Nicole Clark, MSW

Ally Alert highlights organizations, people, and campaigns who stand with women and girls of color, particularly around sexual/reproductive health, social justice, and overall wellness.

Our February 2012 Ally Alert is  Megan Kearns , feminist vegan blogger, freelance writer and activist. She blogs at The Opinioness of the World, a site she founded which focuses on gender equality and living cruelty-free. A Bitch Flicks Contributor, Megan reviews films, television series, and media from a feminist perspective. Her work has also been published in or appeared at Arts & Opinion, Fem2pt0, Feministing’s Community Blog, Italianieuropei, Open Letters Monthly and A Safe World for Women. CBS News referenced Megan’s article on the American media’s initial inattention to feature stories and images of Egyptian women protesting in the Arab Spring. Passionate about reproductive justice and women’s empowerment, Megan has volunteered with Eastern Massachusetts Abortion (EMA) Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, the Athena Film Festival, Martha Coakley for Senate and Casa Myrna Vazquez’ domestic violence hotline. A graduate of University of Massachusetts- Amherst, Megan earned her B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology (Double Major), and a Graduate Certificate in Women in Politics and Public Policy from UMass Boston. Megan currently lives in a “tiny” apartment in Boston (I add the quotation marks because, while Megan believes her apartment is tiny, I’m sure it’s awesome!)

I have been following Megan on Twitter at @OpinionessWorld for a while now, and she definitely is filled with incredible insights, musings, and rants. Her devotion to reproductive justice, equality, and living a cruelty-free life is very inspiring. Also, one of the main reasons I wanted to interview Megan is to ask her about how she combines her analysis of the exploitation of women to the exploitation of animals. Read more about Megan’s analysis as well as how she navigates her role as an ally to women and girls of color. 

What was a defining moment that guided you onto the career path you’re on now?

There wasn’t one defining moment. Rather it was a series of small moments. I always wanted to be a writer. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to write a novel. But I never thought I could make a career out of it. So I put it on the back burner, out of my mind. Then about 2 ½ years ago, a friend of mine who’s an editor for an online magazine, asked me to write an article. The rush and excitement I got…I knew I had to keep writing. I started my blog a few months later and continued freelance writing. But it wasn’t until I participated in Feminist Winter Term in NYC last January that I actually called myself a writer. Out loud. To other people. It was the best feeling and I knew I never wanted it to end. And so I write…

You write on a plethora of topics, including feminism, LGBTQ rights, pop culture, sexism in the media, women in politics, reproductive justice, animal rights, being a vegan, and the intersection of gender & food. What’s most interesting to me is your discussion around gender stereotypes and food. Can you share more about how you’ve analyzed and connected the two topics?

Writing about gender and food is one of my favorite topics to write on, because it unites my two identities as a feminist and a vegan. But it’s also one of the most difficult. Some people get upset because they assume that if you fight for animal rights, you automatically care less about people. But that’s nonsense. I (and many other vegans) care about both equally. You can advocate for multiple causes. The oppression and exploitation of animals made me even more aware about the exploitation of women. Many sexist stereotypes surround food and cooking such as women bake and men grill, women should be domestic and belong in the kitchen, and women are cooks while men are chefs. These might sound ridiculously outdated yet sadly, they still exist. Feminist vegan academic Carol J. Adams argues that a connection exists between the objectification of women and animals. We have sexist commercials with women’s bodies exploited and dismembered in the shape of food, and food hyper-sexualized and depicted as titillation. Some ads mimic soft-core porn as women lasciviously lick condiments off their lips and fingers. Ads also depict anthropomorphized animals portrayed as sexy women as well as the feminization and masculinization of certain foods. Both animals and women are frequently viewed as objects for consumption.

Your two biggest passions include women’s empowerment and living cruelty-free. How has your lifestyle as a vegan influenced your work as a feminist, and vice versa?

I’ve always been a feminist, although I didn’t know it and I didn’t call myself one for many years. But it was my path to veganism and my passion for animal rights that actually informed my identity to advocate for gender equity. For me, feminism and veganism are both about combating oppression. As a feminist, I believe in gender equity and freedom from sexism. I abhor animal rights groups or food advertisements utilizing sexism or misogyny to garner attention. As a vegan, I don’t believe we should exploit animals for our enjoyment. It’s also made me acutely aware of what I put in my body. As a result, I’ve become much more cognizant of toxic body standards, women’s and girls’ unhealthy relationship with food and the media policing women’s bodies. Something I say (or rather write) frequently is that you shouldn’t slight one cause to further another. I’m both a feminist and a vegan. I can’t separate my identities.

