5 Feminist Tips for Social Distancing

Person in covers, reading with a mug in hand

With a pandemic on our hands, it’s going to take following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) important advice to practice in social distancing to help flatten the curve. But that doesn’t have to result in reality TV marathons at home in three-day-old sweatpants (though, we won’t judge!). If you’ve already finished your Netflix watchlist and need some tips on how to maintain your sanity while in self-quarantine — we’ve got you covered. Combat cabin fever, and check out our five feminist ways to pass the time when going out isn’t an option.

  1. Listen to a new podcast.

Women may be underrepresented in the world of podcasting, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an array of great women-hosted and produced podcasts to support. Into true-crime? Comedians Karen Killgariff and Georgia Hardstark share true-crime tales every week on My Favorite Murder. If you’re as obsessed with The Daily Show’s Jessica William’s wit and Phoebe Robinson’s humor, 2 Dope Queens might be for you. Not sure where to start? Check out this list of feminist podcasts to find your niche.

  1. Pick up a book. 

With bestseller lists comprised mostly of books by male authors, now is the perfect time to mend the gender gap with some additions to your bookshelf. Take some time to catch up on a few of last years’ best-sellers like Elaine Welterroth’s inspirational More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are or Liz Plank’s modern take on masculinity in For the Love of Men. Looking for a great novel for your virtual book club? Check out The Lily’s list of books by women in 2020.

  1. Take care of your self. 

Yes, you may be in self-isolation — but it’s more important than ever to put a little extra emphasis on the “self.” Try mediation, journaling, or breathing exercises to manage the current pandemic stress. In spite of what our fast-paced world may suggest, self-care is a radical act of perseverance and much-needed in continuing the fight towards equality. In the words of feminist icon Audre Lorde, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

  1. Check out our curricula.

With kids away from school, we can almost certainly expect a surge in Netflix-binging and Disney+ streaming. For parents and educators looking for ways to facilitate discussion around gender and media, we’ve made our curricula for our films Miss Representation and The Mask You Live In free during this period of distance learning. With film clips and resources for all grade-levels, take the time to strengthen you and your student’s media literacy and social-emotional understanding.

  1. Donate. 

The spread of the coronavirus has had a detrimental impact on some of the most vulnerable communities–not only becoming a global health crisis but also creating financial insecurity for millions affected. While staying home is certainly the first step to help to put an end to the novel virus, those in the financial position may consider donating to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Response Fund. Your contribution to the fund will not only help to provide necessary supplies to frontline health workers but also fund efforts to develop a treatment.

Take Action! Help your friends and family fight social distancing boredom and share these tips with anyone who needs them!