Powa Moves #5: Posts from #teamgirlpowa

This is the fifth edition of Powa Moves, our English-language curation post boosting some of the great work posted under the #teamgirlpowa tag. We feel blessed by the wonderful writing and art you all are creating—what a genuine, talented community we are! In the words of Audre Lorde: "When you reach out and touch other human beings, it doesn't matter whether you call it therapy or teaching or poetry." Thank you for sharing your awesome feminist and women-centered work.

On a more personal note, it’s lovely to see the community keep building and growing while the mod team of our Discord is on vacation. @limabeing is headed to Guatemala to volunteer, and @tessaragabrielle is going to Illinois to start work on a PhD, and we’re grateful for this time to get our affairs in order, though we miss you all greatly. ❤️ @tessaragabrielle would like to extend an apology to @crescendoofpeace for not including a description of her post in last week’s newsletter—Tessara was just too excited to share the post with everyone, and forgot to proof-read!

Earthling by @tezmel

This is a sweet poem addressed to a “moonchild,” encouraging them to spread their wings and explore the world, to be unapologetically beautiful and liberated.

Set yourself free
blackbird,
nothing ever soared
in chains.

Musings on Immigration, Humanity, and Exploration by @solarsupermama

In this post, @solarsupermama discusses the US visa process from the perspective of an ex-pat living in Belize. Rather relevant to recent news stories, this post highlights the human side of things—what does it look like for the mother trying to visit her son? The musician trying to share his gift of sound with fellow music-lovers at a festival? Why are US citizens discouraged from thinking about this dehumanizing process?

Here’s the thing. I think borders are absolutely ridiculous. If I live in a community, and someone wants to come visit, that’s fantastic. If they cause trouble, we get together to tell them that’s not cool, and if it happens again, they have to go. All these people begging to go see another country, perhaps visit family, made to feel like scum as they justify their existence to officials of a government that murders men, women, and children all around the world for pretty much no reason. Then they get to pay for the privilege.

Allyship Sunday: Crooked Media Is Doing It Right by @didic

This post from the prolific @didic highlights the allyship work of Crooked Media, a podcast network. Founded by three pretty privileged white dudes who used to work in the US White House, the network has since expanded to include a variety of shows by women and by men of color, who work on a variety of issues, including documentation, representation, class, gender, and race. Be sure to follow the links and check out some great podcasts!

Three dudes who all had senior to mid-level positions at the White House. All white or white-ish. And coming off a successful podcast to create a new network. There's a lot of power there. And they could have used it to promote a bunch of other dudes who look and think like them.

The Myth of the "Biological Clock" by @ malloryblythe

Here, @malloryblythe reflects on how the myth of the “biological clock” is employed to police the bodies and family plans of women, and argues that there are strong reasons to abandon this myth.

There's this interesting phenomenon that kicks in right around when women without children hit their late 20s to late 30s in which people love to offer unsolicited advice about what reproductive choices they should make. It generally comes with a heavy dose of pity that the poor woman must feel terribly unfulfilled, as every woman has an overwhelming urge to reproduce once they hit "a certain age."

Dreamscapes & Space Rocks by @sumayyahsaidso

Here’s a brilliant poem from @sumayyahsaidso, a reflection on the moon’s place in our lives and in her dreams.

and the night blankets everything
because i forgot to hang
the moon
dead rock

My Body My Choice-100 Days of Poetry Challenge: Day Eighty by @trucklife-family

This poem voices the need for access to safe and legal abortions, referencing cases of women dying from miscarriage when denied abortions and care.

Lives have been lost
so that this law could be upheld
families losing mothers,
because medical care has been withheld.

Breastfeeding Is Not A Choice; It's A Commitment by @chineyes

This non-judgmental post discusses the breastfeeding and how it can take over one’s life. After an off-handed comment, @chineyes was persuaded by an OB to breastfeed, and shares the trials and tribulations in this post.

Exclusive breastfeeding means giving your child the best nutrients possible but it also means cold meals (if there are any left) because you will always be the last person to eat. I swear my son knew exactly when I was gonna eat. Just before I can take my first bite, he would start screaming his head off. You would also have to deal with the occasional mastitis (which hurts like a b****!), niplash, nip twist, and don't even get me started on when they start teething.

So, that’s it for this week! Please check out all the lovely writing above, and drop in on our Discord server for a chat. We’re excited to meet you, and to see your work. Be sure to post under the #teamgirlpowa tag to catch our eye! ❤️

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Post created by @tessaragabrielle