NYT blend pop culture and real issues, from Tiger King to the retirement of Aunt Jemima to the fly on Mike Pence’s head

5. Say the f word

Say what? You heard us. Too many women these days don’t want to embrace the label. Because it sounds too aggressive, too liberal, too dated. We go deep on this in another article, but the tl;dr version is: it’s time we own and normalize it.

Oh, and once you make it known you’re a feminist and proud of it, ask your friends and fam where they stand. Sometimes all it takes is a simple conversation to make people realize that maybe it’s not so radical after all to think that men and women should be treated equally ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

6. Show you care

In the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic (at least in recent history), we would be remiss if we did not talk about our collective social responsibility…

If you do find yourself out in the streets—whether you’re attending a protest or restocking your La Croix supply—mask up! A strong woman stands up for herself. A stronger woman stands up for everybody else. And that’s the point of wearing a mask. To protect others and hope they’ll do the same for you.

And hey, if you’re in need a more feminist face mask, we’ve got one for you. Check it.

7. Share the love

Here at The Feminista, we like to spread the word in style. Literally. If that’s not your thing, keep on scrolling. If it is, we’ve got some kickass recos for you:

For your roomie (who you just got extra close to): matching tees that say Empowered women empower women. Because that’s what you two do.

For your work buddy: A feminist sticker for her laptop.

For your mom, sister, or feminist fam: A feminist ugly sweater tee? Um, yes please.

For whoever needs to hear it: A super-soft tee that says, You are magic, know your worth.

Want more? Check out our 2020 holiday gift guide and get ideas for every feminist on your list.

8. Say thanks

Sounds simple, means a lot. So many women paved the way for us. And when it comes to feminist activism, expressing our gratitude is the least we can do. Call your gram. Text your mom. Email an old mentor, teacher, or coach. Thank a frontline worker. Snaps all around.

And hey, Deputy Director Leslie Knope once said, “I am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself.” So if you can relate, thank you yourself with something sweet… like a pumpkin spice latte or, you know, a pumpkin spice tee ;)

9. Watch and learn

Speaking of self-care… why not do a little feminist-ing (that’s a word, right?) from your couch this eve? Sometimes the best way to shake off the anxiety of a world in turmoil is to take a few hours to indulge in something inspiring.

For starters, we’d recommend the Netflix doc Feminists: What Were They Thinking? for a little background on the movement, starting in the 1970s.

But if you’re looking for something a little more fun, try a romantic comedy like Obvious Child or Someone Grea t. Want to watch super-smart women overcoming long odds? Go for Hidden Figures or Queen of Katwe. How about a feminist coming-of-age story? That’ll be Dumplin’ or Booksmart.

Oh, and next time you find yourself browsing on your own, see if the movie in question passes the Bechdel Test (a.k.a it has to have at least two women, who talk to each other, about something other than a man). You’d be surprised how few movies pass the test.

10. Stay tuned

Last but not least: sign up for your weekly dose of The F Word—and get it delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll check in weekly to talk feminism in pop culture, politics, fashion, and beyond. And to share what’s new and The Feminista shop, of course.

If you’re inbox is too cluttered, we get it. Bookmark The F Word and check back at your leisure. We won’t ever have a paywall and you can count on us for content bent on having fun and fighting the patriarchy.

So go forth and be feminists! Do your best and go easy on yourself. These are trying times and any feminist action—no matter how small—is a damn fine thing.

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