300 years.
300 fucking years.
International Women’s Day has come and gone, but I can’t let it go. Last week, I was working late on materials for for KEXP’s celebration of IWD, when I came across an article that said “Gender equality is 300 years away.” THREE HUNDRED YEARS. I basically crumbled.
The crumbling feeling was: WHY. Why am I doing any of this? What am I doing any of this for? Not just that work that one night, but all work my whole life. What the fuck am I even doing? I’m 37 years into this being-a-woman thing and more than 16 years into this working-in-media career thing and I just don’t know if I have another 300 in me. 300 YEARS. Why work late? Why get a master’s degree? Why even ask for opportunities? (ones that I swear to G men don’t even ask for, they just take.) Why try? If it means I’m still going to retire with an average of $400,000 less than a dude? Why try if it’s never going to equate to a man’s work/investment/time?
I went into International Women’s Day feeling pretty hopeless about it all, but quickly I remembered my why. Turns out, I fucking love this work. Getting to produce radio pieces that make DJs look (sound) real good, makes me so happy. Being in the studio with people (friends!) and producing live radio is a blast. It’s a weird balance of loving the work and wanting the recognition, ya know? Or do you? I have typed and deleted about five sentences after this one, because I’m so afraid of sounding like an ungrateful bitch. Because how do you talk about a broken patriarchal society without offending the patriarchy… that also p.s. gave you every job you’ve ever had. So instead (out of fear), I’ll focus on the work I love.
The Midday Show was hosted by Cheryl Waters with Eva Walker on International Women’s Day. I put together some pieces for them to talk about women’s rights in this day in age. It was amazing to hear the above Lizzo speech from her People’s Choice Award on KEXP, with the songs “Special” underneath it. (I did that part.) I was nervous that it would be too long… even with the added music… but then we got so many text messages and emails from listeners, saying that they cried hearing this on air. Like what OTHER radio station in the world would play this kind of content? None other. About a month ago, I put together a piece from one of our DJ Assistants testifying on the Senate Floor for SB 5028.
I put it over a Kim Petras song, because… well, Kim Petras is amazing and also, the bill was about trans rights. Someone from the Associated Press heard this piece on KEXP and contacted Maia to write a story about her that got picked up in publications all around the country.
WHERE ELSE other than KEXP??
I love this work. I would do this work no matter what the pay, which almost fires me up even more.
But I have to cool my nuts. Because when I am losing my mind about these 300 years, looking at my white daughter, being sad about how she won’t see equality in her lifetime, I have to realize that we are the most privileged women.
I mean, jury’s out on what my daughter’s sexuality will be, what her abilities will be, what her gender will even be, but me? I’m pretty set and I’m set up for so much more success than my friends who are trans women, Black women, hispanic women, immigrant women, queer women, women with disabilities, even fat women*. I feel uncomfortable even saying this all “out loud” but that’s part of the problem, right?
I know how we can get to 300 years a whole helluva lot faster. Let’s start with equality of Black trans women. Let’s pay them more, let’s give them more opportunities—hell, give her my job! And while all the old white dudes look on in shock, we’ll be watching the clocks and calendars speed up like some montage in a horrid time-travel movie.
So many things are allowed to happen at the same time. I am allowed to absolutely love my work and know I’m amazing at it and also know I should be further in my career and be pissed about the pay gap and also know I have it so so much better than other women. I can be fired up as a woman and wanna burn everything down and also appreciate the feminist men and nonbinary people in my life, at my company. I love the shit outta men. Kind of like what Cher said.
Except I’m not a rich man… yet.
While I passionately go after what I want, I will also go passionately after equality for all women—because I want that, too. But that whisper of “300 YEARS” will be hard to get outta my head. Please, let’s make it come sooner.
*p.s. Lindy West is one of my (many) heroes.
Segue of the Week:
Nina Simone to Alanis Morissette: That’s right… a bit of a switch-up here. I host KEXP’s Segue of the Week and I’m obsessed with it. So every week (that we have a SOTW on Sound & Vision), I’m going to link to it here. Learn more about SOTW or nominate one here: www.kexp.org/sotw
It celebrates the art of the transition from one song to the next AND this silly little competition I made up means that I get to talk to a different KEXP DJ each week and watch them judge other segues. This week, I got to hang out with John Richards… NBD… only one of my heroes…
A Little Woo:
It’s a Feel-Not-Do Kinda Vibe: The Sun is in Pisces until next Tuesday and I am FEELING what Cafe Astrology is saying about this time:
We are less motivated to do than we are to feel, imagine, and dream. A “what will be, will be” attitude reigns, and we are guided by a sense of universal correlations.
I have been having the most amazing dreams and I have been daydreaming like a motherfucker, but doing? Harder. I am so tired. It’s hard to get out of bed and stop dreaming and start doing something. Just me?
Quick Hits:
Jam of the Week: Nuovo Testamento - Heartbeat.
(okay, this song is from the end of 2022, but I’m JUST NOW hearing it everywhere and I love it so so much. it’s the ‘80s dance song I need in my life right now. Sharlese introduced me to this song… because she’s amazing.)
Say What You Will About This Tech Giant…
(…but this commercial rules.)Thank God This Show is Coming Back Soon.
(it makes me miss high school friends I didn’t even have, but really wanted.)My Favorite Book is a Play Now.
(I’m excited and nervous. it’s so tragic!)I’m Reading This Hilarious/Weird Book.
(and I love it.)
I Felt This in My Bones.
(if we don’t try, we can’t get it. but when we don’t get it, it hurts.)
I’ve Watched This 20 Times.
(all my NYC friends… I’m crying laughing.)
It’s KEXP Fundraising Drive.
(for fear of mixing worlds, I’m asking you to give to this incredible radio station. I love this place, I love these people, I love this music. If you love it, too, consider giving today! also, the Thank You gifts are ah-mazing.)
Thanks again for being here. The sun is out a little longer. Brightness is coming and you’re a part of that.
xxo,
rachel.