Adventures in Feministory

Sylvia Plath is the most famous woman poet of the 1950s. She's probably one of the most famous poets of the 20th century. And she was a pretty good poet. Her work is honest, heartwrenching, and chock-full of angst and guilt and daddy issues. But she’s also famous for her bummer life story (anybody who’s read The Bell Jar knows the extent of the bummer factor), and frankly, I’m a little tired of her. That’s why this week’s Adventures in Feministory is not about Plath. I want to profile another ‘50s-era poet who is sometimes overlooked and whose story is filled with a lot of sassy, smart letter-writing and a prolonged Brazilian vacation: Elizabeth Bishop.

Today is Labor Day, and while the most significant impact this has for many of us is on our wardrobes (see you next year, white pants) the holiday actually serves as a celebration of the contributions of American workers.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you that women have had a significant impact on the history of American labor politics. From the Atlanta Washerwomen Strike in 1881 to Jane Addams' Hull House, women have always kicked ass and taken names in the name of workers' rights. However, this is a pop culture blog and I am a self-proclaimed pop culture addict, so I say we celebrate Labor Day 2010 with an awesome pop cultural representation of women and labor politics: Norma Rae.

What's that in the sky? It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Bessie Coleman, the first black woman in history to hold an international pilot's license!

Today's Adventures in Feministory is brought to you by a smart and informative video from the Women's Funding Network. Watch it and learn about the history of the Women's Donor Activist Movement! (We could all use a fun video on a Monday, right?)

"We will not be silent. We are your bad conscience. The White Rose will not leave you in peace!" -closing lines of the White Rose Society's fourth leaflet

Today's Feministory explores The White Rose Society, a movement during World War II comprised of young men and women whose courage during that bleak time in history might make your heart hurt a little, your breath catch, and your faith in the courage of women and men, against the darkest odds, stir toward hope.