Hi Isabella — been following this newsletter since the very beginning and I think it's taken me almost as long to share my thoughts. They're the same thoughts I had when I first heard the title WWAWMD, but I've sat with the feelings for quite some time. I think as a shorthand the phrase / concept of WWAWMD is a very, very useful reminder for marginalized folks. It's one I often find myself chiding some of my closest friends with when then don't advocate for themselves or get consumed with impostor syndrome. It's a jolt of a reminder to advocate for and stick up for yourself in a world that's more often than not encouraged people who are not white (and straight and male) to be passive, to be patient, or to feel inadequate when in fact they are often over-qualified.
But it is also true that the title WWAWMD fails the intersectionality test. Fails in carrying the compassion and empathy necessary to engage with and solve some of these wicked and intractable problems around race, gender, and work. It is ironic indeed to juxtapose your newsletter beside Bowman's, if for no other reason than that it poignantly highlights the contrast between the inclusive and productive ambition behind his newsletter (which seeks to establish a better future for men, and offer healing in the process), and your own.
If you do want more white men reading your newsletter because of the understanding and empathy it can engineer (amongst a population where it is so desperately needed), you do need to put in the work to make your newsletter a place that seeks to engage and dialogue with masculinity — and in that dialogue seek to deeply understand the male experience in our society beyond the oversimplified framing of "white privilege" or "toxic masculinity" where men are narrowly understood as perpetuators and beneficiaries.
That doesn't mean changing the name of the newsletter, or other superficial changes to make your newsletter "more approachable" for men. But FWIW, I would argue the title centers the wrong things in relation to what your ambition is with the newsletter. Provocative? Of course. And you don't have to lose the provocation; I just wish the newsletter went deeper than that.
I also think the WWAWMD framing fails to acknowledge the role of privilege in people being able to advocate for themselves in their career and at work. Having grown up (a) poor (b) with multiple learning disabilities (c) biracial / immigrant home, I've always felt I've had to work 3x to get the same opportunities as my peers who have bourgeois childhoods and ivy league pedigrees — regardless of their gender, race, or sexual preference. All the more reason to push for intersectionality as the litmus test for the newsletter (and our motives and beliefs).
Thank you so much for the thoughts, Arthur! I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and reflection you've put into this. This is a lot of food for thought for me and I will sit on this over the next few weeks. I need to read up more on the concept of the intersectionality test, as it's not something I'm deeply familiar with.
I would be curious to hear questions or prompts that come to mind re: engaging and starting a dialogue with masculinity. I'm always on the hunt for more topics and this is one I should delve into – but am a bit of a loss for where to start.
Ahh - and one more thought regarding privilege: there's no doubt that I am very fortunate and privileged.
I don't know how to bridge the gap between my experience and that of someone who may not have the same degree of privilege. I also don't ever assume that I *can* bridge that gap – that feels presumptuous and entitled and privileged in all the wrong ways. I try to call this out regularly in my posts by acknowledging my privilege and asking readers to take what I say with a grain of salt.
This is a very short answer but also a very big one in my humble opinion — if there's one single piece of work that's been influential in how I think about intersectionality, my own identity and role therein, it is the writings of the Combahee River Collective and this particular collection of essays: https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Get-Free-Collective/dp/1608468550
Forever changes how I think about protest, resistance, equity, and really shifted my consciousness. Can't say how important (and prescient) the work is.
Bingo -- been following since the beginning, and as an (I hope) ally to women (and for equality in general.) I personally love the title! I read for exactly the reason you say in the end of this article -- because I'm curious about other folks' perspective, and what I take for granted! Keep it up!
Hi Isabella — been following this newsletter since the very beginning and I think it's taken me almost as long to share my thoughts. They're the same thoughts I had when I first heard the title WWAWMD, but I've sat with the feelings for quite some time. I think as a shorthand the phrase / concept of WWAWMD is a very, very useful reminder for marginalized folks. It's one I often find myself chiding some of my closest friends with when then don't advocate for themselves or get consumed with impostor syndrome. It's a jolt of a reminder to advocate for and stick up for yourself in a world that's more often than not encouraged people who are not white (and straight and male) to be passive, to be patient, or to feel inadequate when in fact they are often over-qualified.
But it is also true that the title WWAWMD fails the intersectionality test. Fails in carrying the compassion and empathy necessary to engage with and solve some of these wicked and intractable problems around race, gender, and work. It is ironic indeed to juxtapose your newsletter beside Bowman's, if for no other reason than that it poignantly highlights the contrast between the inclusive and productive ambition behind his newsletter (which seeks to establish a better future for men, and offer healing in the process), and your own.
If you do want more white men reading your newsletter because of the understanding and empathy it can engineer (amongst a population where it is so desperately needed), you do need to put in the work to make your newsletter a place that seeks to engage and dialogue with masculinity — and in that dialogue seek to deeply understand the male experience in our society beyond the oversimplified framing of "white privilege" or "toxic masculinity" where men are narrowly understood as perpetuators and beneficiaries.
That doesn't mean changing the name of the newsletter, or other superficial changes to make your newsletter "more approachable" for men. But FWIW, I would argue the title centers the wrong things in relation to what your ambition is with the newsletter. Provocative? Of course. And you don't have to lose the provocation; I just wish the newsletter went deeper than that.
I also think the WWAWMD framing fails to acknowledge the role of privilege in people being able to advocate for themselves in their career and at work. Having grown up (a) poor (b) with multiple learning disabilities (c) biracial / immigrant home, I've always felt I've had to work 3x to get the same opportunities as my peers who have bourgeois childhoods and ivy league pedigrees — regardless of their gender, race, or sexual preference. All the more reason to push for intersectionality as the litmus test for the newsletter (and our motives and beliefs).
Thank you so much for the thoughts, Arthur! I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and reflection you've put into this. This is a lot of food for thought for me and I will sit on this over the next few weeks. I need to read up more on the concept of the intersectionality test, as it's not something I'm deeply familiar with.
I would be curious to hear questions or prompts that come to mind re: engaging and starting a dialogue with masculinity. I'm always on the hunt for more topics and this is one I should delve into – but am a bit of a loss for where to start.
Ahh - and one more thought regarding privilege: there's no doubt that I am very fortunate and privileged.
I don't know how to bridge the gap between my experience and that of someone who may not have the same degree of privilege. I also don't ever assume that I *can* bridge that gap – that feels presumptuous and entitled and privileged in all the wrong ways. I try to call this out regularly in my posts by acknowledging my privilege and asking readers to take what I say with a grain of salt.
This is a very short answer but also a very big one in my humble opinion — if there's one single piece of work that's been influential in how I think about intersectionality, my own identity and role therein, it is the writings of the Combahee River Collective and this particular collection of essays: https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Get-Free-Collective/dp/1608468550
Forever changes how I think about protest, resistance, equity, and really shifted my consciousness. Can't say how important (and prescient) the work is.
Bingo -- been following since the beginning, and as an (I hope) ally to women (and for equality in general.) I personally love the title! I read for exactly the reason you say in the end of this article -- because I'm curious about other folks' perspective, and what I take for granted! Keep it up!