You also have an extensive background in finance, research, and event coordination. Can you share more about your experiences in these field, and how (if any) you have managed to take what you’ve learned in these fields and apply it to your work as an activist?

Finance is all about precision and clear-cut answers. Research taught me to ask questions, basically to question everything. It also involves exploring possibilities and finding answers to back up your claims. Both fields help me be incredibly thorough in my writing. Not only do I often conduct research for posts, but I constantly anticipate the opposing argument to my assertions and opinions. Then I include those in my articles. It’s like I’m forever arguing with myself!

What does being an ally mean to you?

To me, being an ally is about advocacy but also building relationships. It’s about knowing when to listen and when to speak up. When you’re an ally, you must listen to the needs, worries and concerns of the group you’re trying to be an ally for. People don’t need you to “rescue” them. They can speak and fight for themselves. But that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t speak out against racism or sexism when you see or hear it. You absolutely should. Becoming an ally also means questioning your own privilege. We each benefit from privilege and sometimes multiple privileges such as male privilege, white privilege, class privilege, cis privilege, able-bodied privilege, etc. Part of being an ally means recognizing privilege not only on an individual basis but on a systemic level. Self-reflection and sensitivity to others are also crucial in being an ally.

How do you navigate your role as an ally for women and girls of color? What are some key ways in which someone can be an effective ally for women, particularly women and girls of color?

I think it’s vital to put yourself in other people’s situations and see things from another’s perspective. Just because we’re women doesn’t mean we all face the same experiences equally. The intersectionality of race, class and gender affects our lives differently. If I’m critiquing a film or TV show, I don’t just examine gender roles. I also look at how the media treats race and women of color. I often try to imagine, “If I was a woman of color, how would that make me feel?” When I write about abortion rights or reproductive justice, I don’t just think about how it impacts upper or middle-class white women. I think about how it affects people of various socio-economic statuses and women and girls of color. I also think it’s crucial to dialogue about race and gender. Talk to friends, co-workers and family. If you hear racism or sexism, as in “jokes” or prejudicial statements, speak out. And if it’s you who happens to say prejudicial things and you get called out, don’t get defensive. Listen and learn from your mistakes.

Have you ever had any experiences in which your role as an ally for women and girls of color was challenged?

No, not challenged per se. But one time, I was talking with two friends of mine who are both women of color. They were sharing difficulties and discrimination they had faced at work. I know people carry their racial prejudices around but it still horrifies and upsets me. I asked, “How can people do that?!” One of my friends replied that I wasn’t used to racism because I was white. It reminded me that no matter how much I put myself in someone else’s shoes, I will never know what it’s like to be a woman of color. I’ll never get turned down for a job because I’m white. I’ll never have someone in a store follow me around, thinking I will steal something because I’m white. I will never be judged by the color of my skin. I benefit from white privilege and it’s something that I and all people who are white must remember.

If you were not on the career path you’re currently in, what would you be doing?

 I feel like I’ve been on so many different career paths already! But if I wasn’t a writer, I’d be a screenwriter (okay, that’s still a writer!) or a documentary film director. Or I’d work in a non-profit as an activist for gender equality in the media, reproductive justice or animal rights. I’ve also always wanted to tap into other creative outlets as an interior designer, Pilates instructor, nutritionist or an actor. Clearly, I’m all over the place with my aspirations!

Given your schedule, how do you prioritize self-care (the practice of taking care of your physical/mental health to preventing burn-out) into your life? 

 I try to practice self-care every day. It’s not easy but many of us do so much for others, we forget to tend to our own needs. Whether it’s taking a walk, Pilates, getting drinks with friends or watching a movie (although I’m usually watching films for work!), I try to set aside “me-time” so I don’t burn out. And fashion magazines. Flipping through them, I can be artistic and zone out all at the same time. No joke, they are seriously my salvation.

 What advice would you give to individuals who want to become allies for women and girls of color, but are not sure what steps to take?

Hmmm…that’s a fantastic question! As a writer, I believe in the transformative power of words. Read anything by bell hooks, Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison. Read Sister Citizen by Melissa Harris-Perry, The Other Side of Paradise by Staceyann Chin, The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange. Read the blogs Racialicious and Colorlines. Oh, and definitely read Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh which will forever change the way you view white privilege. Reach out to non-profits or organizations that work with women and girls of color, like Sister Song. And like I said earlier, when speaking with women and girls of color don’t presume to have all the answers or tell anyone what they should do. Ask questions. And then listen, listen, listen.

Thanks Megan!

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