Every day up until our What Is Feminist Poetry? event we are collaborating on with Threads Equality Agency, we will be sharing a poem which exemplifies feminist poetry in one way or another – to celebrate these voices and start exploring the ideas and experiences they raise. Who writes feminist poetry? What is it about, and what kind of language does it use?
And remember – our event will include an open mic segment so please do bring along (or comment below!) any poetry you’ve written which you think explores or illustrates your experience of your gender, or poetry by anyone else (living, dead, celebrated, anonymous or otherwise) which you think deserves to be shared, discussed, or heard.
Feminist poetry explores the experiences women have in the lives they lead: vocalizing the joy and pain, celebration and frustration of being a woman. Here Hollie McNish honestly and feelingly explores one experience many women have: breastfeeding in public, and all the heartbreak and outrage it can give rise to. The poem is, however, also a battle cry, an assertion of McNish’s own choices, an insistence on the validity of her experience in the face of injustice, a refusal to hide or suppress or be ashamed. There are so many ways to be and live as a woman: poetry can be such a powerful way to share these experiences, to find strength and solidarity, or insight into new ways of living one’s gender. What would you share?
