Reply to comment

No, you're right, I am not invoking the "Mommy's too busy cooking and cleaning" argument. I'm saying that my definition of feminist praxis and activism is larger than what I'm hearing is your definition of not being apathetic, protesting in public spaces. And I'm saying a very real life element of that definition is to consider what else a woman has going on in her life.

To somewhat ironically invoke personal testimony here, I am not protesting in the streets. I have a preschool child and work full-time. There's a lot going on. 

I hear your definition of feminist action and it sounds like you would place me in the apathetic  category, yes? 
Does it count that after my child is in bed and I'm dog tired, I write grant proposals for  nonprofits I care about?  Does it count that in my worklife, I run a webserver that enables these conversations?

Many (most) women in the 30 to 50 year old age range are juggling fulltime jobs, children and elder care, and opportunities  for activism are constrained by these things. They might not be out there in the public square  (or they might be), but they also might be doing activities that you aren't including in your  definition. Look close to home on this campus:

/local/scisoc/reparenting.html

and

/local/scisoc/committee.html

Do you see a playground on campus, much less a daycare, for faculty, staff and students 
who are  parents? 
Do you read the committee's report (thanks to Anne Dalke for posting minutes) and see 
anything  about support for staff members and students who are parents? Working to change policy wherever you are, and whatever you can do, needs to be included in the definition of feminist activism.

Ann