Feminism, feminism, feminism, can't you talk about anything else?

Nope. I would like to. But I can't.
Unfortunately feminism is the only tool I have to protect myself in a world that recognises the able white masculine cis-male voice, one that I don't fully have, as the only valid and legitimate voice.

Before I came to animal activism I 'tried out' some other general social justice groups. I never really felt I fit in. I knew I wanted to be active and that I belonged somewhere on the left of the political spectrum but it was too confusing to see so many different 'lefts' and none that I would feel at home with. In fact, I didn't know what was so alienating to me in all those activist groups I tried to join but failed, until I started reading feminist literature, which I had to actively seek out - unless I picked a module at uni that was taught by a woman - although some of them were still very masculine.

It's explicitly identifying with feminism that enabled me to see the whole picture. Having always been a feminist, not knowing that it does not go without saying for most people, I didn't realise until my late teens that I need to actively seek others out who share the same values as me. Finding 'my kind' of feminism was a huge journey for me. After I discovered TERFS (Trans-exclusionary feminists) I got a bit of a reality check once again, realising that feminism doesn't equal feminism and I still needed to dig deeper to find what exactly I want to fight for/against.

Feminism lead me to activism, as feminism for me meant the total rejection of discrimination based on the socially constructed categories we give each other and everything around us. Feminism quickly equalled anarchism for me. Then logically, those two ideologies combined lead me to veganism. I had the biggest epiphany of my life when I realised that what we do to animals is the same evil that we perpetrate against other humans who we somehow categorise as lesser based on their gender/sexuality/age/ability/race/natonality etc or in fact, their species. It was not so much that I first had a strong feeling of solidarity with non-human women, but rather that I logically understood that I am oppressing these women the same way that patriarchy oppresses me. Out of that conclusion arose the deep empathy to my animal sisters (and brothers). 

The fight for animal liberation symbolised the ultimate fight for me, the one that would free us all. The one thing that needed fixing so that we all could live happily ever after. When I found my way to animal activism, I once again was in for disillusionment on a big scale. I thought, this must be the place where people already have figured out how discrimination and oppression work. I will learn so much! Wrong again (well, wrong about how everybody will have made the same conclusions as me, not wrong about the fact that I am learning a lot). My first animal rights protest had ladies in their underwear with 'blood' all over their bodies, 'but ok' I thought, 'they are doing this voluntarily, their bodies their rules. I admire their courage'. Then, the further I looked and the deeper I got into the Animal Rights community (world wide a rather small network), the more I saw racism, ableism, nationalism, sexism and especially misogyny popping up everywhere, in AR communities in all cities and all countries. 

This put me in an awkward situation, as by critiquing animal liberationists and vegans I felt I am betraying my comrades, who just like me face ridicule, shame and harassment every day for their choice not to eat animals and to speak out for their rights. Recognising that all of us, no matter how oppressed we are, still benefit from human privilege I tried to suppress being affected by the many micro- and macro-violences produced within my new family, against me and others. We had common enemies that I would rather focus on, appreciating all efforts to save our non-human friends*.

It took me about a year to figure out which spaces are safe and which ones aren't within this community. I am still figuring that out actually. And I only now figured out, that it is ok for me to build my own space and establish my own rules. I am still working on not feeling that I need to justify myself for the decisions I make but thanks to a growing feminist vegan community who recognises the same faults with not only the sexual politics of meat but also the sexual politics of veganism and animal liberation (which are both an expression of patriarchy) I feel more empowered every time I overcome a setback.


So, it looks like I'll have to continue talking about feminism as long as I live. I will never cease to speak the language of feminism until we are all free and there won't be the need to call it 'feminism' anymore. Even if it means that I need to stand up to people who demand I be held accountable for suggesting these unreasonable and uncomfortable ideas I have, I will continue to do so. That is the most valuable thing I've learned from animal rights, actually, how to stand up for the things you believe in. It is frustrating and it takes out a lot but there are people who will support you and you need to surround yourself with your kind of people. Jennai Bandock is one such incredibly strong person, who does her own thing because she knows she is right. For anybody who is frustrated by announcing, explaining and justifying yourself, I recommend her speech with the title 'The Hidden Cost of Patriarchy'. Absolutely empowering!

I will leave you with some of my favourite written lines ever, arisen from the brilliant mind that is Luce Irigaray**: 'It is still better to speak only in riddles, allusions, hints, parables. Even if asked to clarify a few points. Even if people plead that they just don't understand. After all, they have never understood'.

If anybody ever gives you shit for standing up against oppression, remember that.



*I just now noticed that I am writing in the past tense, as if I have left all of this behind me. In fact these developments in my thinking are so fresh and they hit me so quickly that I am still working through them.

**Irigaray is a brilliant old school feminist but not vegan as far as I know and I am not sure how far she extents her thoughts on liberation with regards to gender issues either.

The Language of Patriarchy: Phallogocentrism

My presentation from the International Animal Rights Conference 2014 is finally up!

The title seems really bloated, but I try my best to unpack phal-logo-centrism in the presentation. It is a concept that helped me so much in understanding patriarchy and it revealed the urgency for vegan anarcha-feminist activism to me.

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

P.S. After this presentation I have adjusted some things on the slides (e.g. instead of intersectionality I now talk about liberation - but my understanding of liberation could be the topic of another post)

International Animal Rights Conference 2014

Last month we attended what was probably the greatest four days of our lives. The people, the location, the food and the absence of profit created the most amazing atmosphere which allowed us to learn an enormous amount about activism and self-care.

