This is a feminist blog written and moderated by a young woman who earnestly and sincerely wants to make the world a more equal place for all people. I think and write and speak about how gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation and the intersections thereof impact the individual and collective lived experience.
Shelby, or, SK
The title of this blog is a feminist play on the title of a film that was made about my high school activism for comprehensive sex education and gay rights, The Education of Shelby Knox. If you would like to screen the film and/or have me come to your school or event, check out the ‘Contact’ page.
You can read my bio and various rebellions here. Beyond that, I’m a Texan New Yorker – an Upper East Side girl via Lubbock exiled to the West Village – a lover of animals, a women’s history geek and a policy wonk in training. I’ve been called and totally own up to being a “diva,” “dramatic,” “humorless,” “hilarious,” “radical” and “dangerous.”
To be 100% honest, it’s sometimes hard for me both publicly and personally to unravel my identity from that of the 15 year old, virginity pledging, Southern Baptist girl in the documentary about my high school years. I’ve started signing my emails as ‘SK’ – a conscious divorce from an identity that gave me a tremendous platform and wonderful opportunities but, at times, imposes crushing expectations.
If this all sounds like navel gazing, that’s probably because it is – I’m 23, very much trying to figure out who I am and how I want to exist in the world, and to expect any more or attribute any less is unfair. Lucky for you, dear reader, it’s actually very hard for me to talk and write about myself. This blog is a personal AND political step toward sharing not only my feminism and my ideas, but for the first time, me – on my own terms.
Privilege – I’ve gots lots of it
If it wasn’t already apparent, I should let you know – I’m very privileged. I’m a white, American cisgender female, born middle-class and educated in public institutions, including the University of Texas as Austin, from which I have a degree in Political Science. I’m currently able-bodied and present to the outside world as 100% heterosexual. I’ve experienced incredible privilege within the feminist movement, with contacts and experiences inside what bell hooks so accurately described as the “bubble of power feminism.” If there is a privilege I haven’t mentioned, it’s not out of denial but rather ignorance – likely the ignorance empowered by that very privilege! Please do let me know.
I understand my privilege manifests in everything I do and say and will often cloud my analysis. This space is intended to be anti-sexist, anti-racist, anti-ableist and free of homophobia and transphobia – but I understand because of my privilege-induced mistakes, it will not always be so for all people. I welcome – actually, beg for – correction, criticism, and personal experiences that challenge me, contributors to this blog, and in a larger context, all the various forms of oppression that make life more difficult for all of us. If I know anything as truth, it is that oppressions cannot be uprooted separately – our individual and collective liberation is to be found by joining together as equal partners in the fight for social justice.
For more on privilege – what it is, checking it and owning it – please check out Peggy McIntosh’sWhite Privilege – Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack and the ‘Lists of Privilege Lists‘ provided over at Alas, a Blog. I especially appreciate and use often the Non-Trans Privilege List, the Male Privilege Checklist, and the Daily Effects of Straight Privilege Checklist.
Welcome! Looks great!
love getting to know your public self
Go Shelby! Nice job. I promise to send you historical quotations for your Commonplace Book…I love what you have posted so far.
Mazel tov on the new blog, Shelby. It’s a beaut! Enjoy!
Hi Shelby,
I am a fellow blogger on WordPress – just started around the same time as you it looks like. Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed – how quickly you have gone from being a nervous blogger afraid to show your identity and opinion to the world…and now the world is actually reading!!
I recently posted a piece on reactions from Freshly Pressed bloggers and how being featured has impacted them.
You have the ability to use words far better than most and I am practically drooling in anticipation to read what your experience has been so far, what you think it could turn into and anything else you have to say about it!!!
Congratulations and enjoy the ride!
Zach
i’m so glad i found your blog! i’ve been reading for almost a half-hour, and have loved everything you’ve typed out for the world to see. thank you.
Hi Shelby,
I am a friend of Tiffany Jules (from your pro-choice group) and I stumbled upon this blog because it was featured on freshly pressed (on wordpress.com). Tiffany and I are apart of a radical Christian blogging collective whose members are Black, White, Bi-racial, Chicana, Asian, Queer and straight called Special Communion. When you have a chance please visit and give us feedback. Take care!
I am myself a female working in a male industry…
…great and fun to read about the feminism thingi here on yr site
thx!
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No pressure, honestly, but if you really do ever run for president… I’ll vote for you.
I’ll vote for you too. But you have to run before I die and I’m already 55. But no pressure. Honestly.
Doing some reading on Christianity and sexuality and your name came up. I completely forgot about that documentary on you that I saw years ago. Glad to find you even more intelligent, inquisitive, and ambitious than you were back then…and blogging about it, to boot! Right on.
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white, gender-normative rape-slaves have not ever been, and can never be “feminists”. get off my internet and go have your babies. this entire blog is an insult.
((eyeroll)) Shelby don’t listen to this bitter, jealous person. You are a HERO!
