Always Believe in the Power of You!

During my academic education, my feminism has grown and developed as a result of being introduced to various theorists and my personal life experience. At times, I feel overwhelmed that I have not refined my opinions and views on feminism. It seems that every time I determine what feminism means to me, I experience, read or learn something in a lecture that causes me to reconsider my perspective. Although sometimes this causes me to doubt my feminism, I think that it is important that my feminism is constantly developing and ever-changing.

Rebecca Walker has largely influenced the development of my identity as a feminist. I strongly believe that women need to resist societal attempts to silence them and voice their concerns about gender issues. By not challenging patriarchal practices, women are participating in their own discrimination. As a future educator, I will actively attempt to break down gender stereotypes by promoting feminist ideals to younger generations.

I think that it is important to connect my knowledge of feminist theory to my personal life experiences. I wish to not just make these important connections, but to consciously apply these theories to improve my life as well as the lives of my students and children. Therefore, my current beliefs about feminism centers largely on educating children about social justice and empowering them to actively change injustices that exist in our world.

My Feminist Manifesto

Feminism starts from within. My feminism was built and is expanded based on my personal experiences. My feminism is unique and this should be celebrated. I will instill in my students the notion that feminism has endless definitions and encourage them to determine how the term relates to their lives.

I believe that before I teach feminist ideals to others, I must have a comprehensive understanding of how institutions continue to actively subordinate women. It is important to empower women by encouraging them to question dominant ideals. This process has helped me in constructing my own reality rather than following society’s dictation of what is appropriate for women. I hope to encourage students to look within their selves and consider the roles that patriarchy plays in their lives.

I promise to practice what I preach. I will publicly declare my feminism without shame and demonstrate the powers of my feminism through activism. I will provide a safe space for my students to explore their feminism and encourage their activism.

Hate stems from ignorance. People’s hatred towards feminism often is the result of false assumptions. Therefore, I believe that it is important to educate individuals on feminism. My personal goal is to have an active role in educating students on social justice issues. I will teach about the injustices that exist in our world and encourage students to actively fight against them.

Most importantly, always believe in the power of you! This is one of the most important things that I have learned in my life. Being confident in myself has helped me to explore and develop my feminist ideals. I hope to inspire children to believe in themselves and know that they can make a difference in the world.

womanifesta*

First and foremost, as with anything I may be too similar to the stereotypical feminist/lesbian in the Legally Blonde film wanting to change the ‘sem’esters to ‘ovesters’ but I do not know how comfortable I am with a declaration of MY (clearly female) thoughts to be labeled as a manifesto, and wish not to go the route of the much used manfiesta, so my brief declaration of my feminist basis will be (hopefully) explained in my womanifesto…so here it goes
Like much, if not all of what bell hooks has written or said I whole heartedly agree with a short quote and have to use it as the basis for a lot of my thought, “ to learn ideas that run counter to values and beliefs learned at home is to place oneself at risk, to enter the danger zone”
Before anyone in the land of cyber-feminism can feel too sorry for me that I grew up in a 50s style home that kept the women and their opinions in the kitchen I have to make it clear that I lived and grew up in my single mothers house while she in fact attended the same University as me for Women’s Studies. I learn the fundamentals of feminism leaning over my mothers shoulder at the computer as she dumbed down the concepts of papers similar if not exact to ones I’ve written in the past few years. I can remember the exact day coming home from grade 6 when I was frustrated having spent a class discussion on the evils and enemies of communism who tried to take the world down if not for the western savior. Even as a pretty nitwitted 12 yr old I knew this wasn’t right and my mother sat me down in the middle of whatever was going on at home and spent a few hours explaining Marxism to me in the most simplistic forms.
Though I am what many insecure boys may dub a “femi-Nazi” most of my ideals and life directions don’t come solely from feminism. I believe feminism is inextricably linked to communism and veganism…at least in my interpretations.
For the way I view communism the world would be a Lili-topia if everyone put in what they could and took what they needed. In adolescence I believed the world would be perfect if everyone got one voucher for every hour worked and all homes, meals, vehicles etc were worth one as well. However with a little more experience I realize that is perhaps unrealistic and childish even just considering people unable to work for disabilities. However the fact that there are people literally starving to death in the same world, in the same countries even as people who are BILLIONAIRES not having enough time in their lives to spend their dollars does not fit within my festo. While I personally do own an obscene amount of shoes and hair products I do attempt not to take more from the world in general than I need or work more than is necessary for me to maintain my lifestyle.
This crosses over to what I literally consume in forms of nutrition. Outside of anorexics everyone accepts that we need to food to live. And until God him/herself opens the clouds and comes down to confirm the words of the bible I by no means believe we need to consume other living breathing beings to live.
While many meat lovers have tried and continue to debate me on this fact to be a good person trying to put good out into the world I do not believe consuming flesh ( milk or eggs etc) from once eating thinking beings into your body works under these guidelines.
While I don’t believe everyone needs to be an extremist spending hours in the grocery store reading ingredient lists and questioning chefs at restaurants like myself there is no way a person can consume animals or products from them understanding the torture endured to produce this luxury or the detriment to the environment and our own space to house and produce these animals on industrial farms.
While many aspects of my ideas and ideals have minor (if not major) flaws and would need to be fleshed out if the future President of the world ever called on me to set up the new world order these ideas are not childish or rash. Living almost my entire life with a misogynistic father who ironically owned ( and employed me at ) a steak house restaurant I have come up to more than any persons fair share of belief breakdown.
Going against almost everything my father tried to force out of my mind I operate under as many of the guidelines as Feminism as I can that foster a non selfish lifestyle that hurts as few if any other people or beings while allowing for personal survival. I naturally fell right into Feminism because so many of its aspects aligned with the ideas I had against hurting anything or anyone, for any reason. While I do not wish to jump on the Glee stage for any type of dance routine or hold any hands for a grassy kumbiya singalong I will not (again hopefully ) waver from operating my lifestyle under the nearly ever-present notion that no matter sex, race, class, or even species, or anything else, does anyone deserve to be treated lesser or live lesser.

