Roxane Gay: Confessions of a bad feminist | TED

Translator: Aida Zečkanović Reviewer: Nika Kotnik

I am failing as a woman,

Odpovedujem kot ženska.

I am failing as a feminist.

Odpovedujem kot feministka.

I have passionate opinions about gender equality,

Imam trdna prepričanja o enakovrednosti spolov,

but I worry that to freely accept the label of "feminist,"

vendar me skrbi, da ne bi bilo pošteno, do dobrih feministk,

would not be fair to good feminists.

če bi se enostavno označila za "feministko."

I'm a feminist, but I'm a rather bad one.

Sicer sem feministka, ampak precej slaba.

Oh, so I call myself a Bad Feminist.

Zato sama sebi rečem "slaba feministka".

Or at least, I wrote an essay,

Pravzaprav sem napisala esej

and then I wrote a book called "Bad Feminist,"

in nato še knjigo z naslovom Slaba feministka

and then in interviews, people started calling me The Bad Feminist.

in potem so me v intervjujih oklicali za glavno slabo feministko.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

So, what started as a bit of an inside joke with myself

Iz mojega norčevanja iz same sebe

and a willful provocation,

in namerne provokacije

has become a thing.

je nastala cela reč.

Let me take a step back.

Ampak naj začnem od začetka.

When I was younger,

Ko sem bila mlajša,

mostly in my teens and 20s,

v najstniških in dvajsetih letih,

I had strange ideas about feminists

sem si feministke predstavljala

as hairy, angry, man-hating, sex-hating women --

kot poraščene, jezne ženske, ki sovražijo moške in spolnost...

as if those are bad things.

Kot, da so to slabe lastnosti...

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

These days, I look at how women are treated the world over,

Sedaj ko vidim, kako so ženske obravnavane po svetu,

and anger, in particular, seems like a perfectly reasonable response.

se mi jeza zdi popolnoma smiseln odziv.

But back then,

Ampak tedaj

I worried about the tone people used

me je skrbel ton, s katerim so mi ljudje govorili, da sem feministka.

when suggesting I might be a feminist.

The feminist label was an accusation,

Oznaka feministka, je bila obtožba.

it was an "F" word, and not a nice one.

Ta beseda je bila kakor kletvica.

I was labeled a woman who doesn't play by the rules,

Označili so me za žensko, ki se požvižga na pravila,

who expects too much,

ki ima prevelika pričakovanja,

who thinks far too highly of myself,

ki ima o sebi predobro mnenje,

by daring to believe I'm equal -- (Coughs) -- superior to a man.

saj verjame, da je enakovredna-- (Kašelj)-- superiorna moškemu.

You don't want to be that rebel woman,

Ne želiš si postati upornica,

until you realize that you very much are that woman,

dokler ne dojameš, da pravzaprav to že si

and cannot imagine being anyone else.

in da nočeš biti nič drugega.

As I got older, I began to accept

Ko sem postala starejša, sem sprejela,

that I am, indeed, a feminist, and a proud one.

da sem resnično feministka in celo zelo ponosna na to.

I hold certain truths to be self-evident:

Nekatere reči so zame samoumevne.

Women are equal to men.

Ženske smo enakovredne moškim.

We deserve equal pay for equal work.

Zaslužimo si enako plačo za enako delo.

We have the right to move through the world as we choose,

Pravico imamo živeti po svoje,

free from harassment or violence.

ne da bi trpele nadlegovanje ali nasilje.

We have the right to easy, affordable access to birth control,

Pravico imamo do preprostega dostopa do cenovno ugodne kontracepcije

and reproductive services.

in ginekoloških storitev.

We have the right to make choices about our bodies,

Pravico se imamo odločati o lastnem telesu

free from legislative oversight or evangelical doctrine.

brez pritiska s strani zakonodaje ali evangeličanske doktrine.

We have the right to respect.

Zaslužimo si spoštovanje.

There's more.

To še ni vse.

