Jas's Way Of Defining Feminism

Assignment requires 5 different words that I would use to describe or define feminism.

1. I should be able to freely express myself as a woman.

Via pinterest.com

Self-expression is expressing one's own feelings towards a subject. To be completely honest, I do not feel like I can freely express myself as a woman due to beliefs in culture and religion. The fact that women have to hold themselves in and work around what their husband's, boyfriend's or cultural beliefs have ruled is just compulsive. In order to express what feminism is all about, people have to start by learning. Learning by communication, self-expression and comfortableness. It all begins with a woman being confident enough to show who she really is to the world, whether it'd be gay, lesbian or straight. Whether it'd be independent, dependent or in some cases both. As Kate Bornstein mentions, “I had very little compassion for that part of myself that couldn’t live up to being either a real man or a real woman. I couldn’t even think of any reasons why I should be compassionate with myself. When I finally started to come to grips with the nature of my own gender, I ran into the odd position of discovering people who were much more willing then me to simply let me experience my gender quandary without judgement” (5). No woman should have to feel like she cannot freely share herself without being judged, be open to the fact of change, take a stand for yourself and others!

2. Woman equals Man.

Via Twitter: @feministqueenbe

Social construction is basically a theory of knowledge in the social world and helps with communication that explains to examine the development of jointly constructed knowledge of both worlds, gives a better understanding of feminism. A feminist is not supposed to be an angry woman who dresses, acts and occurs as a man of some form. A feminist is a woman who believes in gender equality no matter what gender you are. A fair share in jobs, pay, stay at homes, etc. In the gender workbook, Kate Bornstein states “There are culturally sanctioned genders: male and female” (17). Although that may be partially true, what does it matter which you choose to be when you are ready to make your decision? It doesn’t make a difference actually, a man or a woman, you have the ability to do almost exactly what each one is designed to do, although the capability to do just about equal may differ on experience. Bottom line, gender equality needs to be enforced.

3. I believe in Womanism!

Womanism is described as the belief and respect of a woman's abilities and talents, her capability to contribute to the society as a whole. Why is it that men think that they are the only ones who have the power to actually make a change and have an effect on their community. As well as men know it, woman are just as capable of holding their own, making her own contributes to her family, her work place and obvious enough the area she is living in despite her gender. A woman's talents and abilities may vary but they are just as capable in pursuing their career as men do. For example, many doctors are men and why is that? It definitely is not because woman aren't as determined or as educated as men. It has to do with the life the live, having kids or having the money. Most women pursue a career in nursing versus doctor because the ability to time manage is easier then dedicating their whole life to their books. I am not speaking down on men but they do not have as many things to worry about, as do women.

4. I might as well turn to being a liberal...

Woman's Liberation is a movement that protects against sex discrimination and gain full rights as the ones that men withhold, like voting, teaching, receiving an education, and having social rights. In Susan M. Shaw's and Janet Lee's Women's Voices Feminist Visions Classic and Contemporary Readings, she discusses her thoughts on the difference in hierarchy an privilege, "Society recognizes the ways people are different and assigns group membership based on these differences; at the same time, society also ranks the differences and institutionalizes them into the fabric of society" (51). From the start, our world has always designated things based off of color, race and gender. The picture above shows a woman revolting and standing her own ground. She is shown letting loose standing up in a men’s bathroom. Takes a little gesture to show the power women have, and it also shows that women, in fact do have the qualifications to be a man just as much as they have to be a woman, or any other gender at that.

5. Forming a sisterhood

Sisterhood is defined as a group of women who at times share the same beliefs, and express the same feelings towards feminism. In “Our Grandmothers’ by Maya Angelou, she writes what seems like a poem of her and her children running away to prevent from being separated due to her mother up to be sold, “I shall not, I shall not be moved. She gathered her babies, their tears slick as oil on black faces, their young eyes canvassing mornings of madness. Momma, is Master going to sell you from us tomorrow? Yes. Unless you keep walking more and talking less” (112-113). Unfortunate as it is, black men and women were separated from their families to work as slaves under white men and women. As a movement of sisterhood and even brotherhood, many blacks of any gender would plan escapes and only a certain number would actually get out. As shown, moving in cults advocates for more power and more courage to make a change. Gather your own friends and family and spread the word on equality, no matter the gender, race or culture, we are all one!