Identity: Feminist and the various shades of grey that I identify with

"Feminism is a term without definition. It is defined by person and experience, by adding, subtracting, altering, redefining and identity that reflects a person's being, beliefs and lifestyle".

Although these are Lisa Ayuso words, I hold them and carry them with me always. Humanity is constantly evolving; it makes sense my feminism would evolve as I evolve.

Why I am a part of the liberation movement?

I have been born into this world with privilege. I am a white able bodied, english speaking woman who is university educated, living in a first world country, where I have the opportunity to learn, grow and empower myself.

With my acknowledged privilege; I feel that it is my responsibility to use my privilege to work towards positive social change.

I am a part of the liberation movement because I do not believe that a society based on hierarchy and patriarchy is the most efficient social structure.

I believe race is a concept and in order to abolish racism, freedom fighters need to engage in critical conversation with the general population about stereotypes used as racial identifiers. We need to recognize white privilege, challenge what identifies “Canadians” and open up safe space for the marginalized populations.

I believe education is central to individual and collective empowerment which is fortunate because the liberation movement advocates on behalf of educating women.

I believe it is important to reclaim women’s histories and feminist engagements. As a player in the liberation movement it is critical to my feminism and the survival of women to contribute to future history and to ensure past feminist labour is acknowledged and not forgotten by society, youth and institutions.

I believe every woman should be in control of her own body. She should be the sole decision maker in accordance with her reproductive health and sexuality. She should never compromise herself, politics and beliefs for anyone or anything. Her autonomy should never leave her.

I believe women and men should have equal pay, equal opportunity and equal treatment within the law, the workplace, in the home, at the gym, in the church, in the classroom, on the bus, on the streets, etc.

I believe that ending poverty is not just a “real nice idea”. I believe it is possible to achieve if people were willing to allocate their power to others, donate resources and think about the future of our world and the collection of individuals who make it uniquely different and how to best serve both entities—the people and the physical environments in which we live in.

I want people to recognize that consumerism is false power, that a positive body image does not come in a size and it is more important to empower yourself through critical thinking and self reflection rather than the options for empowerment given to women in a patriarchal society.

I believe that it is a lot easier to be positive, to live each day with the knowledge that world change is attainable and working for that change is the motivating factor for the joy I experience in my life.