When we talk about the needs of women,

Ko govorimo o potrebah žensk,

we have to consider the other identities we inhabit.

moramo upoštevati tudi druge vloge, ki jih igramo ženske.

We are not just women.

Nismo samo ženske.

We are people with different bodies,

Smo ljudje z različnimi telesi,

gender expressions, faiths, sexualities,

spolnimi prepričanji, verami, spolnostmi,

class backgrounds, abilities, and so much more.

socialnim ozadjem, sposobnostmi in tako dalje.

We need to take into account

Upoštevati moramo

these differences and how they affect us,

te razlike in načine, na katere vplivajo na nas.

as much as we account for what we have in common.

Ne glede na to kako pojasnimo naše skupne točke,

Without this kind of inclusion, our feminism is nothing.

je brez zavedanja razlik, naš feminizem brez pomena.

I hold these truths to be self-evident, but let me be clear:

Te resnice se mi zdijo samoumevne, a naj vam bo jasno:

I'm a mess.

sem polomija.

I am full of contradictions.

Polna sem nasprotij.

There are many ways in which I'm doing feminism wrong.

Iz večih razlogov sem slaba feministka.

I have another confession.

Imam še eno priznanje.

When I drive to work, I listen to thuggish rap at a very loud volume.

Med vožnjo v službo, zelo naglas poslušam nasilno rap glasbo.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

Even though the lyrics are degrading to women --

Čeprav so besedila pesmi poniževalna do žensk...

these lyrics offend me to my core --

in me globoko užalijo...

the classic Yin Yang Twins song "Salt Shaker" --

je klasična pesem izvajalcev Ying Yang Twins "Salt Shaker"

it is amazing.

osupljiva.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

"Make it work with your wet t-shirt.

"Zapleši v svoji mokri majici."

Bitch, you gotta shake it 'til your camel starts to hurt!"

"Prasica, stresaj jo, dokler te kamela ne prične boleti!"

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

Think about it.

Razmislite o tem.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

Poetry, right?

Poezija, mar ne?

I am utterly mortified by my music choices.

Strašno me je sram svojega glasbenega okusa.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

I firmly believe in man work,

Trdno verjamem v "moško delo",

which is anything I don't want to do, including --

kar je vse, česar sama nočem početi, na primer...

(Laughter) --

(Smeh)

all domestic tasks,

vsa hišna opravila

but also: bug killing, trash removal, lawn care and vehicle maintenance.

in še ubijanje insektov, odstranjevanje smeti ter skrb za zelenico in avtomobil.

I want no part of any of that.

S tem nočem imeti nobenega opravka.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

Pink is my favorite color.

Moja najljubša barva je rožnata.

I enjoy fashion magazines and pretty things.

Všeč so mi modne revije in lepe reči.

I watch "The Bachelor" and romantic comedies,

Gledam oddajo "Samec" in romantične komedije

and I have absurd fantasies about fairy tales coming true.

ter imam absurdne sanje, da se pravljice lahko uresničijo.

Some of my transgressions are more flagrant.

Nekatere moje pregrehe so še bolj očitne.

If a woman wants to take her husband's name,

Če ženska želi prevzeti možev priimek,

that is her choice, and it is not my place to judge.

je to njena odločitev in je zaradi tega ne obsojam.

If a woman chooses to stay home to raise her children,

Če želi ženska ostati doma in vzgajati otroke,

I embrace that choice, too.

sprejemam njeno odločitev.

The problem is not that she makes herself economically vulnerable in that choice;

Problem ni v tem, da je zaradi tega ženska ekonomsko odvisna od moža,

the problem is that our society is set up

problem je naša družba,

to make women economically vulnerable when they choose.

ki dovoljuje, da so ženske zaradi te odločitve odvisne.

Let's deal with that.

Popravimo to.

(Applause)

(Aplavz)

I reject the mainstream feminism

Zavračam tradicionalni feminizem,

that has historically ignored or deflected the needs

ki je v preteklosti prezrl ali pa se izogibal potrebam

of women of color, working-class women, queer women and transgender women,

črnk, žensk iz delavskega sloja, lezbijk in transseksualnih žensk,

in favor of supporting white, middle- and upper-class straight women.

podpiral pa je heteroseksualne ženske iz srednjega ali visokega sloja.