Shelby,
Have you and your followers heard about the MTV special airing on the 28th at 11:30EST? This is an important program about the importance of supporting choice and the realities we find ourselves in today. Kudos to the ladies who are standing up and making their voices hears; pioneers indeed!
Found you on Twitter, and then found your blog. Love what I’ve read so far and plan to check back soon…
Shelby—you were amazing in the documentary, which I included on my Master’s thesis “reading” list years ago, and I believe that anyone with a brain will understand that you were too young to know exactly who you were and have changed dramatically since that time. I was thrilled to find you on Twitter and see that you continue to be a force for change.
Hey,
I’m writing a report on your film for a class and I was a doing a bit of a then and now part to wrap it up, what do you do for a living now?
DB
Hi Shelby, I met you in Provincetown when your documentary was shown some years back. Both the film and you were so impressive, especially for your then-young age. At that time, I said that if you ever ran for office, I would vote for you. That offer still stands! I am so proud to see your current life, location, and avocations — they are in line with the potential and promise that I saw when we met. Congratulations – I am so proud of you. Continue with your efforts, engage your passions fully, and your dreams will come true. Our nation and society will be the better for it. Cheers, Mark
I have come to learn that radicalism is a relative term. What is radical in the South might be considered center or right to “radical” circles in NY. Your assertiveness, charisma, and resolve (as displayed in the documentary) serve to inspire an organic radicalism, attentive to the local. Take Texas with you. The South is conservative, but its ways and manners have much to teach the world.
-A Virginian in NYC
Hey SK, just saw the film while thumbing through PBS on-line. Great to see you’ve ended up in NYC. I went to NYU and loved the city. One comment- As a Latino, I’d think you’d agree it’s wrong to stereotype me as an illegal immigrant. So maybe you should go a little easy on the white-privilege theme; I sense it’s almost like a type of white stereotyping which doesn’t do anyone any good. In the end, I’ve learned that we’re all victims in a system that is no longer doing society any meaningful service. Fortunately, I’m beginning to see a major interruption in our old patterns of thinking, the real revolution is just around the corner; a revolution in consciousness. Abrazos desde Washington DC
are you gay or something ?
gtfo you wish duke would get at your pale ass
Just perusing your blog. Your “education” story is interesting. Since you imbed your autobiographical description heavily in your Southern Baptist upbringing, I’m curious about a few things (sincerely):
- Do you claim to be a follower of Christ?
- What is your take on the Bible being the authoritative word of God?
- Do you think at some point in your life you could leave Christianity behind (assuming you claim to be a Christian) for the ‘greater’ cause of feminism?
I would really be interested in reading your answers……forgive me if I’ve asked questions that you may have already addressed somewhere in your blog – truly, I was just skimming d/t time constraints. Seriously, these are not “gotcha” questions, I’m not trying to set you up for a anti-feminist diatribe. I’m on somewhat of a quest to gain some knowledge about feminism (as defined) in juxtaposition with Christianity.
take care.
Wow, I just found your movie on Netflix and watched it this afternoon. I am from the midwest and Texas is close to my heart and family. I live in Kansas and have had a similar upbringing as yourself, deeply rooted in Southern Baptist and Christian beliefs. However, time, and thank God some parents that weren’t completely fundamentalist, have brought me to be a open minded accepting human being. I am also a feminist and share the same beliefs on equality! I am so refreshed to see an accomplished young woman that I also strive to be someday (I’m 22 myself). I’m going into the Legal profession and hope to use my activist tendancies for a good cause someday. I will definitely be visiting your blog often!
Hello Ms. Knox. If you are interested in privilege, and white privilege especially, read about Molly Secours. She speaks about issues of white privilege and how to address it and work for equality. Here is my article about Secours’ speech at Elon University http://bit.ly/iEtrP5.
Saw the documentary yesterday and really enjoyed it and I was curious to see where you ended up. This blog pleases me greatly. Hope you’re still close with your family.
Just saw your documentary on Netflix. I did my time (high school) in Chino Valley, Arizona – very much like your hometown. I went through a similar fight with my faith and youth leaders. I can sympathize with the mess that is teen pregnancy and small town Republicans. It’s a hard battle… good to know you’re still fighting. You’re such an incredible inspiration. THANK YOU for all you’ve done and continue to do! I wish you all the best, and will be reading this blog as frequently as possible.
Hi, I’m watching your documentary right now, but am having trouble getting through it. What I want to know is: Did you end up fucking Corey, or not?
Thanks!
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Saw the documentary last week in my Women and Gender class. Amazing. I was insanely thrilled to find out what became of you. You fucking kick ass. Best of luck in everything.
To be honest, I am admittedly dying to know how the other characters in the documentary are doing. I imagine that your pastor nearly keeled over at hearing about your feminist transformation. And COREY! That Corey. I hope you still keep in touch with him.
Just watched your documentary on netflix. I was very curious about what you’re doing today because you obviously had so much potential change the world! I’m so very happy to see you’re continuing with your own education and continually promoting equality through feminism.
Keep up the great work! You’re an inspiration!