One day I will die. I do not value if my name is remembered. However, I do care about how I used the time I have been given and what I did with my time to empower those around me.

For me, being a feminist means an ongoing fight for equity. It’s about freedom. It’s about individual and collective empowerment. It’s about being a woman challenging the philosophies of the dominate discourse of society.

I could not think of any better way to spend my time, energy, passion, excitement , --really my life, then being a part of the liberation movement.

We are what we believe we are

My feminism is not afraid of gender or sex or living life to the fullest. My feminism demands respect, love, equality and space. My feminism will not tolerate complexity because in my feminism there is no room for gender discrimination. My feminism does not dislike men but dislikes power wielded as a force of authority. My feminism is a friendly place where girls and boys can be friends with no judgment. My feminism is all about equality, liberation and living as humans even though society stereotypes people into categorizes. And that is why my feminism is not a product that is distrusted but hope for change towards what really matters in life and the desire for humans to recognize that we have a lot more in common with one another than we think, despite our differences. My feminism is not afraid and will certainly not be silenced.

Manifesto

LIVE in such a way that if I die tomorrow, I will die happy, for one day it will be true.

INSPIRE people, in one way or another. One day you might change their life completely.

CHALLENGE yourself and never be afraid to fall down or feel like a failure. Get back up. A failure is someone who gives up after they fall down and lose hope. That is not me.

BE OPEN minded and curious. Search for the truth instead of defending faith.

LOVE with all your heart, for one day someone will love you back.

APPRECIATE life and beauty in the world, in all of its forms.

BE YOURSELF no matter what anyone says because that is your gift in life.

NEVER JUDGE anyone that is different because when you judge another, you do not define them but you define yourself.

Create Yourself-Create Your Destiny

Create Yourself-Create Your Destiny

I was first introduced to feminism in my senior year of high school, which in turn assisted me in shaping my path to major in Women’s Studies in University. Through my current life in academia, I reflect back on feminist activists such as Uzma Shakir who found oppression within her own community. By using her own knowledge and tying it within her culture, she is able to move forward to fight with her western sisters. I am inspired by Judith Butler who deconstructs gender ideologies every day. To me, Butler exemplifies that our gender and sexuality is not fixed upon, it is ever changing and growing. Finally, a feminist that speaks to me is Nawaal el Saadawi, whose work every day tells me that third world women do have an agenda to fight for their own feminism. She inspires me to think outside of the box to create another world of feminism. Her strength and endurance gives me the inspiration to be free to fight my own oppressions every day.

Now, my feminism calls upon embracing all of the things that I once ignored, that shaped me into the woman who I am today. My feminism calls for me to not back down when things are tough. My feminism challenges me every day to work hard and help others.

My manifesto calls for me creating my own self through the use of language, culture and ideas. My manifesto calls on my feminism to create world where I see out of a cultured lens, to view things from another view that has not been discussed in academia. My feminism is a construction of everything I have ever learned, through my religion, relationships and power. My feminism also reflects on my own power, the power that I have lost, the power that I have gained, and the power that I hope to instill in others.

Manifesto Goals

• I will life my life fully, expressing all of the different forms of confidence that I have instilled within myself. I will not jeopardize my own physical health by any form of eating disorder cosmetic surgery or use harsh chemicals for the purpose of attempting to better myself on the outside. I will create my own image of beauty through language, knowledge and culture. For any person out there who does not believe that they are beautiful, I will help create their own image of beauty, specifically designed to suit their own self. I will love myself, my body, my spirit.

• I will not be afraid to love, to look for love or to romantically dream. I will fall in love, and my own mind will come first. I will give a piece of myself to love, but not let go of everything I know-my strength, because of love.

• I will dream wonderful things for myself. Health, happiness and prosperity. I will work hard to achieve all of this without forgetting the privilege I have. I will remember the sacrifices that I have made for myself. I will not forget those who are not as financially stable and privileged as I am. I will donate, and continue to donate my time to help others in need.

• I will remember my privilege. My ableism, my knowledge my power. I will use it to advocate for others who may not have similar strengths as I do. I will not forget that my privilege is only here to help others find their own stepping stones to power.

