“Shopping is shopping and political action is political action, and no matter what anyone says, it’s very hard to blend the two in a sincere way that actually results in the kind of political change we so desperately need.” -Aminatou Sow
Feminism is a lens through which to view the world. Critical thinking is key. Now that the movement is officially ‘cool’ we’ve seen a shift from the political to a persuasive tactic to get us to consume more products. Some argue that feminism has been co-opted to be a qualifier signaling to the consumer that a product will empower them. In this discussion we’ll examine the following questions:
How has advertising changed over the years from couching women in singular identities (mother, wife, good woman, etc) to selling us empowerment and is that better?
Are we losing sight of the important political movement in exchange for instagrammable feminist attire?
Are we allowing advertisers to give us a false sense of individual empowerment?
Does marketplace feminism have our best interests at heart?
Do you own feminist apparel? How does it make you feel?
Join us for a critical-thinking extravaganza on ways marketplace feminism affects us and make our own decisions on what’s right for us as a movement! As always there will be wine, snacks, goody bags and a good time!*
The Emotional Labor Union is a monthly feminist discussion group that welcomes anyone who identifies as female. This event costs money because we believe in the fair compensation of women’s labor. If the cost is prohibitive to you please email theeludc@gmail.com. We’d like this event to be accessible to everyone.
The Mission of The Emotional Labor Union is to amplify women’s voices and experiences through curated feminist topics.
The 4 Values of the ELU:
- Voices as power: The ELU is a safe space and a platform to talk about your experiences. Devoting time to critical thinking and interaction empowers us to sharpen our speaking skills and define the source of our feelings as well as reminds us we have voices that deserve to be heard.
- Community IRL: The ELU brings people together in real life who prioritize being intentional and carving out time and space to devote to knowing themselves and others better. This is a group that provides love, support and where no question or opinion is off-limits.
- Strength in numbers: The more time we spend having invigorating in-person discussions, finding common ground with others, and cementing how we feel about topics that affect us, the more powerful we become both individually and collectively.
- Feminism as Self-Care: Members of the ELU practice prioritizing themselves by devoting time to pursuing their interests and their $ by supporting causes they think are worthwhile. The ELU gives everyone a nourishing and energizing experience that allows you to find your own voice on matters that are important to you.
* This event will be recorded and potentially made into a podcast. All participants will have an opportunity to remain anonymous if they so choose.