Representing Women
Is that so hard to understand?
Then, I realized I was in a cultural black hole.
When I say "represent," I mean the third meaning, according to Oxford:
Act for, appear for, speak for, be the representative of
The preferred meanings were: 1 symbolize; 2 depict.
What, then, does the term "representational government" mean?
Google gives me an acceptable representation of "represent":
1. be entitled or appointed to act or speak for (someone), especially in an official capacity
Yet, when I google "representing women", I get:
Representing Women by Linda Nochlin: Women - as warriors, workers, mothers, sensual women, even absent mothers
Representing Women by Myra MacDonald: examines how women are discussed and depicted visually in popular media
Who the hell represents women then?
And, how the hell are they represented?
Seems to me we need a robust reboot of the feminist movement of the last century.
We women need to speak for ourselves, because others will misrepresent us.
We women need to act for ourselves, because others will betray us in order to serve their own interests.
We women need to register to vote and to vote for ourselves, to run for office to represent ourselves.
And, frankly, I'd kind of like to start a group, LVW, The League of Voting Women, formed for the purpose of forwarding women's interests and goals, definitely separate from and quite different from the League of Women Voters which acts on behalf of civilization in general, including men.
As it turns out, acting on behalf of women's interests only would benefit civilization in general, including men, because women, generally, are not selfish pigs like so many men who claim to represent us are.