• I will remember those who have sacrificed and fought to keep this country safe. I will be forever grateful that my freedom came from the expense of others. I will also be thankful for everything I was given because my family and I were able to come to Canada. I understand that my life would have been different if I never immigrated here. I will use this new freedom to support other women in third world nations who are battling their own feminism.

• I will express my feminist voice for women and men who were harmed in doing so. I will suffer and fight for those who cannot; not by fighting for them, but empowering them to fight on their own.

• I will be independent. I will accept my own responsibilities for my own self. I will work, learn, grow and share all that I have learned into my own life goals. I will breathe the injustices that were brought upon me by others and I will analyze them on my own. I will not depend on others to fight my own battles. I in the end, I will win this war.

• I will not back away from my culture. I understand that it is a gift, given to me to work with. My culture gives me a stepping stone against all others who may fail to acknowledge oppression and power. I will embrace every aspect of my culture, the food, the language, the stories passed onto me from previous generations. I will keep my culture and share it with others.

• I will not construct my own self based on the assumptions of others. I will wear whatever fashion accessories I see fit; glitter, dresses and makeup when I want to. I will embrace my feminity. I will not feel guilty if I change my appearance for my own self. I will choose when I want to be sexual and beautiful. I will wear loose clothing when I am lazy. I will abolish all gender constructed norms of fashion. I will create my own fashion, for myself.

• I will create myself. I will use my privilege of receiving a great education to create my own self as a person. I will grow, change, and use the resources that I have been given to create the best version of myself. I will share my confidence, my feminism with others, end find a way to empower myself every day.

• Finally, I will be an activist. I will work hard to fight for the things that matter the most to me. I will not only fight collectively with others for a common goal, but I will use my individualism for myself to reach my own creation of a feminist world.

My Feminist Manifesto

When I first came to university, I only had a very basic idea what feminism was and what it meant to me. Over the years, that idea has continued to grow and expand based on what I have learned in and outside the classroom. My feminism is based on my own experiences, ideas, thoughts, and issues that I care deeply about. My feminism focuses on progress and change, as well as acceptance of yourself. My feminism has been influence by women such as Steinem and Butler, but also by the women in my life, who have taught me and helped me sustain feminist ideals in my life. My feminism is a part of me, not separate from anything i do. My feminism will always be changing and evolving as I continue to grow and learn as a person.

Manifesto

Live life your own way. You are the creator of your own life; refuse to give that up to anyone else. Be authentic.

Share your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It is good to be able to communicate, connect, and express yourself to others, as well as yourself.

Love yourself and all those who matter to you.

Embrace differences. Imagine yourself in someone else's shoes. Listen and learn from those whose thoughts and experiences differ from your own. Be accepting of their uniqueness.

Listen to your heart. Your family, Your friends. They are the people you choose to surround yourself with, they are your support system and are looking out for you.

Challenge yourself to go there. Push others to experience the uncomfortable. Use your voice to challenge that status quo and any injustices you see or may experience.

Learn something new, as well as from the mistakes you have made. This will allow you to reflect upon the past and look towards the future. It will continue the process of growing and evolving into a stronger human being.

Dream big. Anything is possible if you just have enough nerve to achieve it.

Feminism as Politic, Not Identity

Feminism: the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes

- Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

"The women's effort has never been anything more than a symbolic agitation. They have only gained what men have been willing to grant; they have taken nothing, they have only received."

- Simone De Beauvoir in The Second Sex, 1989

Feminism was not always a trendy identity; much like Women’s Studies was not always a step to something else. Obviously, today’s feminism is not the same as the feminism in the early 20th century, and in most respects, I am thankful for that. However, I am not thankful for this comfy pre-packaged, and entirely situational, neoliberalist feminism that is currently plaguing us. The “feminism is for everyone” mentality, often represented by such things as “This is what a feminist looks like” merchandise, is a dangerous one, because it at once depoliticizes the movement – and it is a movement – while simultaneously ensures that feminists take a passive approach to their politics. When did feminism become concerned with societal acceptance? Good thing Obama wears his t-shirt, because now I can? Feminism was meant to resist oppression, not to conform to it.

