Blythe Baird - Pocket-Sized Feminism

Summary

The script is a powerful spoken word piece addressing the deeply ingrained issues of sexism, rape culture, and the societal pressures women face to stay silent. It reflects on personal experiences of harassment, the internal conflict of staying quiet, and the guilt that follows. The narrator critiques a world that demands women carry the weight of their own safety while minimizing their voices. The piece explores themes of feminism, fear, and the painful contradictions women navigate daily in a patriarchal society, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Takeaways

• 👩‍🎤 The speaker observes a woman standing up for feminism at a party, surrounded by dismissive, toxic behavior.
• 🤐 The speaker remains silent, feeling empathy but conflicted, unsure of how to respond in a hostile environment.
• 📌 The metaphor of 'wallpaper women' reflects societal pressure to stay silent and not stand out.
• ⚖️ The speaker struggles with balancing self-preservation and activism, feeling guilty for not always standing up.
• 💔 The speaker expresses guilt over not reporting a predator who later harmed others.
• 🛡️ The constant fear women live with is illustrated through various defensive inventions, like mace disguised as lipstick.
• 😶 Silence in the face of trauma is portrayed as a painful, secondary form of violence, reflecting the weight of inaction.
• ⚠️ The speaker recounts past experiences of sexual harassment and being dismissed when asserting her power.
• 👩‍💼 The piece critiques how women are often reduced to supporting roles, like 'beautiful assistants' in a magic trick.
• 🌍 The stark difference in how society treats girls and boys is highlighted, with girls told to be careful while boys are free to explore.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the script?

The main theme of the script is the societal challenges women face, including sexism, objectification, and the internal conflict between feminism and societal pressures to conform.

What does the phrase 'wallpaper women' signify in the context of the script?

'Wallpaper women' refers to women who are expected to blend into the background, remain silent, and not speak up, much like wallpaper in a room—decorative but unnoticed and unheard.

Why does the narrator feel conflicted about standing up in the party scene?

The narrator feels conflicted about standing up because doing so would make her vulnerable and noticeable in a space dominated by male voices, where women are expected to remain silent and compliant.

What is the significance of the line 'I'm ashamed of keeping my feminism in my pocket, until it is convenient not to'?

This line expresses the narrator's guilt about only expressing feminist views in safe or supportive spaces, such as poetry slams or academic settings, rather than consistently standing up for her beliefs in more hostile environments.

How does the narrator feel about her past silence in situations of abuse or assault?

The narrator feels deep guilt and regret about her past silence in situations of abuse and assault, believing her inaction contributed to further harm to other victims.

What societal issues does the script highlight in terms of safety and fear for women?

The script highlights the normalized fear women experience, such as carrying pepper spray, using apps to walk home safely, and texting friends when they arrive safely, contrasted with the freedom men experience without such precautions.

What does the metaphor of the 'beautiful assistant' in the magic trick represent?

The metaphor of the 'beautiful assistant' represents the way women are often seen as necessary yet secondary figures in male-dominated spaces, valued more for their appearance than their voices or agency.

Why does the narrator mention nail polish that changes color in drugged drinks and underwear designed to prevent rape?

The narrator mentions these products to highlight the extreme measures society expects women to take to protect themselves from assault, rather than addressing the root causes of violence and misogyny.

What is the narrator’s response to a boy accusing her of misandry and asking if she wants to 'take over the world'?

The narrator responds by clarifying that she doesn't want to take over the world; she just wants to see it and know that it’s accessible to someone, implying she seeks equality and opportunity, not domination.

What does the narrator's father represent in the script when he claims 'sexism is dead' while advising her to carry pepper spray?

The father represents the contradiction in society where people may believe sexism no longer exists while still acknowledging the need for women to protect themselves from gender-based violence, showing that sexism and fear are still very much alive.