My workplace has a strong feminist orientation, the organization takes a pronounced stand on gender equality. I was reading of the journals in the resorce center, I discovered a lot of traumatic things men do, destabalizining, enchroaching upon others, especially women.
Earlier I was quite confused and stiff about everything "feminist".
"The Journal on Gender Studies," (Publisher: Sage) had an article about how the public spaces in our cities are esentially sexist. She quoted someone who said that most women face sexual abuse and harrasment at home by people they meet often and know well. And yet they are bound and restricted to stay at home for "safety". The article talked about the class issues which exist in the degree of freedom which women can enjoy and the degree of freedom with which they can use the city's public space. It had a lot of other interesting points.
The male gaze is unsettling and decisive (in unwanted ways) for most women. It makes "self-consciousness" a part of womens' identity. In some ways I feel, for some women 'the gaze' decides what they wear, how they look because the 'gaze' gives away for men look for in women?
A lot of generalizations here. Will try to post the name of the author soon...