Melody Berger is currently putting We Don’t Need Another Wave: Dispatches from the Next Generation of Feminists together for Seal/Avalon Press; kinda an updated Listen Up: Voices from the Next Feminist Generation.

Here’s the Call for Submissions:

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER WAVE:
Dispatches from the Next Generation of Feminists

I love the comment that Obioma Nnaaemeka made when asked about her thoughts on African feminism: “The majority of African women are not hung up on ‘articulating their feminism,’ they just do it.” We, the supposedly “apathetic” youth of America, are doing our part to enact our feminisms as well, whether through cultural representations or political organizing. And we’re not stopping to debate over an effective color to put on the cover of a pamphlet that might, someday, after much debate and kvetching, convey SOME of our feelings to the world. (in watered down and acceptable ways). Nor are we marginalizing ourselves from older activists by thinking up a feisty new “wave” that will ultimately create more divisions than it is worth.

The whole concept of uber-new waves in general has always kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Not only is it pretty historically naive… but what’s the point of trying to come up with a new fad of a wave every ten years or so? It’s just so detrimental to the movement as a whole. Yeah, we might not always agree along generational lines, but what does that matter in the grand scheme of things?? The larger systems of oppression are the things we should be organizing against… but because they’re way too scary we end up bickering amongst ourselves over subtle nuances in feminist rhetoric.

Enough already! We need to organize and get the ****ers who are destroying the world OUT OF POWER ALREADY. I’m tired of only discussing theory. I’m tired of thinking of effective ways to plan an eventual PLAN to combat “negative images of feminists.” PEOPLE ARE TAKING AWAY OUR RIGHTS. Should we politely ask them to stop??

We don’t need another wave. We need a movement.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

So here’s the concept: We want interesting, well-written stories about kneeing the privileged-patriarchal-powers-that-be in their collective groin. Specifically we need personal narrative essays that discuss everyday bits of activism in combination with analyses of the larger systems of oppression at work. (and some theory, please… but not ALL theory for the love of God!!)

From a decidedly youthful perspective. (defined arbitrarily as those who consider themselves to be part of “the next generation of feminists.” So, yes, we’d like to know how old you are and why you think you’re part of “the next generation,” etc.) And, please, this is 2005, people. This has got to be a representative publication that includes all races, genders, sexualities, creeds, classes, and what have you.

Some sample topics that make us smile:

*Intersectionality of race, gender, class and all manner of other identifying factors.

*Women in the Military

*Sexual assault within the progressive youth community.

*Being raised in alternative families.

*Body Image.

*What are some effective organizing strategies for the progressive movement? (and what are some that fail, etc?)

*DIY Culture

*Craftivism: a feminist perspective on knitting and other seemingly domestic hobbies that are making a comeback, especially when such activities are used to raise money for radical (in the good way) causes.

*LGBT issues across the board.

*The institution of marriage. Is it becoming obsolete or is it stronger than ever?

*Career vs. childrearing. Issues around delaying having kids.

*Dating: power relations in sex, romance, love and lust.

*Body Wars: Reproductive Freedom, Birth control, and alternative menstrual products.

*Young Women and Globalism

and, you know, a whole lot more.

Editor: Melody Berger just graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a degree in Women’s Studies. In the not too distant future she is heading out to the West Coast for a way cool internship with Bitch Magazine, which makes her all sorts of gleeful. This past year she created the F-WORD magazine, a brand-spankin’ new feminist publication for teens/youthful people. Check it out: www.thef-wordzine.com. (and please feel free, encouraged even, to forward that link like mad) There are loads of great essays on the site which will give you a clearer sense of what we want for We Don’t Need Another Wave.

Publisher: Seal Press, an imprint of Avalon Publishing Group, publishes groundbreaking books by and for women in a variety of topics.

Deadline: January 15, 2006.

Length: 3,000 – 5,000 words.

Format: Essays must be typed, double-spaced, and paginated. Please include your address, phone number, email address, and a short bio on the last page. Essays will not be returned.

Submitting: Send essay electronically as a Word or Rich Text Format file (with .doc or .rtf extension) to Melody Berger at HowlingHarpies@gmail.com. Put “We Don’t Need Another Wave” in the subject line. If you’d rather send your essay via snail mail,
please submit to:
Avalon Publishing Group, Inc.,
Seal Press Acquisitions,
1400 65th Street,
Suite 250,
Emeryville, CA 94608

Payment: $100 plus two books.

Reply: Please allow until May 1, 2006 for a response. If you haven’t received a response by then, please assume your essay has not been selected. Unfortunately it is not possible to reply to every submission personally.

You already know where to send your queer writing, right?