Making a meme?

[featherxquill]

So, these 30 Day Memes are awesome, and I'm finding the HP one is great way to get myself posting every day (it also gives me something to do at work when I need to skive off for a bit). It's also lots of fun to read everyone else's answers/discuss things/etc. I keep thinking that I'd love to do another one when I'm done with the HP one (I don't know why I'm thinking about it, since I'm not even half done yet and maybe I'll be entirely over it by the time I'm finished), and I've been looking at all the other versions that are popping up around the place. None of them really appeal, though, since what I'd love is one that lets me talk about all the awesome female characters I've discovered over the years, and how I'd love to read about other people's favourites from every fandom they can think of/real life women. So I was thinking I could make one, and wanted to test out the questions I thought of on my drive home today.

Tell me what you think?



1. Someone you've loved since you were little.
2. Someone you discovered recently.
3. A leader.
4. A mother.
5. A fighter.
6. A goddess.
7. Someone funny.
8. Someone bitchy.
9. A singer.
10. An artist.
11. An actress.
12. An athlete.
13. A woman of colour.
14. A woman with a disability.
15. A lesbian.
16. Anyone you like.
17. Someone you'd love to have teach you.
18. Someone you'd love to get drunk with.
19. Someone you wouldn't want to cross.
20.

And that's about all I've got, for now. Suggestions for more? Do you think you would do this meme/read other people's answers to it? Do you think the 13/14/15 are good, or problematic? Obviously, I think any of the other answers could also be women of colour/women with disabilities/lesbians, but is it good to have those questions specifically? Or does it sound like tokenism? I kind of like the idea that if someone gets to one of those questions - or any of them, really - and can't think of an example they know much about, they might go out and search for an appropriate character/person and learn about them. But I don't want it to seem like tokenism.

Thoughts?

Comments

[minervas-eule.livejournal.com]

It does sound very interesting to me; I could not answer most of the questions without thinking about them for some time, but that is not a bad thing ;-); but 30 questions which are sometimes really hard to answer sounds quite intimidating - so don't feel shy about stopping at 20 *LOL*;

[featherxquill.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah, true. I guess it's just a matter of principle, in a way. Like if I can answer 30 questions about HP, I can sure as hell think of 30 amazing women, fictional or otherwise.

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

Sounds great fun. But indeed, it doesn't have to be 30 questions. There's quite a lot here already.

[featherxquill.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah, true. I guess it's just a matter of principle, in a way. Like if I can answer 30 questions about HP, I can sure as hell think of 30 amazing women, fictional or otherwise.

[heather.livejournal.com]

This is such a cool idea! When you finish the list I would totally do this in my own journal.

As for 13/14/15, I think it's okay? I would have women of all sorts all over my list because I gravitate to them in all things lately, but in general I find that women/characters from marginalized groups get excluded from these things by default, and it might be good to encourage people to think about them. Hmm.

Unrelatedly, have you seen Miranda Richardson in the new AMC series Rubicon? SHINING LIGHT IN THAT WHOLE SHOW.

[featherxquill.livejournal.com]

God I am still getting used to you being all naked without your numbers *g*.

*nod* That seems to be the general consensus? I think I should possibly change lesbian to LGBTQ, though.

I haven't watched it yet, but thank you for reminding me to go... er, buy the first two episodes >.>

[heather.livejournal.com]

Yes, definitely widening it to lgbtq is a good idea.

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

Sounds like fun; I'd do it. I agree that we don't need 30 questions, necessarily. But here are some ideas: a writer; a woman over 50; an historical figure you'd most like to meet; a woman you once disliked and came to like or admire; most influential real woman in your life (besides your mother).

As for 13, 14, 15 -- I personally don't have a problem with these categories, but it's possible that people in the larger LJ world would, if the meme spreads. You could include modifiers like "physical disability" or "self-identified lesbian" if you think those would help. (As for 5, I'm a little vague about what this means -- just however we define it?)

[featherxquill.livejournal.com]

Great suggestions, thanks! Haha, I hadn't even thought of adding 'a woman over fifty', because most of mine would be that anyway!

As for 5, yeah, I was thinking basically however it was interpreted. Same with 'leader', really. I suppose I should add more abstract (?) questions to make ti clearer, maybe.

[acoustics1220.livejournal.com]

I'd do it. :D It would be WAY interesting to see how my flist would respond.

I can sort of guess what Tokenism is, but as far as the ones in question, I think it'd be great to spotlight those too, for the very same reason you elaborated on.

Ideas - what about women politicians? reporters, activists (though these usually come from actresses/artists group). You could have one specifying an RL person (like, someone in their circle of life, not RL like that everyone around the world would know/recognize).

I dunno about others. It sounds like a cool meme though. *nods*

[featherxquill.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad you like the idea. And great suggestions, thanks :)

[moriath.livejournal.com]

I would be all over this :-)

13/14/15 are fine, I think - though I wouldn't mind seeing "lesbian" expanded to include bi/trans/queer women. From an activist POV, it's good to include them to make sure people are thinking of women in all forms, because for too many hetero white people, others outside of their own norm are erased. Ideally women from all walks of life would be highlighted in every category, but we all know the world doesn't always work that way.

I like the suggestions for someone in your real life, too

Other possibilities randomly coming to mind:
- Someone from a traditionally male arena (science, medicine, military - fictional or RL)
- Fictional woman who inspires you
- RL woman who inspires you
- Who you'd like to be for a day

...That's all I've got for the moment, but I'll be keeping an eye out for when you launch this!

[featherxquill.livejournal.com]

You're right. Bi/Trans women certainly should be included.

And awesome suggestions. Thanks! :D

[magic-at-mungos.livejournal.com]

A non hetreosexual woman.
Someone inspirational from a non Western country