MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – In
an online venue entitled “dyke feminism” I expected to meet some
extraordinary womyn, but what I did not expect was to find that the
members with which I found the most common ground were the younger set. On
the sad occasion of Andrea Dworkin’s death in April 2005 the conversation
surrounding her passing became the connection point from which I “met”
Helen Caddes. Her wonderful, fresh, insightful perspective on lesbian
feminism’s fourth wave gave me hope and delight.
In the context of an international listerv, I came to
be acquainted with this political science student at Middle Tennessee
State University in Murfreesboro.
Helen Caddes
Photo provided
Borrowing from her self-written bio, I will say
that she is indeed a woman of many talents. The young poet,
singer/songwriter, sociopolitical theorist, musician, and activist
described her concept of Fourth Wave Feminism as “a women’s movement
without generational divisions [which] came to life after years of
research and activism had shown [Caddes] the problematic nature of the
women’s movement in modern times.”
“Positing that "wave" terminology is a product of the
media rather than a beneficial distinction, Helen's forthcoming article
"No More Waves: A Vision of Feminist Unity" will explore the
similarities present throughout generational divisions.”
Her poetry, political in nature and fused with an
unconventional meter structure, continues to be her preferred mode of
communication. She is the owner of Alixis Web Design and Hosting, a
business based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and is a December 2006 pre-law
political science graduate at MTSU. She has minored in women’s studies.
Helen is available for speaking engagements, poetry
readings, and solo performances of her original songs.
Look for her article in an upcoming issue of the
Equality Herald.
The Fourth Wave Manifesto is a sample of
Helen’s work.
Fourth Wave Manifesto
by Helen Caddes
We are clawing our way
up a mountain
a tower of Babel
with held tongues
divided by the luxuries
of theoretical deconstruction
and the bastardization of
postmodernism
which has become our new altar.
What is a woman - who is a woman - what
does she do - is she a he - is he a she -
are we all the same - different - do we
have vaginas - periods - hysterectomies -
commonalities - differences?
"You can't define what a woman is!"
She
is
and you are.
There are things we have in common.
There is a history.
There is no need to reinvent the wheel.
There are women in India
bereft of water.
There are women in America
watching their civil liberties
disappear.
There are women
everywhere
who do not ask these questions.
Why do you deem it necessary?
There are women dying in Iraq
and you're on your soapbox
railing against science
worshipping Foucault
dancing around the obvious -
biologically proven factors
the rest of the world takes
for granted.
Take off your costumed garb
put down your abstract crusade
and get serious.
Millions are dying of AIDS
and your "queer theory"
consists of childish expletives
you "redefine"
in the name of feminism.
The blind leading the blind -
publishing themselves into a frenzy.
The Earth,
our mother,
calls to you.
The women of the world are marching,
organizing
globally.
Can you hear their voices
above the cacophony
of your grand "performance"?
No time for abstraction
No time for divisive academentia*.
Your endless circular logic
self-contained discussions
and empty promises
are helping no one.
You are driving away the women
you were hoping to attract.
It is not their job
to "understand" you.
It is your job
to understand them -
to take up their issues
and march alongside them.
They do not need you
to spend hours, days,
and years
debating their existence
reorganizing your
lackluster, short-sighted
political agendas
compromising to the point
you do us all a disservice.
Here is your new wave -
the media delight
you've been waiting for -
but it is not what
you would expect it to be.
This is a wave of unity
against international poverty,
the AIDS crisis,
globalization and corporatism,
political fascism and authoritarianism
for sex equality,
racial equality,
the right to love and live
and eat and breathe
and think and act.
And you are a part of this
and I am.
We are all joined in the fight
to save our Earth and
to end sexism.
The illusory divisions
crumble
and we are tied to our histories
and the brave women
who brought us here
who are a part of this too.
August 30, 2006
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*"Academentia" is a term that was invented by Mary Daly. Helen currently
manages Daly's lecture schedule. Mary Daly is a well-known radical lesbian
feminist theorist whose books including Gyn/Ecology have provoked
and inspired millions.
