Local activist speaks up, strives to inspire change in the world

On Jan. 25, Cindy Crabb, Asheville writer and activist, gave her first formal lecture, entitled "Silencing and Unsilencing," at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Attended by over 60 students and community members, Crabb's lecture focused on the ways that sexism, racism, classism and homophobia silence people individually, culturally and as a society. Once called "the hope for gender harmony," by the editors of Bitch magazine, Crabb explained to her audience why she considers herself a feminist, gave ways to combat internalized sexism and tried to encourage change in the world through action, organizing and "screaming." Crabb first started self-publishing a fanzine, Doris, in 1991 because she wanted to see other realities represented besides those in power, as well as break the silence and talk about things that were not talked about. In 2005, various issues were compiled and published by Microcosm Publishing as Doris: an Anthology. Part of a women's health collective, Crabb is now mostly focused on education and activism concerning women's health and abortion. She currently writes a column called "Frozen Inside," which deals with sexual abuse, sexism and women's health, in the free newsletter Slug and Lettuce. After her lecture the AGR asked Crabb a few questions. AGR: In your lecture you brought up bell hook's idea of feminism as a tool to stop the war between the sexes that is already happening. Can you explain this to our readers? Crabb: When I was coming in to feminism, this really spoke to me–feminism is not about creating a war between the sexes, the war is already going on and feminism is about figuring out a way to end it–a way to live with compassion and mutuality instead of competition. I needed to figure out why my Dad had been abusive to my mom, and why no one had helped her, and why no one had really helped me when I was being molested by my step-brother, and also what to do with the fact that I did not think either my Dad or my step-brother were deep down evil people. Both of them would have benefited more from having good relationships instead of abusive ones. What in our society made this happen and accepted this happening? And what about all the smaller, subtler things that warp us and keep us from becoming full human beings? And the things that keep us isolated and full of self-doubt or arrogance? These are the kinds of things that feminism helped me unravel. AGR: What can we do to stop sexism and abuse from being the expected, accepted norm? Crabb: There is a group called Generation 5 in California, and their mission is to end childhood sexual abuse in five generations. I think that is a great and courageous mission. There are a million things that need to be done. I recommend starting political collectives, study groups, consciousness raising groups. . . .where you commit to the group and start to tackle the larger questions, and commit to study and personal disclosure. I think it is important for us to share our stories, and for our stories to be understood in a political context. I think it is essential that we take ourselves seriously, and study history, and learn how to organize and do public education campaigns. The people in power are really dependent on the total erasure or misrepresentation of radical history, and I mean even extremely recent history. Part of what we need to do is to claim our history and claim the huge gains we've made, and to work to make our foremothers proud! I recommend small, closed groups as a valid and important part of organizing. I think it is essential that we understand that sexism is present inside all of us and is embodied in different ways, and that we work on internal group dynamics as well as outside issues. AGR: Any other thoughts about social change? Crabb: I think that writing a zine, trying to speak truth and trying to open up secrets we are keeping as a culture is the least I can do. Plus, it just feels better to be involved in changing the world. . . . Even though it can be really frustrating, it is what gives life meaning. And I believe that if you have privilege, then you have a responsibility to be working for social change.