I would much rather be the obnoxious feminist girl than be complicit in my own dehumanization.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of standing up against oppression rather than passively accepting dehumanization.
Kathleen Hanna expresses a strong commitment to feminism and a refusal to conform to societal expectations that marginalize women. She suggests that being labeled as an 'obnoxious feminist' is preferable to the alternative of being complicit in the systemic dehumanization of individuals. This statement highlights the value of resistance and the need to challenge oppressive norms.
In practice
During a women's rights rally, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of standing up for feminine rights.
Sometimes, being a feminist artist, there are times where I'm in a position where I just want to feel like I'm saying all the right things politically, or I feel like I have to mention my own project over other people's projects. But I don't do that anymore. I just want to be off the cuff and honest.
It's now taken for granted that women are in bands and you can say feminist things in your songs. But back in the early '90s, there was a lot of violence at Bikini Kill shows that people don't realize happened.
When you speak up about any sense of unfairness or injustice, you're told that you're overreacting, you're too angry, too silly-shut up already. It takes a tremendous amount of fortitude to be able to live in this world as a woman, let alone a woman who wants things to change.
I'm not going to sit around and be peace and love with somebody's boot on my neck.
To make riot grrrl move into the future in a new way with a bunch of new names and a bunch of new energy, younger people have to learn about it and apply it to their own lives and own modern conversation. And they are.
Feminism rotates between backlash and interest. And the cool thing about the Internet is that it's allowing women more access to their own history. Part of the problem before the Internet was that we didn't know which books to read. Someone had to tell you.
There is a widespread assumption that simply because my generation of women has the good fortune to live in a world touched by the feminist movement, that means everything we do is magically imbued with its agenda, but it doesn't work that way.
No self-respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party who ignores her sex.
I think the world is ambivalent about feminism. So I can't blame college students. I think they're reflecting the greater culture's attitude toward feminism. So what I can do is, in ways that are appropriate, advocate for feminism and help the students learn what feminism is about.
When women can support themselves, have entry to all the trades and professions, with a house of their own over their heads and a bank account, they will own their bodies and be dictators in the social realm.
I'm a feminist. I've been a female for a long time now. It'd be stupid not to be on my own side.
My generation was not only maligned in book reviews and attacked in graduate school but we lived to see our adored and adorable daughters wonder why feminism had become a dirty word.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.