By: W*SS
While the 2020 event has come and gone, we have some feelings about the new-ish pre-Valentine’s Day holiday known as Galentine’s Day.
The google tells us that this holiday originates from a 2010 Parks and Rec episode, in which Leslie Knope decided the day before Valentine’s Day should be an opportunity to celebrate friendships among women, or as she said, "ladies celebrating ladies" (see picture below). We are of two minds about this holiday. On one hand we wonder... in what ways does "Galentines" blatantly reinforce heteronormativity... those celebrating mustbe women who have "husbands and boyfriends" to leave behind one day of the year. While celebrating the ladies, does it simultaneously stigmatize and shame those of us who are single? Where do those of us who are lesbians and trans women fit into this holiday? Finally, and bluntly, do we really need Galentine's Day? Do we need another made up holiday like "friendsgiving" juxtaposed against the traditional (read: normal, white, cisgender) holiday ... this time as an occasion to celebrate our exclusively plutonic love of other women? On the other hand, we deeply love the opportunity to vocally and symbolically appreciate the supportive kinship and community unique to our relationships with other womxn. We also appreciate the Lilith Fair-like qualities (angst and all!) of spaces and places dedicated to women-identified feminists. Let us be clear, this doesn't mean that those who don't identify as womxn are unwelcome. But it's a balance. Womxn spaces can be powerful. After all, our office, Women*s Student Services exists because we believe in the power of collective community action and liberatory solidarity. So, rant over. What do you think? Is it Yea or Nay on Galentine's Day?
Interested in sharing your own TOTD? Come to Crafternoon & Communitea or email us at wssmsu@gmail.com. *picture and concept from Parks and Recreation, Season 2 Episode 16
Interested in sharing your own "Thought Of The Day" or TOTD? Email us at wss@msu.edu.
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