Feminism:1. a movement for social justice and human rights. 2. a movement to end sexist oppression as well as domination relations.
ALL of my blog posts begin words and their meanings. To communicate efficiently we need to be confident that we know what we are saying. Today's post is no different especially since the its true definition has been distorted. Above are the definitions you will find in the dictionary for the most misunderstood F word. Feminism is a movement for social justice and human rights. Sounds pretty simple and straight forward to me. Anyone including men can be a feminist if you believe in equality of humankind. Media and vocal opponents of women's empowerment have done a really great job of distorting it's true meaning:
FEMINISM not only aims to make women equal to men, but all people equal to each other in rights.
My personal definition of what feminism means for me:
Empowering women to have
and make their OWN choices
Until we achieve equality on every level women will continue to suffer and the consequences have effects that stretch out into the entire world. A few examples:
- Women make up the overwhelming majority of people living in poverty.
- Women do the overwhelming majority of unpaid work on which everyone’s lives depend.
- Women's reproductive rights and agency are continually under siege.
- Women of color are the most underrepresented and the worst to suffer.
Feminism is NOT promoting that one choice is better than another. This misconception happened during the second wave of feminism and media chose to focus on women of privilege who had the choice of staying home or going into the work force.
Bottom line: Women must have healthy options and the safety of making the choices that suit them in particular.
Third-wave feminism takes a global perspective by empowering women to actualize change, gain power and equality within their own cultures and their own communities and using their own voices.
Feminism IS about making sure women have the necessary resources to pursue any career; ie: education, childcare, healthcare and once they are in the workforce to make sure they receive equal pay, are able to advance, create and run their own businesses, etc.
If you think women have already achieved equality please read my previous posts filled with Statistics You Should Know
Another important step in achieving equality is having women filling leadership roles not only in business but in government positions as well. It's time for you to step up and speak up. If not for you for the daughters and the young girls we once were with big dreams.
Resources:
Here are some ideas to get you started on your journey to EMPOWER yourself.
Here is a wonderful resource to get you thinking. It's a free ebook called: The Little Book of Big Debate Starters. A wonderful wonderful wonderful read.
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"Never let the hand you hold, hold you down."
"History is herstory too."
"Women are not inherently passive or peaceful. We're not inherently anything but human." Robin Morgan
"A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men." Gloria Steinem
"No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body." Margaret Sanger
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Synonyms: women's rights, feminist movement, sisterhood, womanism, women's lib, women's liberation, women's movement