On Behalf of the Pussyhats that Marched on Washington, Keep Going.
In response to critiques, comments, and questions about the Pussyhat Project.
On January 21, 2017, the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration, masses of people around the world marched in solidarity alongside the Women’s March on Washington. Together with women’s rights, the protest also emphasized issues that are feared to be threatened now that Trump has stepped into office. Such issues included human rights, immigrant and refugee rights, LGBTQIA rights, climate change, working class and labor rights, freedom from sexual violence— the list goes on. Tens of thousands of women, men, children, and allies marched together in unity throughout several cities around the world to exercise their free rights under the First Amendment by holding up signs and posters, chanting phrases, as well as wearing pink handmade knitted pussyhats. Since then, these pussyhats have been caught in between the double bind of appraisal and criticism in which its entire purpose is questioned.
In response to The Problem with Pussyhats, here is what I have to say:
“Does Feminist empowerment mean we all need to have potty mouths now?”
Pussy. I understand that this word may have popped up on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram feeds maybe one too many times. I understand that some may have felt uncomfortable every time this word was being repeatedly chanted aloud or when it was spelled out practically everywhere in pictures of posters and signs. Nonetheless, to all the women who may have felt offended or disrespected, I also understand the context of what society has done to this word in result of that. Pussy has been turned into a term used to degrade women and men, define one’s gender, and what seems to be a word only accepted to be said in the bedroom. For these reasons, pussy was heavily used within the Women’s March in order to normalize its meaning and shine light on feminist empowerment through “pussy power.”
In response to Trump’s infamous line in which he blatantly commends grabbing women by their genitalia without consent, women all over the world are reclaiming the word “pussy” by publicly making a statement that these pussies indeed do “grab back”. Throughout the march, pussy was strategically used with the intention of turning its societal derogatory and demeaning connotation into a term that could be freely and proudly said aloud. So, no, feminist empowerment does not mean that we all need to have potty mouths now. Feminist empowerment is moving towards changing the instilled idea that pussy is a potty word to begin with.
“It is hard to believe that in 2017, the best idea women could come up with to rally political statement is knitting a hat that resembles genitalia.”
What exactly could a pink, handmade knitted piece of headgear with flimsy wannabe cat ears possibly do?
The Pussyhat Project’s mission was to provide the protestors of the Women’s March on Washington a means to make a unique and collective visual statement, which helped activists be better heard. Furthermore, the project provided people, who could not physically be present in the march, a way to represent themselves and support women’s rights by allowing them to send in ready-made pussyhats to contribute to the movement.
Out of the 500,000 people who marched through our nation’s capital, an estimated 200,000 did so while wearing their pussyhats. There is strength in numbers and the visual statement of the bright, creative, and meaningful sea of pink pussyhats could not go unnoticed.
Although this knitted hat may resemble genitalia, the purpose behind the Pussyhat Project is to embrace the power of pussy and that our bodies cannot simply be grabbed without consent. In addition to pussy being used as a derogatory term, the gender binary categorizes anyone who has a vagina as a woman and dismisses the validity of transgender and cisgender women. By highlighting this issue, it reiterates the importance of fair treatment amongst all individuals and that we are entitled to and in charge of our own bodies.
The march may be over, but the movement is still going on. Pussyhats will continue to be worn and made, and as long as this persists, its political statement, message, and purpose will live on.
“It sounds less like a protest and more like a group cuddle.”
Considering what this country has faced in the past year, a group cuddle does not sound half bad. Through celebrating the art of fiber crafts, individuals were able to come together, create a safe space to talk, feel empowered, and support one another while making the pussyhats.
I am a knitter myself, and through the Pussycat Project, I was inspired and proud to identify myself as a woman. The meaning and purpose of the pussyhat personifies what the Women’s March is about and why fair treatment should be protested. Although I did not march, I felt connected to each and every individual who contributed to this movement and wore their pussyhats with pride.
But do not just take my word for it. There were countless numbers of people who also felt empowered by wearing their pussyhat — here are what 10 supporters had to say:
“So we are “assigned” the gender of woman even if we don’t want to be women but we should embrace womanhood anyway? Whatever.”
Yes, the gender binary automatically classifies those with female genitalia as women, but desensitizes those who identify as transgender or cisgender. So if you identify as a woman or if society categorizes you as a woman, the chances of you being mistreated are undoubtedly high. Unfortunately, this interferes with our attempts to even embrace womanhood and why it is so difficult to try and enjoy it.
The double bind reduces women’s options to a very few and all of them are exposed to penalty, censure, or deprivation. Women are caught in between the person they genuinely are and what society expects, stereotypes, and depicts them as. Systematically related pressures, such as being a working mom or stay at home mom, whether or not to be a mother at all, sexual orientation, economic necessities, competitiveness amongst feminine gender roles, along with other racial and ethnic subculture identities, also effect and contribute to the double bind. One way or the other, being a woman is a barrier in and of itself.
Yes, although we are assigned the gender of woman even if we do not want to be a woman, womanhood should be embraced anyway. The feminist empowerment movement goes far beyond just that of one’s womanhood. Women stand in solidarity to reclaim their bodies, normalize the words and actions that have double binded them, highlight “feminist” talents, unite as one sector that has been kept below the patriarchy in hopes of seeing eye-to-eye, and advocate fair treatment amongst all.
“The problem with the pussyhats is not simply that they follow in Donald Trump’s footsteps of degrading out language and culture. It’s that they are silly.”
As this last remark ties back in reference to the double bind, one may find it silly while another feels inspired and empowered. One may attest that this project supports Trump’s derogatory views on women while another sees it as a visual form of protest that unites individuals to continue to march together in the sea of pink pussyhats towards fair treatment and human rights. Although the Women’s March may be over, the pussyhats and their purpose continue to remain.
Stay pink. Stay knitted. Embrace your pussyhat power.
Keep wearing your hats. Loudly, proudly for the next march. Wear it around town, wear it to the grocery store, talk about women’s rights. Or if you’re not going to wear it again, if it’s not your style, give it to another feminist you know. You can also donate it to someone who needs the warmth of a hat, which would be great. There are so many things that these hats can do after.