My manifesto challenges those who have the power to enact change but choose not to. Constant resistance to both privilege and power is essential in obtaining equality between the genders, ethnicities, cultures, classes, sexual identifications, the environment - and everything else that is squashed into this social hierarchy. This hierarchy must not be reformed or revolutionized, but dismantled. Critical thinking is necessary, but not sufficient. Comfort is the enemy for feminists, for activists, for everyone: it contributes to complacency and is the destroyer of change and growth.

Engage in critical thinking; search for both shared experiences, as well as for those stories which contradict my own - it is in this way that I can grow and advocate in a just way.

Defensiveness of one's “feminism” or “politics” is a possible result of an underlying insecurity. If the first response is defensiveness, or the need for validation or justification, explore the reasons why.

Hold myself and others accountable for their actions.

I must fight for my own rights - and the rights of others - to live free of violence, and stand with those who would do the same: “Until we are all strong together, a strong woman is a woman strongly afraid” (M. Piercy, 1980)

Remain critical of my own politics to ensure that I am not contributing to another’s oppression, and to explore the criticisms others may have. Acknowledging an injustice, and to be critical of it, is not enough; change must take place.

Look for potential allies - not enemies - in others and appreciate the differences that may exist between us. Appreciation, however, is not synonymous with “blind acceptance.” Always remain critical, as it encourages growth.

Not advocating against issues that don’t necessarily affect me ultimately condones the injustice. It is the fastest way to contribute to someone else’s oppression. Make time to care for others.

However unfair, we must actively fight for our rights, not passively hope for them. It hasn’t been in the past, it isn’t presently, and it won’t be in the future, an easy battle to win. The intersectionality of oppression and their potential interactions must be examined and challenged. Understanding how we relate to these oppressions, and potentially contribute to them (including the destruction of the environment) is the only way to avoid doing so

Too advocate feminism means to engage in a life-long struggle with patriarchy and oppression; it means to constantly question yourself and others. To be feminist is to be political.

Manifesto

My journey started in high school, entering grade twelve I decided to pursue a career in community services as a way to contribute to my community. I didn't know much of feminism/feminist in the western world, but, my mother is the only feminist that as a young woman I looked up. My mother encouraged me to volunteer in community centres and at my old high school. As I was a new comer to the country, I had similar experiences that many new immigrant students were facing. I was able to help with homework, and I enjoyed running a drama class because that's where everyone shared their voices.

In college I enrolled in Social Service Work Program because I want to work with NGO's that are dedicated to women's issues. I was first introduced to the western feminism/feminist by a college instructor, who was working at women's shelter. Feminism became interested to me because of my back ground as an African woman, I experienced oppression, and inequality from early age and I have seen many women treated as second class citizens.

While in college I volunteered with the city of Toronto home for the aged as an activity assistant. Many of the families that I worked with were run by women/ daughters, mostly single mothers taking care of their elderly parents. I had the honour of helping with the process of administering new participants, delivering programs, monitoring daily activities and medication intake. With my volunteering experiences I was able to obtain summer job positions that are under the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Through this journey I had/have the opportunity to witness the power of my own survivor, my voice, and strength which helped me to realize the initial importance of my input. Through this strength I carry, I want to help suppress the prevalence of an epidemic that bothers my spirit. I want work to help with the implementations of protection programs for abused women and children who seek shelters from abusers. I want to create support services accessible for all abused women and children. The issue here in Canada is very unfortunate; it has to do with housing and lack of funding. Not everyone in Canada live in huge cities, many live in rural and remote areas, where women in abusive relationships are trapped with their abusers because they have nowhere to run. This situation is one of issues that I'm passionate to work toward. Women have already faced internal bias when trying to escape abusers; they do not need regional barriers as well. As women/feminists, we need interventions plans before the abuse. I want every woman to feel capable and at ease in her community, especially women who are experiencing abuse. These women are in need of reliable resources that are available to them, in case they want to escape an abusive relationship.

