There is no one feminism; there is no one feminist. Feminism will mean different things for each individual. There is a great danger with accumulating all the different individuals on the large feminist spectrum into one singular ideology. The loudest voices of the movement will be the most heard and this will be how it is presented to the world regardless of how extreme or representative of the female community these voices are. This will inevitably cause waves of resentment by those who don’t agree with these extreme or unrepresentative views and will reject ‘feminism’ because of it. Within it’s definition1 it says that feminism is a range of ideologies and movements. There is no objective feminism. It does’t exist outside the human mind. The common core of the meaning of feminism would be something along the lines of the shared goal of these separate movements and ideologies. These tend to be defining, advocating and achieving equal political, economic, cultural, personal and social rights for women. What constitutes as equality for both genders within these rights and how they should be established will vary immensely. Similarly people have disagreed over the meaning of liberalism, the value of nationalism, what it means to be a christian, or how to enforce communism; just like any ideology. Therefore, to most effectively achieve these varied common goals of the feminist agendas we must approach it with compassion and understanding. We must all constructively try to strip our cultural biases and establish what is best for individual woman worldwide and in turn the whole world. There is no one feminism, there is no one feminist, yet we must unite into one sisterhood. The wide and varied feminist movement cannot possibly unite into one set of beliefs with one approach. Therefore the one all encompassing belief should be respect for each others approach to feminism and fight towards what equality means for different women worldwide. Feminism should be based on compassion; compassion between women and compassion between women and men. We must respect each others individuality whilst support everyones equality.
We should use our compassion to form a sisterhood; to look out for each other as women. That is what feminism means to me. Women of the world are and will inevitably be born with different constitutional and conventional rights as long as we are divided into disparate countries and cultures. We may not agree on what equality for the female gender means but we will nevertheless fight for each others subjective and personal aims and our right to express that. Women must take some responsibility here as it is paramount that women must unite together to progress in the battle for equality.
Women will not be a constructive and powerful force if we are divided and hostile towards each other. There is enough resistance to the feminist movements in different ways by men. This includes some men in power2 , the consequent legislation3 and media and adverts4 created by men. Lets not add to this by women creating resistance for other women. There is enough against us. The last things we should do is cause more harm to each other. We must unite in order to achieve. This does not mean creating a male hating female army designed to destroy the opposite gender, but instead creating a united group that will more effectively be able to work with men constructively to safeguard equality for women.
There is no one perfect feminist. As already established, the feminist agenda can’t be exclusively defined. Feminism doesn’t have a cover girl. Therefore, we cannot judge women for being a ‘wrong’ feminist as there is no right way to be one. Common sense, (and a bit of common humanity…) would tell us that ‘women hating’ by women is no way near constructive nor appropriate, especially considering the discrimination and disrespect women have and continue to face continuously by men. Bitchiness is a trait indispensably allocated to the female gender. Are we surprised? Our gossip magazines show us to ridicule women for the cellulite on their thighs5. Our newscasters tell us that congress women had ‘complained that…’ whilst the congress men had ‘said that…”.6 Our media tells us that we have to reach an unrealistic beauty ideal7 to get men’s attention8, and the cosmetic and fashion industry conveniently tell us how to achieve that ideal, cashing in on our insecurities9. At the same time we happily judge our women for being sluts, or shallow. However, they will too surely be judged if they don’t conform to these beauty ideals, or be judges as prudes. I believe we are better than that. It is a disgrace to our sisterhood. Just look at the mass media female artists and the constant ‘twitter wars’ and disputes10 they have with each other. These singers are role models for many young girls. If they can’t even respect each other and control their bitching and judging, how do expect our girls to learn to not bitch and hate on each other. How do we expect boys to learn to respect girls if women don’t even respect each other. We can rise above it, and must to get somewhere.
Women must also unite into one sisterhood to support the more vulnerable women in society. In our world there exists not just gender based inequality, but varying levels of equality within the female gender. Women who are privileged enough to enjoy greater freedoms have a responsibility to look out for those more vulnerable members within their gender. Those privileged enough to live in democracies and enjoy greater political and social freedoms should use their rare and valuable power for the interest of those women who themselves lack that freedom. Income equality, equal judicial rights, and autonomy over ones body and family life are still issues faced by many women over the globe. Still today, in 10 countries around the world women are legally bound to their husbands11. Over 130 million women today have undergone genital mutilation12. In the developing world one third of girls are married before the age of 1813. 80% of the 1.2m children trafficked into slavery each year are girls. In America 1 in 3 Native American women will be raped in their lifetime14. Black American women continuously live in fear of police brutality, and the most likely demographic to live in poverty. America’s women of colour have not had the privilege to fight solely against sexism and towards more equal rights as battles with racism have constantly been intertwined in their struggle15. The voices of the less privileged women will so unjustly remain too unheard and are so powerful and necessary to add to the movement. Those who can get their voices heard must not only speak up for the less privileged women but create opportunities for them to speak for themselves. There is no one feminist. Feminism should not be ‘owned’ by the young, wealthy, white women. Also, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and transexual women should not be left out of the conversation. Their ongoing battle for rights and freedoms should not be treated like a separate movement but are issues concerning our sisterhood as well. Guaranteeing their rights should be our concern and should be included in the feminist agenda. All women must use their extremely beautiful gift of their powerful voice for the benefit of the feminist movement and the world.
Lastly, I believe that it is in fact our duty as women to unite in the feminist movement in respect of and in gratitude of the women throughout our history who lived with significantly less freedom and who bravely fought to ensure those freedoms we have today. After 1832 British women were allowed to vote due to the incredible power of the fearless suffragettes including the death of Emily Davison16. They faced violence and alienation from society and loved ones. In the US the lack of suffrage led Alice Paul to create the National Women’s Party in 1916. 200 members were arrested and faced force feeding during their hunger strikes in prison. The 2 million members of the NAWSA worked endlessly for women’s suffrage, which was their top priority. The 19th amendment was passed then in 1920. There are still 5 countries today where women cannot vote17, and even when they have the right to, many restrictive barriers led to very low turnout for women. It is as if they do not have the right in the first place. Countless more women have struggled and sacrificed in adding crucial and meaningful contributions to the feminist movements.
So, women, lets firstly outstretch our arms to each other for the prosperity and progress in the fight for our equal political, economic, social and personal rights. It is an obligation to take care of each other when far too many women are not being taken care of by men. We must be united to more effectively work with men, and not against men. We must strengthen the compassion within our sisterhood in the fight towards our equal rights. Millions of women live in such subjugation and inequality that is is an obligation for those who are privileged enough to join the feminist efforts. It is such a waste if our powerful voices are used in the wrong way or not used at all. Forget bitching, forget the man hating and join the sisterhood of the women of the world to achieve amazing things for each other. The sisterhood would not allow inequality between the two genders, and we must start by eradicating divides within our gender. Do it for the less privileged women of your gender, do it for the countless heroes of the past who fought for your privilege, do it for yourself. The experience of women throughout history has been their subjugation to men with the lack of equal opportunity and respect. Considering the immense and rapid progress that has been made, we have a responsibility towards those who suffered and fought for us to do something miraculous with our opportunities their legacies have left us. We should also be exited about the potential progress that has yet to be made. We have been handed down a sacred torch and owe it to the women of the past and the vast array of women today to unite together and leave our own legacy; creating a global sisterhood to best ensuring complete and global equal rights for all races, sexual orientations and genders.
"Each time a woman stands up for herself... she is standing up for all women"
- Maya Angelou
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