My Evolving Feminism: Ashley Bruce-Rose
The last six months has really been exciting for me; it marked my last year at the University of Windsor, and my first year in the Women’s Studies program. 6 out of 9 courses needed for me to graduate have been Women’s Studies courses. This has helped change my concept, definition, and/or practice of feminism. Prior to this school year, I would have agreed with the statement: I am a feminist; these past six months, I have changed my stance and now believe that I advocate feminism. Reading and discussing material by bell hooks has greatly influenced this change. Prior to these six months, I was strictly a Sociology major; my job as a student was to critically analyze things in the World by looking at various societal factors. We never really looked at how gender can serve as a tool of oppression. That is what these past six months have done; they have strengthened me as a student, a woman, and most importantly a person who advocates feminism. I have come to realize that feminism isn’t a rigid concept, instead it is a concept that is constantly in motion. I have come to understand that the way that I advocate feminism may not be the way that somebody else does, and that is completely okay; every advocator has their own feminist voice.
Before these last six months, I was quiet and extremely shy. I never thought that my peers really got me. I always felt like an outsider looking in on a class filled with privileged students. The course Women in Protest and this semester’s fight with the Lance has proved me wrong. There has been a student who I never thought could influence me who has had a major impact on my life. She probably does not know, but she has helped change my practice of feminism. Seeing someone who isn’t directly affected by the Lance yet still fights such a passionate fight has really affected me. Looking at her, I can admit that I assumed that she just wouldn’t get it, but she does. While she will never experience life like I do, she still fights for all injustices. She knew the potential backlash that could have risen from it, and she ignored it and fought for what she believed in. Seeing that has completely changed me. Now I try and do the same thing. There have been many times where snide, racist remarks have come up and I’ve let them go because I didn’t want to fight that battle. Now, that wouldn’t happen. I am now trying to live my life in such a way that I can stand up for things that I believe in regardless of potential backlash.
In six months, I've changed a lot; cannot wait to see where the next six months take me. Wherever it is, I'm glad to know that I'll be advocating feminism.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI feel that your transition into women’s studies is something that I have gone through as well, except yours has occurred in shorter time span. I am also in my last year at the university and last year in women’s studies and psychology. My path was different than yours as this course was my last women’s studies course and the rest of my courses are all psychology, so I know that when you are in courses that are predominately in one subject you learn to adapt a certain insight into things through certain subject lenses. I think that being able and open to incorporating information into your life is good and helps you become more open and accepting to others.
I also felt that your blog was very honest. I think that you being inspired by another student is awesome because as feminists we usually only give credit or are inspired by the well-known feminists. But being able to relate to someone, who has inspired you on a more personal level seems to be pretty rare, especially someone who is probably close to your own age. Being able to advocate for yourself and know that your feminism maybe different than someone else’s feminism, is something that sounds similar to what Jessica Yee said when she spoke in the Women in Protest course that we are all activists regardless of what we are activists for, whether it is more person or political.
Overall, your blog was very enjoyable and you did a great job.
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ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the honesty and reflective stance of your blog. It was easy to understand your thoughts, feelings and process.
What I particularly enjoyed was your second paragraph about an inspirational fellow student. Lately I have been reflecting a lot on my feelings towards the Women Studies programme as a whole, and I've discovered that while the senior level classes at times appear less than challenging to my education and identity, I too can say my feminist ideology and knowledge has progressed and changed over this past year. I realized it's not necessarily the classes that push me to my uncomfortable comfort, it's my fellow classmates. Their arguments, standpoints, anger and action. Yes there's a lot to take from essays and academia, but the experiences, connections and arguments from, by, and with other students is something I can't place a value on. I think Women Studies classes are some of the rare few that allow for such a dynamic learning process. I'm glad someone else shares in my perspective.