What I knew, and What I know…
To me, the words “feminism� and “feminist� have always invoked an image of women who are confident and strong, they know who they are and are not afraid to be it. To me, a feminist was always a woman, I never considered that a man could be a feminist too, that they could believe in, support and fight for the same rights and equalities women were/are fighting for. After reading the three selections, as well as bell hooks Feminism is for Everybody, I realize that there is no clear cut definition that can embody all of what feminism is, or who a feminist is. As Sara Evans says in the selection from Tidal Waves, “There is no question that the women’s movement will continue to reinvent itself.� (p. 17) Feminism challenged/challenges “the common sense mentality that women were naturally docile, domestic and subordinate.�
“Manifesta� was a real eye-opener for me, it’s so strange to think that that is the world our moms, grandmas and aunts lived in. Some of the restrictions women were forced to endure seem outrageous, and I can’t imagine a world where “women are legally encouraged to stay in abusive relationships.� (Baumgardner and Richards p. 6) Now there are women’s shelters everywhere, hotlines to call, and serious consequences for abusers. It seems unreal that women could live without those protections and safety nets. The fact that the mentality that it was okay for “a boss could demand sex, refer to his female employees exclusively as ‘Baby,’ or say he won’t pay her unless she gives him a blow job� was accepted as the norm is highly disturbing. I can’t imagine going into a job knowing that those were your options—degrade yourself or quit. It just isn’t fair and it makes me so grateful that there has been so much progress since then.
Comments
i was shocked at the conditions that women had to endure back than also. hopefully, one day we all can be equal.
Posted by: thuy | January 28, 2007 10:56 PM
It's amazing to me to to think that this world was only a generation away. Things were so different for women in the workforce, for sexuality and respect, and a lot of little things that we don't even think about.
I remember my mom telling me stories of troubles she had in high school (thankfully nothing like 'Manifesta') with people treating her differently for her gender. She told me once that she had always wanted to play basketball, but the added rules they had for the women's games warped it into a completely different sport. The women's games in her high school were all played on a half court, and each player was only allowed to dribble the ball three times before passing it on or shooting.
Her second story that sticks with me came from her parents who held the attitude that if her brother wanted something, they should get it for him, but if my mom wanted something, she should get a boyfriend to get it for her.
All the little things that would change everyday life amaze me with the difference women have created in one generation. Like Thuy said, hopefully we can all be entirely equal one day, and hopefully our generation can be the one to change it for our kids.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 29, 2007 12:41 AM