Trials of Feminism
Today is International Women's Day and I am so so so proud to say I'm a woman in 2019 and I think that is so important. Women have come such a long way in the past 100 years, even the past 19 since the millennium and I think it's often the case that people forget that it wasn't always this easy, even though sometimes it seems that, even now, it really isn't that easy.
Every-day sexism is still alive and squirming in so many spheres of women's lives. It was only last term that I was told in a seminar by a man that women have never been told that they can't do something, to which my shocked response was literally hushed and I was told to calm down. It's times like that when it seems that we haven't really come that far in terms of equality, that it's a constant battle just to be seen as equal and have your efforts recognised in the same light.
In that scenario, I was seen as a typical woman, typically getting heated and typically angry for a comment that I typically overreacted to, but why? Was it really that offensive? Was it really that narrow-minded? Was it really necessary for me to comment back? Yes, yes and 100% yes again and again and again. Ignoring sexism in the workplace, university, just out on the streets is something that can't continue to happen in society, it allows for misogyny to manifest and spread.
But International Women's Day isn't just about every-day sexism, it's also about addressing intersectionality, something that I think a lot of people forget about and don't talk about enough within the feminist movement. Intersectional issues exist across every aspect of feminism and it is so so important for us to recognise and acknowledge that for a lot women, life is a lot harder than just standing up against every-day sexism. It is so inspirational to see the work that women have done to empower not only themselves but also those around them, people who identify as women from all backgrounds coming together to move towards the same goal, respect and equality in ALL aspects of life whether that is your gender, race, disability, class, culture.
Women inspire me everyday. My Mum who went through college and university when I was growing up as a stroppy teenager and still managed to graduate with an amazing degree and is now an incredible social worker. My Auntie who will forever remain one of the strongest people I know next to my Mum, inspiring me to stand up for what I believe in and be me no matter what. My friends who are all the biggest inspirations, going into their twenties joined at the hip with me, not having a clue what we're doing and learning as we go along but all being there for each other no matter what. Empowering each other is the best thing you can do with the women around you because no, it's not that easy!
In the future, there won't be such thing as a 'female leaders', there will just be strong and empowered leaders and that is something that I am so excited to witness.
Happy International Women's Day. You got this.
Every-day sexism is still alive and squirming in so many spheres of women's lives. It was only last term that I was told in a seminar by a man that women have never been told that they can't do something, to which my shocked response was literally hushed and I was told to calm down. It's times like that when it seems that we haven't really come that far in terms of equality, that it's a constant battle just to be seen as equal and have your efforts recognised in the same light.
In that scenario, I was seen as a typical woman, typically getting heated and typically angry for a comment that I typically overreacted to, but why? Was it really that offensive? Was it really that narrow-minded? Was it really necessary for me to comment back? Yes, yes and 100% yes again and again and again. Ignoring sexism in the workplace, university, just out on the streets is something that can't continue to happen in society, it allows for misogyny to manifest and spread.
But International Women's Day isn't just about every-day sexism, it's also about addressing intersectionality, something that I think a lot of people forget about and don't talk about enough within the feminist movement. Intersectional issues exist across every aspect of feminism and it is so so important for us to recognise and acknowledge that for a lot women, life is a lot harder than just standing up against every-day sexism. It is so inspirational to see the work that women have done to empower not only themselves but also those around them, people who identify as women from all backgrounds coming together to move towards the same goal, respect and equality in ALL aspects of life whether that is your gender, race, disability, class, culture.
Women inspire me everyday. My Mum who went through college and university when I was growing up as a stroppy teenager and still managed to graduate with an amazing degree and is now an incredible social worker. My Auntie who will forever remain one of the strongest people I know next to my Mum, inspiring me to stand up for what I believe in and be me no matter what. My friends who are all the biggest inspirations, going into their twenties joined at the hip with me, not having a clue what we're doing and learning as we go along but all being there for each other no matter what. Empowering each other is the best thing you can do with the women around you because no, it's not that easy!
In the future, there won't be such thing as a 'female leaders', there will just be strong and empowered leaders and that is something that I am so excited to witness.
Happy International Women's Day. You got this.
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