I believe my intentions are good; my accomplishments would help motivate a lot of "closet feminist". I believe that my efforts would prove to young women that their voices are needed and that if they speak, they not only speak for themselves, but they will speak for those who cannot speak. My goal is a determined one; thus, I believe that one day I will be able to make insightful changes. I want to change the world and especially the third world and although this statement may sound fuzzy and quite impossible, I want to make an effort. It is my vision that this world will one day haven women capable of anything they desire. I want to start by making opportunities available to those in need of help because they desire the best. I have proven to myself, through gaining essential knowledge, that I can make difference and women’s studies is the profession that will help me with my journey

Finding My Own

My feminism is not the same as anyone else’s feminism. My feminism is shaped by my experiences, my upbringing, my education and my ideas. It is not set in stone—it is constantly being molded and reshaped to reflect my new opinions and understandings of my life and the world around me. My specific feminism is in a position of progress. Women such as Beauvoir, Butler and Steinem guide my feminism. I am constantly looking for influence and change.

Myself

My feminism starts from within. It starts from an acceptance of myself. It starts with a belief in my life and everything that goes along with it. It is knowing that though my beliefs are constantly changing, my feminism will never falter. It is pure openness—openness to others and their differing beliefs, to different ways of life, etc. It is free from judgment—me judging others and others judging myself. It is taking chances--never letting fear get the best of me. It is challenging what I know to be truth. Love, Friendship and Family mold it. It is revolving, turning, growing and changing. It is my own.

Others

It is the belief that all human beings should have basic necessities in life. My feminism is a focus on the individual, rather than the collective. It is small-scale. I think that smaller changes will ignite larger changes. I believe in the act of ‘paying-it-forward.’ It starts with a respect for humanity. It is the belief in freedom—freedom from harassment, freedom of speech, freedom of protest, etc. As people living in Canada, we have the luxury of these freedoms. It is, in part, the hope that others will be challenged daily by their ideas and findings, as I am. It is based on respect.

The Rest of the World

I want a world where women feel safe in the streets, where girls have the same opportunities as boys, where saying the word equality is no longer necessary (whether that be for gender, race, sexual orientation, etc). My ideal feminism should start from birth. It should focus on education outside of the classroom, meaning teaching people the values of feminism in their everyday lives. My feminism starts from the inside out. In order to inflict change elsewhere, we must have committed to the change here.

My feminism is my own—it is unlike anyone else’s; it is personal and committed and pure. It is growing.

WE ARE WOMEN, NOT MEN

My manifesto calls for the individual to be cognisant of their construction of difference and the effect that it has on the identity of others. The western construct of third world women’s identity should be the responsibility of that individual not social constructs that surround them. I believe in a world where there are no pre-supposed frameworks of difference that construct identity. All should work together. My feminism challenges the western social construction of identity and the paradox between first and third world feminisms. While feminism attempts to provide a collection of voices, it tends to be the voices of white middle class affluent women as the ones being heard. My feminist manifesto is comprised of a postmodernist and feminist lens, which is inspired by the work of Chandra Mohanty and Lila Abu Lughod.

ManifestO

I will not construct an identity that is not my own. I will not fail to properly and critically theorize ‘other’ women. I will not construct ‘other’ women as a monolithic subject or object of knowledge. I will be inclusive and ignore my white privilege. Instead of reinforcing and perpetuating oppressive western dynamics suggesting that third world women are in need of immediate assistance, I will listen to these women’s experiences and proceed.

I recognize that as a western feminist I took for granted my position of hierarchy and privilege that permitted me to distinguish non western women in a victimized position. I understand that being a white woman, constructing difference results in discursive homogenization and systemic oppression of these women. I do not believe that I have the right to define and name other women.

I will not attempt to save rather support these women. I will not filter the western woman’s fixation with constructing and reiterating difference through the process of labelling these women as victims in need of saving from either male violence as well as colonial processes which in turn freezes these women in time, space and history.

Western feminists need to recognize that there is a difference between the self and ‘other’, and we should work together to overcome oppression rather than letting western feminists assume dictatorship. Westerners need to ignore their preconceived stereotypical notions of how they view non western women and should instead work as a collective to deter away from this universal inequality.

I want to promote third world feminism with their accusation of western scholars creation of a colonial discourse which represents them as an undifferentiated ‘other’ oppressed by both gender and third world underdevelopment. I intend to allow all women to be active participants in alleviating all oppressions in order to create a safe space and that we have the responsibility to act and advocate on behalf of human rights. I want to find strategies to restructure and dismantle the notion that non western women need to be saved from themselves as well as their communities.

My feminism revolves around challenging traditional feminist practices by working collectively with non western women to support their experiences and choices.