Listen, if that's good feminism -- I am a very bad feminist.

Če je to dober feminizem, potem sem zelo slaba feministka.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

There is also this:

Še to...

As a feminist, I feel a lot of pressure.

Kot feministka sem pod velikim pritiskom.

We have this tendency to put visible feminists on a pedestal.

Znane feministke namreč radi postavljamo pod drobnogled.

We expect them to pose perfectly.

Od njih pričakujemo popolnost.

When they disappoint us,

Ko nas razočarajo,

we gleefully knock them from the very pedestal we put them on.

pa se škodoželjno veselimo njihovemu propadu.

Like I said, I am a mess --

Kot sem že rekla, sem polomija...

consider me knocked off that pedestal

Vedite, da vas bom razočarala,

before you ever try to put me up there.

še preden me sploh vzamete pod drobnogled.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

Too many women,

Preveč žensk,

particularly groundbreaking women and industry leaders,

še posebno revolucionarnih žensk in voditeljic industrije,

are afraid to be labeled as feminists.

se boji oznake feministka.

They're afraid to stand up and say, "Yes, I am a feminist,"

Bojijo se priznati: "Da, feministka sem!",

for fear of what that label means,

zaradi strahu pred tem, kar ta oznaka pomeni.

for fear of being unable to live up to unrealistic expectations.

Zaradi strahu, da ne bodo mogle izpolniti nerealističnih pričakovanj.

Take, for example, Beyoncé, or as I call her, The Goddess.

Vzemimo na primer Beyonce, oziroma kot jo sama imenujem, "Boginjo".

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

She has emerged, in recent years, as a visible feminist.

V zadnjih letih se je uveljavila kot feministka.

At the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards,

Na podelitvi MTV-jevih glasbenih nagrad leta 2014,

she performed in front of the word "feminist" 10 feet high.

je nastopala pred besedo "Feministka" visoko 3 metre.

It was a glorious spectacle to see

Bilo je čudovito gledati,

this pop star openly embracing feminism

kako ta pop zvezda javno sprejema feminizem

and letting young women and men know

in mladini sporoča,

that being a feminist is something to celebrate.

da je feminizem nekaj, kar moramo slaviti.

As the moment faded, cultural critics began endlessly debating

Po tem dogodku, pa so kulturni kritiki pričeli v nedogled debatirati,

whether or not Beyoncé was, indeed, a feminist.

če je Beyonce res feministka.

They graded her feminism,

Ocenjevali so njen feminizem,

instead of simply taking a grown, accomplished woman at her word.

namesto, da bi preprosto verjeli uspešni odrasli ženski na besedo.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

(Applause)

(Aplavz)

We demand perfection from feminists,

Od feministk zahtevamo popolnost,

because we are still fighting for so much,

ker se še vedno borimo za toliko stvari,

we want so much,

toliko stvari si še želimo,

we need so damn much.

toliko stvari še potrebujemo.

We go far beyond reasonable, constructive criticism,

Presegamo meje razumne in konstruktivne kritike,

to dissecting any given woman's feminism,

in do potankosti analiziramo feminizem vsake ženske,

tearing it apart until there's nothing left.

iščemo napake, dokler nič ne ostane.

We do not need to do that.

Tega nam ni treba početi.

Bad feminism -- or really, more inclusive feminism -- is a starting point.

Slab feminizem, oziroma bolj vključujoč feminizem, je že začetek.

But what happens next?

Ampak kako ukrepati naprej?

We go from acknowledging our imperfections to accountability,

Moramo priznati svoje napake in sprejeti odgovornost zanje,

or walking the walk, and being a little bit brave.

se potruditi, biti pogumni.

If I listen to degrading music,

Če poslušam žaljivo glasbo,

I am creating a demand for which artists are more than happy

ustvarjam povpraševanje zanjo in ustvarjalci z veseljem

to contribute a limitless supply.

priskrbijo neomejeno zalogo.

