The spoken word poem “Suffragette 69” by Anna Binkovitz provides a whole new perspective on the women who fought so hard to secure women’s suffrage
Binkovitz paid tribute to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Amelia Bloomer when she performed the piece at Macalester College during the 2014 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational semifinals.
Rather than approaching the subject of women’s suffrage in a traditional way, Binkovitz decided to spice things up and explain how these historical feminists paved the way for modern feminists to ”Let their freak flags fly.” Her message is a sex positive one.
“I owe these women so much. They’re the reason I can swallow safe sex. The reason women can vote for president. The reason insurance does not see femininity as a symptom to be calculated. They’re the reason that I…..Can be such a whore.”
Binkovitz notes that it is not her intention to be disrespectful to their memory, rather she concludes that the feminists would rejoice in knowing their fight for equality has evolved – and without their efforts, women might still best seen and not heard.
Watch her courtesy of Button Poetry .
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Kimberley A. Johnson (BIO) is the author of The Virgin Diaries and an activist for women’s rights. Like her on Facebook, Twitter or follow her on FB HERE. |
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