Women Unbound - Start of Challenge

The Women Unbound Reading Challenge asks us to start off answering a few questions. Here are my answers.

(A side note: If I had to predict how this challenge will end in a year's time, I'd guess that we'll be asked if our views on feminism have changed at all over the course of our reading for this challenge! We'll see if I'm right.)

1. What does feminism mean to you? Does it have to do with the work sphere? The social sphere? How you dress? How you act?

Feminism for me is a particular lens for looking at the world—women’s experience in it. I think of feminism as a political stance in the sense that women are affected by power as it is held and wielded in the structures of society, mostly by men.

And feminism looks critically at the institutions of our societies and tries to change them on a macro scale. From a feminist viewpoint, no woman’s experience of sexism happens in isolation—we have to recognize the larger patterns of oppression in order to fight them at their roots.

I find feminism has an influence on every aspect of life, from domestic partnerships to work and careers, parenthood, friendships, self-esteem and confidence, to education, health care, even scientific studies. Feminism goes where sexism goes, and oppression knows no bounds.

Think of all the ways that a person’s life can be affected by heterosexism, racism, sexism, ageism, etc. Feminism, at its best, seeks to end all kinds of oppression so that no one faces these kinds of barriers.

2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?

Yes I definitely consider myself a feminist. I believe that by tackling sexism and other oppressions, feminists are trying to make the world a better place for everyone.

3. What do you consider the biggest obstacle women face in the world today? Has that obstacle changed over time, or does it basically remain the same?

Biggest problem, that’s a hard one to answer. I think it must vary so much depending on where you are. I can’t even begin to imagine the problems women face in places such as in the Middle East. Or elsewhere in the world where poverty, war, dictatorship or environmental catastrophes shape people’s daily lives.

Personally, I think women’s lack of power and lack of voice are obstacles to positive change. When women are listened to, taken seriously, and really respected as having something useful to say, their situations can begin to improve.

How we get to that point—I don’t know. We’re not there yet.