These artists are not going to change

Ti ustvarjalci ne bodo spremenili,

how they talk about women in their songs

kako govorijo o ženskah v svojih pesmih,

until we demand that change by affecting their bottom line.

dokler ne bomo sami zahtevali spremembe, z vplivanjem na njihov zaslužek.

Certainly, it is difficult.

Seveda je to težko.

Why must it be so catchy?

Le zakaj morajo iti tako hitro v uho?

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

It's hard to make the better choice,

Težko se je prav odločiti

and it is so easy to justify a lesser one.

in lahko je zagovarjati slabo odločitev.

But --

Ampak...

when I justify bad choices,

Ko opravičujem slabe odločitve,

I make it harder for women to achieve equality,

ženskam otežujem pot do enakovrednosti.

the equality that we all deserve,

Enakovrednosti, ki si jo vse zaslužimo.

and I need to own that.

In to si moram priznati.

I think of my nieces, ages three and four.

Spomnim se na svoji štiri- in triletni nečakinji,

They are gorgeous and headstrong, brilliant girls,

prelepi, svojeglavi in sijajni deklici,

who are a whole lot of brave.

ki sta zelo pogumni.

I want them to thrive in a world where they are valued

Rada bi, da bi bili uspešni v svetu, ki ju bo cenil

for the powerful creatures they are.

kot močni bitji.

I think of them,

Spomnim se nanju

and suddenly, the better choice becomes far easier to make.

in nenadoma se je lažje pravilno odločati.

We can all make better choices.

Vsi lahko sprejemamo boljše odločitve.

We can change the channel when a television show

Lahko zamenjamo program, ko televizijska oddaja

treats sexual violence against women like sport,

obravnava nasilje nad ženskami kot šport,

Game of Thrones.

Igra Prestolov.

We can change the radio station

Lahko zamenjamo radijsko postajo,

when we hear songs that treat women as nothing.

ko zaslišimo pesem, ki daje ženske v nič.

We can spend our box office dollars elsewhere

Denarja nam ni treba zapravljati za filme,

when movies don't treat women

ki ženske obravnavajo

as anything more than decorative objects.

samo kot lepe okraske.

We can stop supporting professional sports

Lahko odtegnemo podporo profesionalnim športom,

where the athletes treat their partners like punching bags.

kjer športniki uporabljajo svoje partnerke kot boksarske vreče.

(Applause)

(Aplavz)

In other ways, men -- and especially straight white men --

So še drugi načini. Moški, zlasti heteroseksualni belci,

can say, "No, I will not publish with your magazine,

lahko rečejo: "Ne bom objavljal v vaši reviji,

or participate in your project, or otherwise work with you,

sodeloval v vaših projektih, ali delal z vami,

until you include a fair number of women,

dokler ne vključite dovolj žensk

both as participants and decision makers.

v ustvarjalni in odločitveni proces.

I won't work with you until your publication,

Ne bom sodeloval, če ne bo vaša publikacija

or your organization, is more inclusive of all kinds of difference."

ali organizacija bolj odprta do vseh vrst ljudi."

Those of us who are underrepresented

Ko tiste izmed nas, ki smo premalo zastopani,

and invited to participate in such projects,

povabijo k sodelovanju v takih projektih,

can also decline to be included

lahko odklonimo,

until more of us are invited through the glass ceiling,

dokler več podobnih ljudi ne dobi možnosti za sodelovanje

and we are tokens no more.

in naša prisotnost ni več le simbolična.

Without these efforts,

Brez da bi se potrudili

without taking these stands,

in zavzeli ta stališča,

our accomplishments are going to mean very little.

bodo naši dosežki brez pomena.

