My Evolving Feminism – Amanda
During the past six months of my academic education, my feminism has grown and developed as a result of being introduced to various theories and my personal life experience. Although my fundamental feminist beliefs have remained the same, new experiences and exposure to new theories cause me to consider and view aspects of my feminism differently. During my first few years of University, the evolution of my feminism troubled me because I felt as though I had not yet refined my opinions and views on feminism. However, in the past six months, I have learned to see value in the fact that I constantly adapt my feminism. I think that one’s feminism needs to adapt and evolve with varying life experiences. In the past six months, I feel that I have become more comfortable and confident with my feminism. I attribute this development largely to numerous assignments in which I have been able to explore my feminism and examine how it pertains to my life.
Since I am at the end of my educational career, I have been thinking a lot about my practice of feminism and how it will be applicable in my career aspirations. I have been reflecting a lot on how to apply my feminist beliefs into my career as an educator. My voice project has really helped me in framing my practice of feminism in a way that will impact students and teach them core feminist ideals in an age appropriate manner. I strongly believe in the importance in teaching social justice issues to children and within the past few months, I have transformed this premise from a belief into a practice. When I attend my practicum placements, I incorporate my feminism into my teaching practices. Although my practice of feminism has developed and a lot in the past six months, I think that in the next year it will grow and develop so much more.
My concept of feminist practice has also evolved over the past six months on a personal level. I had always held the assumption that public feminist practice was more important than individual activism because it actively demonstrated that someone was dedicated and cared passionately about political and social issues. Throughout the course Women in Protest last semester and this semester in the course Third Wave Feminism, I have read various narratives and had discussions about the importance of individual forms of feminist practice. These discussions helped me to recognize the ways in which I practice my feminism. After watching a video about slaughterhouses when I was sixteen, I decided that I would become a vegetarian. As a result, I have not eaten meat in seven years and I boycott products that participated in animal testing. This is a personal form of activism because of my refusal to participate in an activity that I believe is inhuman and unjust. Even though, I have been a vegetarian for a while now within the past six months I have come to realize that it is one of the many ways in which I practice my feminism on a personal level. Last semester, I also came to the realization that practicing ones feminism on a personal level is important.
Lastly, although I have heard numerous times throughout my women’s studies education that the personal is political, within the past six months this phrase has taken on a new meaning. I no longer feel at the lower end of an activism hierarchy but rather feel validated in being able to express my feminist believes in a manner in which I feel comfortable. In the past six months, I have learned that the ways in which I choose to practice my feminism are personal and political.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI really identified with your response on your evolving feminism. Although I chose to respond on the Successes and Challenges option for this blog assignment, I also definitely feel as though my feminism has evolved and changed throughout the past six months. With new experiences, both in the world of academia and in my personal life, come new challenges and obstacles, which I feel strengthen my feminism as well.
Like you, I have learned a lot in these past six months, not only about my feminism, but about myself. This will benefit both of us in our future careers as educators. Like you, I have been thinking about how to incorporate my feminism in the everyday classroom. I think that we are making a great start with our final projects for Seminar (you are creating lesson plans and I am creating a textbook/scrapbook). I think that it would great for both of us to incorporate these into out classrooms!
Lastly, I wanted to say that I really liked your last paragraph when you talked about the personal being political. This phrase has also taken on a new meaning for me too. I never really understood it, but since our protest last semester I feel like I definitely have a greater understanding of what it means in general, and what it means to me.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog on your feminism in progress. It was interesting reading of how you plan on incorporating your feminism into your career as an educator. I definitely agree that feminism needs to be taught to everyone in an age appropriate manner.
As well, I loved how you related your feminism to your commitment to being a vegetarian--that is definitely a strong example of feminism! Feminism is a personal thing and the way it develops in your daily life says a lot!
Great blog!
I think, even though youve articulated it better many of us manage to, your experiences are very similar to a lot of ours.The constant either pressure, or guilt from lack of action as a feminist is very prevalent, especially in an academic feminist setting. I really liked how you highlighted your vegetarianism as a form of activism. Though it seems completly normal and passive to those of us who dont eat meat, it is a very big way we can effect our own world. Especially if we can manage to effect the eating habits and awareness of those around us :)
ReplyDelete