Popcorn Feminism?

Yours Truly :-) Shot by Kuson Parson

Feminism is more than laying on your back to get where you need to be. You do have the power to be sexual but there's more to that.- Angel of Nkem Life


I love podcasts. I've learned so much from them and gained so much more insight, focus and inspiration from them. Angel, one half of the sister duo blog, Nkem Life; recently guest appeared on The Africanist's podcast station to talk about feminism versus womanism and the concept of popcorn feminism. It was a really good listen. Angel is very well spoken and was able to clearly express and explain her thoughts. She said so many thought provoking things; I agreed with so much of what she said. 


Now, I have never thought of myself as a feminist nor a womanist. I exemplify the belief that both sexes are important, that both need to be celebrated immensely and that one sex doesn't need to be edified at the expense of the other. We both play integral roles in this human experience and should treat each other justly. I, however, do not think that men and women are equal because we just aren't exactly equal. Well, we aren't. I can host life and then bear it but a biological man can't. I do not think that our differences makes one sex better than the other or more or less capable than the other. We each have different strengths and weakness that the other can help balance for each other. Quite simply, we're a team, damnit. It's not a competition. Given my stance, I really enjoyed the dialog that went on. I also liked Angel's explanation of popcorn feminism.

-many of us have confused our sexuality with who we really are. Yes, sex is an important spiritual part of who we are as women, but it is not the master. It simply is one piece that makes up the whole of the solved, spiritual puzzle.
 

Beyonce gets a lot of flack, I know, but after her song "Flawless" dropped, feminism became even more "cool" and who doesn't want to be viewed that way? It's going to add up to more Instagram likes, duh. Angel talks of some women saying that they are feminists when they really don't have any idea of what it means or any of the history behind it so their opinions about it aren't authentic and lack integrity most often. Basically saying that some people blindly follow things because they look attractive instead of doing a little research to gain an understanding and see if it really even makes sense for them.

One last point that she made that I gave her many nods to was that too many young girls looked to Kim Kardashian reveling in showing her body at any chance she gets as feminism and can't see that Hillary Clinton is a face of feminism also. Feminism involves so much more than your body and your right to show it to the world if you want. It's a lifestyle and a mentality; an energy, a whole package. That really got to me because many of us have confused our sexuality with who we really are. Yes, sex is an important spiritual part of who we are as women, but it is not the master. It simply is one piece that makes up the whole of the solved, spiritual puzzle.

Check out the podcast below, it's long but totally worth it; she talks about so much more than I highlighted in this post. Share yours thoughts in the comments, I'd love to read your thoughts on this topic. Also see more of Angel and her sister's insightful writing on their blog www.NkemLife.com .




Milan is a New York City based, creative writer and the founder of AGrlCanMAC. She's a self proclaimed accessories junkie who's passionate about healthy living, adventure, books, crystals, the Law of Attraction and arts & crafts. AGrlCanMAC is a resource for women of color all over the world who want to look good, radiate good and feel good at the same damn time.

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