We can commit these small acts of bravery

Lahko naredimo ta majhna pogumna dejanja

and hope that our choices trickle upward to the people in power --

in upamo, da bodo naše odločitve segle do mogočnih ljudi -

editors, movie and music producers,

Urednikov, filmskih in glasbenih producentov,

CEOs, lawmakers --

direktorjev, zakonodajalcev -

the people who can make bigger, braver choices

ki lahko sprejmejo večje, pogumnejše odločitve

to create lasting, meaningful change.

in ustvarijo dolgotrajnejše, pomembne spremembe.

We can also boldly claim our feminism --

Lahko tudi drzno priznamo svoj feminizem,

good, bad, or anywhere in between.

pa naj bo dober, slab ali nekaj vmes.

The last line of my book "Bad Feminist" says,

Zadnji stavek v moji knjigi Slaba feministka pravi:

"I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all."

"Raje sem slaba feministka, kot da sploh ne bi bila feministka."

This is true for so many reasons,

To drži iz večih razlogov,

but first and foremost, I say this because once upon a time,

ampak najbolj zato, ker so mi nekoč

my voice was stolen from me,

ukradli glas

and feminism helped me to get my voice back.

in feminizem mi ga je pomagal vrniti.

There was an incident.

Zgodil se je incident.

I call it an incident so I can carry the burden of what happened.

Pravim mu incident, da lahko nosim breme tistega, kar se je zgodilo.

Some boys broke me,

Neki fantje so me zlomili,

when I was so young, I did not know

ko sem bila še mlada in nisem vedela,

what boys can do to break a girl.

kako lahko fantje zlomijo dekle.

They treated me like I was nothing.

Obravnavali so me, kot bi bila ničvredna.

I began to believe I was nothing.

In začela sem verjeti, da sem ničvredna.

They stole my voice, and in the after,

Ukradli so mi glas in po tem si nisem drznila verjeti,

I did not dare to believe

that anything I might say could matter.

da je karkoli, kar rečem, pomembno.

But --

Ampak...

I had writing.

imela sem pisanje.

And there, I wrote myself back together.

In tako sem se z besedami znova sestavila.

I wrote myself toward a stronger version of myself.

Sestavila sem močnejšo različico sebe.

I read the words of women

Brala sem besede žensk,

who might understand a story like mine,

ki bi lahko razumele zgodbo, kot je moja,

and women who looked like me,

ki so mi bile po videzu podobne

and understood what it was like to move through the world with brown skin.

in so razumele, kako je živeti z rjavo kožo.

I read the words of women who showed me I was not nothing.

Brala sem besede žensk, ki so mi pokazale, da nisem ničvredna.

I learned to write like them,

Naučila sem se pisati kot one

and then I learned to write as myself.

in potem sem se naučila pisati po svoje.

I found my voice again,

Spet sem našla svoj glas

and I started to believe that my voice is powerful beyond measure.

in začela verjeti, da je neizmerno mogočen.

Through writing and feminism,

Skozi pisanje in feminizem

I also found that if I was a little bit brave,

sem spoznala tudi, da me zaradi majhne hrabrosti

another woman might hear me and see me and recognize

lahko druge ženske slišijo, vidijo in spoznajo,

that none of us are the nothing the world tries to tell us we are.

da nobena izmed nas ni tako ničvredna, kot nam poskuša dopovedati svet.

In one hand,

Po eni strani

I hold the power to accomplish anything.

lahko dosežem karkoli.

And in my other,

Po drugi strani pa

I hold the humbling reality that I am just one woman.

se zavedam resnice, da sem samo ena ženska.

I am a bad feminist,

Sem slaba feministka,

I am a good woman,

sem dobra ženska

I am trying to become better in how I think,

in poskušam še izboljšati svoj način mišljenja,

and what I say, and what I do,

svoja dejanja in besede,

without abandoning everything that makes me human.

ne da bi se pri tem odrekla svoji človeškosti.

I hope that we can all do the same.

Upam, da vsi lahko storimo enako.

I hope that we can all be a little bit brave,

Upam, da vsi lahko pokažemo malo poguma,

when we most need such bravery.

ko je pogum tisto, kar najbolj potrebujemo.

(Applause)

(Aplavz)