I was reading the RadioTimes the other day when I came across an article by Alison Graham. She was talking (or rather writing) about how young girls should watch Call the Midwife because of it's feminist principles. I completely agree with her, however I feel that by getting her views across she expressed quite a lot of agesim in the article. So I decided to write a letter to the RadioTimes in response to the article.
Here is the article mentioned, you can read it online - http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-02-24/call-the-midwife-is-the-torchbearer-of-feminism-on-television
And here is a typed-up version of my response letter:
Dear Miss Graham,
Believe me when I say the intention of this letter is not to argue, I just want to revise your opinion of us youngsters. After all, I believe we never stop learning and we can learn anything from anyone, no matter what their age is!
I am 17 years old and proud to call myself a feminist! I understand that not everyone identifies as this but I’d like to give you hope that I know a fair amount of young people who want to change this world for the better!
I also understand the humour in your article. Like when you say ‘spoilt young things’, I fully understand that we are privileged in so many ways because of all the wonderful people; both men and women, who have fought for our equality, resources and liberty.
But every generation has their problems. Forgive me if I sound terribly ignorant but I believe there is a wider range and percentage (or at least awareness) of mental illnesses nowadays. Indeed, if I were to tell you all of my mental illnesses, you (and anyone else for that matter) would think me a hypochondriac – and I wouldn’t blame you one bit for it!
And in regards to the Facebook thing; I’m pretty sure
that If Facebook was around 60 years ago, there would still be just as many
drunk photographs circulating around newsfeeds!
Though I do agree with you about the playing music
out-loud on buses thing! But I suppose I’m only subjective because I never like
the stuff that gets played. If they swapped N-Dubz for something more to my
liking then I’m sure I would selfishly encourage it! Though I suppose you could say music has been played
out-loud to the annoyance of the public ever since portable record players were
invented! Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and I sincerely hope that I did indeed manage to revision your opinions on the youth of today. I believe that on the inside – we're all still children!
With the best of wishes and kindest of regards,
Megan Rose
