I have found this question challenging because I feel like there is so much to cover and be critical of in the context of my feminism and identity. I have learned and grown so much in the past year as a woman, feminist, student and individual in this society. To fully answer and reflect on the blog question posed I need to go back into my notes, writing and mind to write an honest and fully developed response. Feminist scholars, feminism in the media and my community of feminism has had a great impact on the evolution of my feminisms.
Challenging and being critical of the feminist influence in my life is a part of defining my success in feminism. My main concern is keeping my feminism, MY feminism. There are so many ideas and concepts incorporated within feminism, it is easy to get lost in the movement. I have a fear that one day I will wake up, look in the mirror and not recognize the feminist I can see. I am consciously trying to stay an individual in the global context of feminism and in the feminist collective in my life.
This response is not complete, specifically because I have not answered the question. In order for me to do so, I am going to need to take a large chunk of personal time to go through everything that has occurred this past year and reflect upon it. Feminist theorists are continually challenging and changeing my way of thinking. I have changed and learned a great amount from Women's Studies and the community around me. In order to better myself I need to recognize the change that has occurred in me. I feel like I deserve a bit of me time, however, where that time will come from I'm unsure....
Therefore, to be continued....
Hey Cas,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that it can be easy to get lost in the movement. There is so much going on within feminism, the scale of it all feels very overwhelming. How do we help ourselves while supporting others, in our personal life or in our city or in a global sense, when there are soooo many issues to deal with.
I feel similar about academia too- it is so easy to get caught up in university, reading theories, and the world of "academics" that we forget there is a entire world out there. And I think that part of our growing in feminism (or out of feminism) is finding a way to bring that learning outside of the university walls.
And I also think that what we've experienced in the last few months has really pushed us in new ways. And because the entire situation with the lance is not over, we can't look back on it yet to really see how we've changed in an accurate sense. I do know a lot has changed for you, and I hope I can be there (or at least hear about it in an email!) when you do find time to collect all of your thoughts. <3
Cass,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the honesty and rawness (I'm not sure that's a word, but it sounds more professional than "nakedness" which was my next choice) of your blog. I think you accurately reflect the majority of senior level WS students in your post because as you say, it's to "be continued".
I respect that you acknowledge the actual difficulty of this question, which is one of the main reasons I chose not to participate in this assignment. I personally don't have the time, energy, or intellectual capacity to even attempt to answer this question, because I too, don't really have an answer at this point in time. I also don't think I'd want to. Sure, I could make a list right now of some of the feminist issues that are nearest and dearest to my heart (I would also argue you have a pretty good idea of what these issues are to me..so I'm doing a good job of creating this feminist space for myself). But I cannot, and would not be able to write a reflection of this past year and be able to come to a definitive conclusion. As I continue through this programme, finishing up this year and preparing to tackle next year in all of it's part-time-student glory, I realize more and more the fluidity of feminism. I guess I always assumed its potential to be such, but I'm really seeing and experiencing this fluidity first hand, and I quite enjoy it.
I also just wanted to say that I've really enjoyed watching you grow over the last 4 years here at University. I faintly remember those res weekend nights with the engineering guys and how much we have both progressed & come into our own through both this University & WS programme. As always, you are quite an inspiration to me as a fellow student and I can't get enough of the genuine, raw passion and commitment you have to your studies and standpoint. I always know that when you speak to the large group, you're doing so from the heart...and people feel this. That's a rare and beautiful trait.
I wish you the best of luck as you move on from here & into what you're most passionate about. I'm so excited to learn about what you will contribute to the field of Feminist Research and Midwifery!
Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteYour post was so inspiring to read and think about because it showed me that by looking back at my own feminism, I cannot just pin point one area in time where I felt that I grew the most. I feel that for the past five years, my feminism has changed so much by different academic theorists and influential people in society, that I also feel it is difficult to truly reflect how I feel at times.
I felt that this quote was very powerful in your post, "Challenging and being critical of the feminist influence in my life is a part of defining my success in feminism."
You show that you do not take whatever feminist thought is handed to you as meaningful, yet, you critically analyze how all of your influences can make you become the feminist you are today.
Great post, and continue fighting for what you believe in!
Teires
I agree with you Cassandra it is very hard to track our evolving feminism, as we are evolving every day and in each women’s studies class we gain different knowledge and feminist tools that shape our growing feminist identity. It is definitely challenging to track how feminism shaped our identities in the past six months, and I want to assure you that in every women’s studies class I take my feminist identity grows and prospers.
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