The International Animal Rights Conference in Luxembourg was set in a former slaughterhouse - when you paid close attention you would notice hooks and other remnants of the building’s dark and sad past. It was incredibly empowering sitting next to fellow vegans, listening to the tactics of animal liberationists in this giant hall, knowing that this is the place thousands of animals were murdered ruthlessly. We reclaimed it and made a powerful statement with our sheer presence - around 400 people from all over the world attended!

The Movement for the abolition of meat as well as
many other vegan organisations occupied the former
abattoir with their materials for four days.

Out of those almost 400 people a visible majority was female, yet, disappointingly but not surprisingly more speakers were male, which did not change the fact that mostly this conference created a safe space for us. In fact, when I was looking at the speakers who had been confirmed before I myself submitted an abstract, I thought I would not be invited to speak as there were already a hand full of feminist speakers. To my surprise, Heiko the organiser sent me a very encouraging email, inviting me to speak, even mentioning that they don't have many speakers addressing feminist issues. I thought to myself: 'Five explicitly feminist speeches is seen as not many? This must be an amazing place!' And indeed it turned out to be the wonderful gathering of ideas I was hoping for. The primary purpose for all of us to attend were the animals. This was felt throughout every talk and every interaction. The feeling of solidarity and the willingness to listen and learn that everybody approached each other with was overwhelming.

I haven't felt so safe outside my own home for a very long time. Everybody was so accepting and respectful. Nothing mattered except for freedom and liberty. IARC is a place in which especially as a woman I felt safe. Speaking to an amazing activist who we met on the second day, Ana, psychologist, athlete and director of Vegan Power 50 K, I realised I was not the only one feeling this way. In our conversation we both realised that this was a place where we were not objectified (or objectified less?). We weren’t put under the (same amount of) pressure that we felt outside of this conference to apply make-up, wear gendered clothing or shave. Shit! The conference was so freeing, that when back home, I felt my bra restricting me to the point I couldn't breathe properly (which was a result of my psycho-somatic sensitivities and the fact that back in reality I felt overwhelmed with social pressures). Of course I have overheard some sexism and cheap pick up lines at the conference, but nobody is perfect, and these four days were pretty damn close to perfect (for myself anyway). Not only because of the minimised gendered interactions, but also because of the minimised speciesism and capitalism. It makes a huge difference to run an event on a non-profit basis. It gave rise to solidarity and respect, which, unlike at other conferences, was not based on someone's attire (usually men in suits get the most respect at conferences) or the amount of papers they have published, but solely on the fact that everybody tried the best in their capacities to help each other out.

I must admit though, as wonderful and safe I felt at the conference, I also was accompanied by the feeling that my voice would be less important or less interesting to the attendees. I wasn't sure what that stemmed from, perhaps because I addressed systemic change from a more abstract perspective, rather than direct action and ALF tactics in my speech. It didn't become clear to me until I spent some time with Alissa, a vegan feminist activist and host of Animal Voices Vancouver. (Animal voices aired a report on IARC 2014, which conveys well what kind of inclusive space this conference is.) Alissa invited everyone for a feminist discussion group, an informal circle that would create a place of exchange between the female participants of the conference. Men were invited, too, and thanks to Lisa Kemmerer (who I wrote about in yesterday's post), the problematic of masculinity became obvious to me in one instant that night. All she did was call out, very peacefully, a silencing of the female voice by a male. It was a profound and overwhelming moment, whose energy stayed with me until today.

I am grateful to all the strong women (and men) who I met at the conference and who have inspired me and given me the confidence to stand up for what I believe to be right.

The most beautiful cake
in celebration of  the opening night.

We also both want to express our gratitude for the tireless efforts of the organisational team. They have managed to create an atmosphere of trust and solidarity you (surprisingly) rarely experience in activist circles. We are both absolutely grateful to all volunteers who fed us, cleaned up after us and gave us the possibility to solely focus on the animals for four whole days. Thank you for everything and see you next year!

All recorded talks will be available on Youtube on Vegan Kanal.

Feminists = Vegans: Lisa Kemmerer at IARC 2014

We, as language-using humans love to put labels on everything. We love to identify, define and name everything around us. We need to give words to things, so as to speak. Chair... table…. water…. air…. you all have some sort of idea of what I am talking about. It might be vague but it gives you an indication of what I mean, at least enough to ask me for further context.

When I tell you that I am a feminist, you will get the idea that I’m all for women’s emancipation and all against patriarchy.

When I tell you that I am vegan you will (hopefully) know that I am all for animal liberation.

But when I tell you that I am a feminist it doesn’t imply that I am vegan, nor vice versa. For me they are one and the same thing.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa Kemmerer at the International Animal Rights Conference 2014. And she really nailed it! The label ‘vegan’ and the label ‘feminist’ should go together at all times!

Watch and share please!

Meeting Lisa was absolutely the best experience I have had in a long time. I have never experienced such a peaceful person, whose ability to diffuse conflict and still stand up against injustice is phenomenal. I should probably rather say she stands up for justice, not against injustice to stress how non-confrontational Lisa is. Although, of course, this is exactly what she does with every breath she takes, in silence and in words, her peacefulness is a major strike against injustice.