This morning I woke up thinking about Feminism. Yes, that scary “F” word most people know nothing about. I didnt know anything about it either once. I was also the person who thought it was bad to be seen as a Feminist.
And then I came across this:
The following day, I attended a workshop about preventing gender violence, facilitated by Katz. There, he posed a question to all of the men in the room: “Men, what things do you do to protect yourself from being raped or sexually assaulted?”
Not one man, including myself, could quickly answer the question. Finally, one man raised his hand and said, “Nothing.” Then Katz asked the women, “What things do you do to protect yourself from being raped or sexually assaulted?” Nearly all of the women in the room raised their hand. One by one, each woman testified:
“I don’t make eye contact with men when I walk down the street,” said one.
“I don’t put my drink down at parties,” said another.
“I use the buddy system when I go to parties.”
“I cross the street when I see a group of guys walking in my direction.”
“I use my keys as a potential weapon.”The women went on for several minutes, until their side of the blackboard was completely filled with responses. The men’s side of the blackboard was blank. I was stunned. I had never heard a group of women say these things before. I thought about all of the women in my life — including my mother, sister and girlfriend — and realized that I had a lot to learn about gender.
When I was researching what it is to be a Dominatrix, I came across my first Feminist writings. I learned a lot. I learned about my history, i.e. Women’s History. It dawned on me that we are not taught the history of women in schools. We have no idea who we are or where we come from unless we take it upon ourselves to learn this knowledge. Its not included in History class, or at least it wasnt in the late 90s when I was in high school.
I never knew there were amazing women who invented things we rely on and take for granted today, or women who fought in the world wars and essentially kept their countries going because of their dedication and hard work.
I never knew the crushing patriarchal system I lived in, that we still live in. It may be common knowledge now, but I didnt know that women are still being paid less for doing the same job as their male colleagues! Doesnt that one fact enrage you!? And why is this allowed? Because WE DONT KNOW its happening.
Feminism has been given such a bad name that we unknowling shun the very thing that seeks to educate us to the persistent wrongs being done to women to this very day. Wrongs we are allowing because we dont know any better because we arent learning or being taught because we’ve been made to think that Feminism is bad.
My friends, Feminism will free us all from the constraints we live under. Feminism is about educating women to the attrocities done to us over the millenia, the atrocities still being done to us in blatant media and society without us even really realising and how it is effecting us as a society. Not allowing women their full potential is crippling our systems and most importantly the woman we all live on – Mother Earth.
Im still learning about what it means to be a woman and what a woman is OUTSIDE of the parameters of the male definition of women.
This week Ive been watching Dollhouse with my flatmate. While I love the ass kicking the girls give in the show, it is written with men in mind. I love everything that makes me feel empowered as a woman, but not when that woman is being an ass kicking babe defined by what is attractive to a man.
Another example: chatting to a couple male friends while they do some DIY about how they should wear nothing but tool belts and they comment on how they’re not gay, no one wants to see that! Um, hello, women have tastes too you know! If you do any Feminist reading, you will understand what I mean here because you will be taught about how we, as a society, view women. As non essentials, as second class citizens, as products, objects to be used for male entertainment, as essentially empty and malleable and subconsciously put on a shelf till needed. See here for an example.
Its unfortunate that so many of us women have no idea who we are and where we come from and what we are capable of or what we deserve.
My entire life I have been bold and forthright and big mouthed and passionate about the things I believe in because I dont just believe anything. I make up my own mind and before I do that, I put in a lot of research. I am unafraid to say it like it is. To “go there”, to shake you up and rock your boat. I have been through so much hardship in my life, I can handle the backlash because I now have understanding and Im constantly learning and evolving and I am passionate about educating women, enlightening women and leading women into a new era where we stake our rightful claim on what we deserve.
I would like to see more women educating others, male and female. Simple things like when someone says “stop being such a pussy”. That sentence right there is derogatory. It implies that women are weak, which we most certainly are NOT. How about we say “stop being such a penis” – it would make more sense right? I mean, pussy can take much more than any penis could! Things like “you hit like a girl”, again, I would hit as well as any man if I were ever taught how, but being raised a girl, we are limited by societal ideas of what a woman should be.
I dont hate men, I like to wear heels and short skirts, hell I was a stripper once! I am pro-women, not anti-male. I am FOR empowering, enlightening and educating women. I am FOR making up your own mind, thinking for yourself and doing what makes you happy.
In the past few months I’ve been learning about “slut-shaming” and re-educating people on rape culture (can you believe there is a culture of rape!?) summarized in the picture above. This stuff is important. We all do it without even knowing how damaging it is to us as a society as a whole. Feminism is not just for women, it is very much so for men. The more male feminists there are, the better. Feminism is a means of education and knowledge is power. What does that tell you?
