Flipping Fergie Perfect for Flipping Feminism

This is the picture that just inspired me to add Fergie to my wishlist of ambassadors for the Flipping Feminism project. We wouldn't require her to deliver all of her speeches mid-flip like this. (I borrowed the photo from JustJared.buzznet.com. Thank you)

Flipping Feminism - The Mission has a Name

‘Cherchez la femme’ is out. It might have worked as a project name if I'd been able to pronounce it.. The worst incident this week was when my frighteningly-sophisticated, French-speaking friend had no idea what I was trying to say (when I tested it on her) nor any comprehension of why I would label my project that way. So my absolute, FINAL, final title that will not change (for the next year at least) is 'Flipping Feminism'.



I like that you can’t help smiling when you say it. It’s memorable. And, magically, it communicates the two primary messages of this project, that I want to change (flip) the way feminism is perceived and that I am frustrated (flipping feminism!) with the way gender equality messages have been communicated previously.

Lady Gaga agrees feminism has a bad name

(Photo by Paul Revere, in Sydney Morning Herald )

Lady Gaga inspired me this week. I'm quoting from a great article by Emma Young.

In a recent interview she said: ''I'm not a feminist - I hail men, I love men. I celebrate American male culture, and beer, and bars and muscle cars.''

In another interview, she equated feminism with man-hating. ''I think it's great to be a sexy, beautiful woman who can f--- her man after she makes him dinner. There's a stigma around feminism that's a little bit man-hating. And I don't promote hatred, ever.'

I agree Ms Gaga. (With your second-to-last sentence at least.) I just spent an hour trying to think of a name for this blogsite that would explain quite literally that I was trying to rebrand feminism but would avoid using that word. Couldn't do it.

Equalitist. Une femme forte. Agent non-provocateur. Mmmm. Not there yet.