Affarada said...

Hi Grace,

I see you define youself as a feminist. A lot of people do, but I've noticed they often have very different opinions as to what the word means. And that sort of leaves everyone to decide for themselves what it means to THEM. So my question is: What do YOU mean by feminist?

Maybe a bit difficult question to answer in few words, but still..

Thanks for this very good question Affarada. In answer:

For a while this year I had been feeling completely isolated. I was waiting for my job to start and I sat around reading and watching TV a lot, and seeing friends when I could. I had these feelings that no one else really shared my point of view. That my wish for sex and breasts not to shoved in my face both on TV and in shops was completely outdated. I found myself wishing that I lived in a time where 'sex sells' had not been invented yet, and Playboy consisted of what would now be considered very tasteful and demure pictures. Sure, i'd probably be oppressed but I probably wouldn't know better (THAT's how distorted my view got!).

And then I was watching Ani Difranco's TRUST DVD (again) and there were all these people in their 'this is what a feminist looks like' tshirts so I decided to google them - and I came upon The F-Word (linked in the link list). I felt like I smiled for the first time in months.

For me feminism is solidarity. Not just between women, but between all people who want sex and gender equality, and who want to put a stop to the atrocities committed against people all over the world because of their sex/gender. Its also about putting a stop to patriarchy (i.e. gender inequality where men are dominant) without wanting a matriarchy.

In terms of pornography and the objectification of women - I believe these things perpetuate gender inequality by putting women in subordinate positions and making them believe that they are empowered in doing this. A main hope for me is that we can raise awareness in younger generations before they become part of the perpetuation of inequality before they even realise it and never think to question it.

Of course this doesn't mean that other kinds of inequality are not important to me. Diversity is part of my life, part of my job and my personality.

[No more comments casting aspersions on my character, they won't be posted]