Lily Charkow, Arts & Life Editor–
As part of Denison’s English Department’s Beck Series, Sophie Lewis visited campus on April 2 to deliver a talk on her book “Enemy Feminisms: TERFs, Policewomen, & Girlbosses.” The event was a collaboration between Denison’s english department and the queer studies department.
Lewis is known for her radical feminist views and for writing about topics relating to feminism, gender, and the current political climate. Lewis is a German-British writer who describes herself as a “recovering academic” according to her website. Lewis attended the University of Oxford, The New School, and the University of Manchester. She has published three books, but during the talk, Lewis specifically discussed Enemy Feminisms.
Throughout the lecture, Lewis examined how white feminism has transformed throughout history and what can be learned from fascist feminism.
To assist her lecture, Lewis featured a slideshow depicting artwork and images relevant to her words. For instance, she showcased a piece of art titled “The Mothers” by Kathe Kollwitz. The piece was a woodcut that depicted women of different ages embracing one another. The women’s expressions are sorrow and some hold tissues, signifying crying. The imagery of women forming a community over tragedy is relevant to Lewis’ advocacy for female solidarity and intersectional feminism.
Lewis also featured photos of feminist activists protesting across the world, like photos of the 4B movement, a feminist movement that originated in South Korea. The organization is a radical feminist association that aims to fight the patriarchy by not dating men, marrying men, having sex with men, or having children with men. This reference was related to Lewis’ messages of radical feminism and black and white mindset on morality relating to feminism.
Lewis also represented how negative language can be used to villainize feminism. She showed that words such as “weaponized by” or cynically deployed by” are used in the same breath as feminism in order to paint feminism in a negative light.
She described feminism as “…any women-led vindication of women against some kind of definition against patriarchy.” Lewis clarified that female feminism is not equivalent to right-wing feminism and stated that “…persuasion in anti-fascism has no place.”
Lewis explained that she wants readers to feel empowered by her book, not feel melancholic when reading about the history of misogyny.
The next Beck series event will feature poet Tiana Clark and will take place in the Michael D. Eisner center on April 10.