ymf this week: september 28-october 5
Content warning: This newsletter contains mention of date rape.
News Stories
Feminist Fashionistas
At the close of a Paris fashion show this week, Chanel staged a feminist rally, running with the idea that “feminism is so in right now,” in the wake of Beyonce, Emma Watson, and other celebrities making waves in the feminist scene. This faux-feminist rally forms from a narrow view of feminism: “The clothes in the show this week echoed the placards’ unashamedly superficial take on feminism, with many of the models wearing baggy trouser suits and oversized, Gloria Steinem-like spectacles. Because that’s how feminists look, you know. They look like the 1970s.”
To Each Her Own
Author Roxane Gay announced: “Dear women who are against feminism: You don’t need to be and, in fact, you are probably very feminist.” The complexity of the feminist movement allows for each person to determine where they stand. We need to not worry so much about someone not being enough of a feminist and instead focus on the idea that “after the basic principle of equality [feminism] is a very nuanced identity that each person defines for themselves and in their own lives…At the end of the day, a woman is a feminist because she wants to identify as one. Whether someone likes or doesn’t like her particular brand of feminism shouldn’t take away from the work she’s doing to achieve gender equality.”
Not That Kind of Girl
Lena Dunham released her first memoir, where she speaks out about her date rape at Oberlin College. Dunham also opened up later this week during an interview with Howard Stern. Stern asked her why she didn’t report it to the authorities, to which she replied: “A big part of me thought people would say ‘You’re lying, you exaggerated; he’s more attractive than you are–why would he want to do that to you?'” Dunham stressed her belief that “every guy who crosses the consent line isn’t a straight-forward villain.” Her book is entitled Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned”.
Mormons in the News
The following is a breakdown of a selection of stories from Mormon News Report. Be sure to check out more here.
General Conference
The Women’s Meeting was held on September 27, and some positive things to take note of include:
• Sister Dorah Mkhabela of the Young Women General Board offered the first-ever prayer at a session of General Conference by a black woman
• Video of a girl’s choir in Seoul, South Korea dressed in traditional Korean hanbok singing “I Love to See the Temple” in Korean
• President Uchtdorf described the meeting as the opening session of General Conference (previously the meeting has been seen as a separate event); Uchtdorf used the phrase “daughters of Heavenly Parents”
The New York Times noted Elder Dallin H. Oaks’ reiteration of the LDS Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage; this is the third consecutive conference in which leaders have said marriage should be between a man and a woman.
The Salt Lake tribune covered the Ordain Women initiative to enter satellite locations broadcasting the Priesthood Meeting. In some areas, these women were successful; others were turned away.
ICYMI on YMF
September 30- self-care reminders
October 1- i cut my hair off and people have so much to say about it
October 2- a young folks’ history of the church: announcing a new series
October 3- winter and summer: why I’m staying in the church
October 5- sunday spotlight: jas
October 5- follow the female prophets
October 5- general conference fan fiction
Quote of the Week
Last Laugh
Lindsey loves listening to indie rock, watching movies, reading comics, traveling, and designing geeky graphics. She is an alumni of BYU-Idaho and Bond University in Australia, where she received her master’s degree in communication. She currently lives in Rexburg, Idaho.
Young Mormon Feminists 
One Response to “ymf this week: september 28-october 5”
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