Because we form our thoughts through language, in order to envisage and build a new world, we need to develop a new vocabulary. Sisters of Resistance have begun this process by collecting our terminology into this resource, covering four areas: vocabulary, useful phrases, acronyms and translations, for use in challenging patriarchy and putting feminism into practice in your daily life.
A | B | C | D | E |F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Brother of Resistance (n): a man, male-bodied or man-identified person committed to resisting all types of oppression, especially female oppression, white supremacy and imperialism. A feminist, although reluctant to self-define in this way due to radical gender politics.
chun-wu (n, v): the outwitting of an oppressive opponent using their own (il)logic. A powerful response that ends oppressive debate. See also: fe-mail. Usage: here.
femcee (n): a female-identified hip-hop or grime emcee.
femevegan (n): vegan who counts a feminist perspective of the Earth as mother as a significant influence over her vegan outlook, diet, practice or lifestyle. See also: ecofeminism.
femmecee (n): a lesbian, bisexual, queer, or other non-hetero woman-identified hip-hop or grime emcee.
fe-mail (n, v): communication exchange online or via text in which a sista skillfully challenges patriarchy, sexism, male domination, or WMP, leaving the recipient unable to adequately respond. Synonyms: chun-wu, SNM (Say No More) moment. Usage: “She fe-mailed him. It was pure chun-wu.”
femininspiration (n): feminist role model that whose example inspires you to remain actively engaged in feminist struggle. Examples: Women We Admire
gender politics (n): level of critical awareness of patriachy, oppression, female oppression, violence against women. can be good (highly developed with a radical understanding intersecting with knowledge regarding other forms of oppression) or bad (sexist, misogynistic, straight outta WMP).
hatriarchy (n): systemic, endemic misogyny caused by patriarchal attitudes, beliefs, and values, and the symptoms thereof. Usage: “That’s straight-up hatriarchy.”
inner circle (n): SoR/BoR and their revolutionary, feminist, anti-imperialist, environmentalist and non-hierarchical international circle of friends. Will pass the RDAF and occupy the lower left quadrant of the Political Compass Test without fail. Usage: “Nah, he’s got shit gender politics. Could never be in the inner circle.”
kyriarchy (n): interconnected, interacting, and multiplicative systems of domination, within which a person oppressed in one context might be privileged in another.an elaboration within intersectional theory of the concept of patriarchy. neologism coined by Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza.
longting (n): a Long Term Relationship that has since ended badly. Usage: “How long was you with him?” “5 years.” “Oh, what — longting, yea?”
men to avoid (n): men who have proven themselves to be undeserving of your time and energy via consistent insensitive, selfish, self-involved or abusive behaviour.
misogyny (n): a hatred of and/or contempt for women or women-identified people. Both produced by and fuel for systemic patriarchy. Also misogynist (n): one who perpetuates this hatred.
net crush (n): Internet-based crush via the following media: FB, Twitter, Skype and Youtube (chatrooms, MSN, AOL circa 1990s.) Also written netcrush. Synonyms: web buddy, net/Skype/online friend. Usage: I have such a netcrush on Amplify Dot.
oppression (n): systematic and intersecting socioeconomic and political exclusion or marginalization of a person or group of people due to categories such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, religion, faith or dis/ability.
oppressive silencing (n): ways people in historically dominant roles have been conditioned to use to exclude or discredit oppressed others, particularly when they perceive their dominance to be challenged. (See also: Handy Reference Guide to Identifying Oppressive Silencing)
patriarchy (n): “a political-social system that insists that males are inherently dominating,
superior to everything and everyone deemed weak, especially females, and endowed with the right to dominate and rule over the weak and to maintain that dominance through various forms of psychological terrorism and violence.” (from Understanding Patriarchy, by our hero, bell hooks).
Par List (n): the list of numbers of the people on your mobile you mark with a note, e.g. “Don’t Answer” in order to avoid contact. Synonyms: blocked list, no-call zone. Usage: Yeah, he tried it. He’s on the Par List now though. See also: par, par list.
revolutionary groupie love (n, v): the predisposition to engage in romantic and sexual relations with revolutionaries, community organisers, conscious poets, spoken word artists, painter or musicians, or people otherwise committed to creating a just and sustainable world. Usage: S/he’s so conscious, s/he’d definitely get some revolutionary groupie love.
Sister of Resistance (n): a woman, female-bodied and/or female-identified person committed to resisting all types of oppression, especially female oppression.
