Enlightenment

One of the things I prided myself on was the fact that I was more tolerable of people's practises because I understood more about them. I felt good because I was able to step out of the 'Evil Atheist' role that many non-believers with limited knowledge of religion so easily fit into. You know what I mean - the kind of people who spout gems like "God doesn't exist because the Big Bang" and "God is technically a rapist though ineeee?", and even "All religious people are basically evil innit?". I did have that phase myself, but just like the Memebase phase and the dark period of musical taste we shall call the Pre-Florence Era, I left it and became a wiser (if more embarrassed) person. I discovered that if you disagree with something, you don't have to voice an argument, and since I've been firmer friends with all from Christians to self-acclaimed mediums.
The reason I have descended into this pool of self-indulgence, this smug stew, is because in comparison it took me far longer to grasp some of the basics of feminism. I'd always though of myself as a feminist, simply because I'm not an arsehole, and yet I was still holding on to some incredibly ignorant beliefs.
I was, for example, one of those people who thought that make-up was a media construct to undermine women, and that anyone wearing loads of it was just doing it because they felt pressured to fit in and attract men, and that all skimpy clothing was sexualised and the product of a cruel, male-dominated society. I actually felt pity for women because I thought they were being demeaned, and thought that a lack of make-up etc. would lead to a better society. Can you imagine. Why was anyone friends with me until this year.
The steps in my revelation can be pinned down to the three Ms - Mum, Moran, and Moffat.
1. Mum - My mum told me something when I was in my early teens which had a profound effect on my feminist viewpoint, and that was "Girls don't dress for boys, that's a common misconception. They dress for their friends, and they dress for themselves." My mum is incredibly clever, so I was inclined to trust her.
2. Moran - Whilst on Tumblr a few months ago, I saw a quote from Caitlin Moran's How To Be A Woman. It talked about how wearing make-up wasn't a weakness, and that artifice is healthy and natural and empowering. I wrote a post a bit ago about being oneself and I mentioned make-up. This is the root of that.
3. Moffat - During the recent run of Doctor Who episodes, there were several accusations of sexism levelled towards Steven Moffat, Head Writer. Whilst I didn't agree with most of these, it pointed out a very obvious thing to me - many male writers think that having a woman who can hit people is a strong enough character. When it really isn't anything like that.
I don't like getting into feminist viewpoints too much, because there are escalating arguments that only match those of political ideologies. However, I think it's important to have a good grasp of what is still an example of brilliant people fighting against horrific injustice. Any males reading this: Look up some feminist writing.

Oh, and the hidden message in The Raven was "A visitor in December wrought sorrow for evermore."