Portlanders are currently at risk of losing one of the city’s valuable landmarks. While many may not have stepped foot inside In Other Words, the northeast bookstore was the setting for the famous bookstore sketch in the local hit series Portlandia.
But In Other Words is more than just a backdrop for Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen’s comedy shenanigans. For more than 18 years, In Other Words has been the sole feminist bookstore in Portland, as well as one of the only non-profit feminist bookstores on the entire West Coast. It is also on the verge of a financial crisis and is at risk of closing it’s doors—forever.
The unimposing brick building that houses In Other Words is owned by the Albina Women’s League, and was the former home of the Albina Arts Center. At the time the store was opened, there were more than 300 feminist books stores scattered across the nation; over two decades that number has dwindled to a mere 30.
“It’s really a direct reflection of the community’s needs,” said In Other Words board member Kate Kimball. “What we’ve heard is that people really needed a space to go where people can talk about their particular issues.”
In general, the feminist bookstore is a dying breed. Due to new media perceptions of the cause, the group that brought women’s issues to the floor is now being transformed into a joke. Many feel that there is no need for such a movement to exist.
Yet there is still much work to be done in the area of women’s rights—internationally, there are a variety of inequity issues and problems with abuse that need to be resolved. Domestically, there still exists severe media portrayals of violence against women and our society still grapples with reproductive rights issues and the wage difference between men and women.
The main problems that In Other Words faces are financial. Up until a few years ago, Women’s Studies students at Portland State were required to buy their books from In Other Words. That is, until a federal law made it illegal for colleges to require students to buy books from a specific store or source. Thus, a large percentage of it’s business was lost.
Since these changes, In Other Words has expanded to become a women’s resource center in addition to a bookstore. It is also expanding to open a library in the store, which will become available to readers starting July 9. All of this wonderful news is still overshadowed by the reality of the store’s financial issues.
“In Other Words is still the only place where someone can go and really get that community support. It’s the only place someone can go and read the feminist literature that they can’t read anywhere else. It’s still relevant,” said Kimball.
Portland is a city that values alternative viewpoints. In Other Words is an excellent example of a business that provides exactly that to Portlanders. If we allow such a paradigm of Portland feminist culture to disappear, not only do we deny the women of Portland a safe space but we also promote the message that we do not approve of feminist ideology.
The feminist movement still has many battles to fight, and the only way to fight those battles is through education and community involvement. While many may be leery of diving headfirst into the movement, feminist businesses give those involved or those who want to be involved an opportunity to gather together.
Kimball has high hopes for the future of the store. “We can create a pioneering movement for the rest of the nation,” she said.
In the midst of all this trouble, there is still hope. With an increased amount of volunteers and the new additions to the store, there is still a good chance they can stay afloat. Even those who poke fun at the store are reaching out to help. Kimball hinted that “Portlandia offered to come in and do some fundraising for us” although she was not sure of the exact details of the event.
By letting these valuable spaces disappear, we are losing an important voice in our culture. The women’s movement is alive and well, and such a movement deserves to have its place in Portland. Not only do we have an obligation to help out local non-profit businesses, but we also need to allow our alternative viewpoints to flourish.
Without In Other Words, local feminists may find themselves at a loss for words.