SNM (Say No More) moment (n): that moment when your feminist, anti-racist, or otherwise revolutionary argument has anticipated and/or refuted all possible contradictions, and your opponent can say no more. Twitter translation: #win
vex-box (n): X-Boxes, Playstations or any other video gaming equipment via which late-stage capitalism has stolen the focus, minds, and time of generations of young men in order to inculcate them with racist, militaristic and murderous propaganda.
womentality (n): 1. a radical feminist attitude of mind or way of thinking 2. The capacity for intelligent thought. Usage: Her womentality amazes me.
womenology (n): the study of women, female-bodied and female identified people, their history and economic, social, cultural and political conditions, from a feminist perspective. Derivative: womanologist. Usage: Sisters of Resistance are expanding the under-studied area of womenology.
RDAF – Revolutionary Dating Assessment Form
RLG – Revolutionary Lovers Guide
SoR – Sisters of Resistance, aka Sista Resista or @resistasista
WMP – White Male Privilege. Synonyms: Racism, Sexism, Eurocentricity, White Supremacy, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Patriarchy. Systemic and endemic. Usage: He attacked me when I challenged his WMP.
WMPS – White Male Power Structure. The structural and systematic historic, economic, political and social implementation of the WMP (above).
WWA – Women We Admire
“Have you used this line before? And did it work?” For poor pickup lines, lies or excuses.
“Get out of my house and delete my number.” Useful in cases of extreme disrespect.
“Painting yourself as the victim when you’re the oppressor? That’s what Israel does.” When employing various radical analyses you may often notice that resistance to oppression becomes conflated with oppression when there is no acknowledgement of the historical, political context of the white male power structure. Also a SNM moment.
“The problem with your approach is that it’s decontextualised. We live under a white male power structure.” Key opening point for many arguments.
“There were slums in London in the 1850s. The system ain’t changed since then.” There are historic and systematic causes of seemingly recent problems such as poverty and crime.
“Good on paper, but not in practice.” When a potential partner ticks all the right boxes, but still falls short of the mark.
Responses to Unwanted Cherpsing (Pick-Up Attempts)
CHERPS: Hey! (or other shouting, yelling, hooting, calling over. Often done on the street or from a passing car.)
RESPONSE: None required.
CHERPS: Did you hear me?
RESPONSE: Yes, I did, and I’m choosing to ignore you.
CHERPS: Where are you going?
RESPONSE: Wherever you’re not.
CHERPS: Are you single?
RESPONSE: That’s none of your business.
CHERPS: What’s your name?
RESPONSE: I will not be providing you with that information today. (This was developed in response to police officers’ attempts to gather intelligence but is applicable in a variety of other situations.)
CHERPS: I want to get to know you.
RESPONSE: I don’t want to get to know you.
CHERPS: I can’t be your friend?
RESPONSE: I’ve got enough friends.
CHERPS: Can I get your number?
RESPONSE: No. (Repeat as necessary.)
CHERPS: Any other question or attempt to carry on the conversation.
SOME POTENTIAL RESPONSES:
I’m in a rush. Bye!
I’ve got to be somewhere. Bye!
I’m on my way somewhere. Bye!
(Repeat “Bye!” as necessary and walk away.)
What he says: “I just want to talk.” What he means: I want to persuade you.
What he says: “Sorry I haven’t called you for a long time.” What he means: I’ve been fucking someone else.
What he says: “I’m in a situation.” What he means: I’m in a relationship.
What he says: “I’m not a relationship type of guy.” What he means: I’m cheating on you, and this is never going to be serious.
What he says: “You know me.” What he means: I can’t be bothered to explain myself to you.
What he says: “We can just chill and talk. We don’t have to do anything.” What he means: We can chill and talk. Then I want to have sex with you.
What he says: “I’ll holla at you later.” What he means: I’ll be contacting you again. At my convenience.
What he says: “I wanna see you later.” What he means: I want to fuck you later.
What he says: “I respect you/I respect that” What he means: I know you’re a feminist and I don’t want to piss you off.
What you say: No. What he hears: Yes.
What you say: “I just want to be friends.” What he hears: I’ll link you again if you keep trying.
What you say: “I like you, but I need some space.” What he hears: I like you.
What you say: “You’re not my type.” What he hears: I’m playing hard to get.
SoR/BoR actively challenge sexist, racist and all other forms of oppressive sentiments wherever they arise. This often is in regards to problematic language or offensive statements. When you decide to challenge someone:
- Be assertive. Challenging the patriarchal status quo generates flak. This means that confidence and an assertive attitude is crucial.
- Use facts. Refer to the Resources section to get statistical information that supports your radical, anti-imperialist feminist view.
- Provide an alternative. Having deconstructed the remark, provide an alternative analysis. Bring it round to what’s important.