you are not alone

I have been told on many occasions that I am not alone.  On the subject of my feminism, I have always felt like the black sheep; the oddball.  This clearly has never stopped my views, although it has made it really difficult at times.

I’ve finally found people who have my same ideas.  I’ve finally found a place where I can be myself and not be afraid to be myself.  Today, while making a point in my Sustainable Livings class, I mentioned how I always felt like a minority because of my feminist ideas.  It tied in with our discussion about whether or not someone can stand along and change the world.  It’s one reason why I’m so passionate about the subject.

My friend and suitemate tapped me and showed me something she wrote.  It said, “I’m also a super feminist, so you are not alone.”

This meant so much to me.  It meant so much to me to learn that there are other people like me.  I knew there would be, but going to the high school I went to, I had some serious doubts.  I knew I was ostracized sometimes because of makes me how I felt about this.  Knowing that there is someone more like you out there is such a comforting feeling, especially when you’re in a new environment where you have to start all over again. 

So, the point is, no matter how lost and alone you may feel, there is always someone, somewhere that has a similar idea, thought or feeling.  You are never alone.  There is no alone. 

This isn’t just about finding another feminist.  This is about the realization that people can be honest about themselves and be accepted for it.  I’m here at college, and I’m not hiding things.  I’m not hiding my political or religious views.  I’m still not going to go around trying to convince everyone that my way is the only way, because I hate when people are like that.  But this time around, this time I plan on being myself, and not who my environment wants me to be.  The place that I spent the last four years wanted me to fit a mold.  The place that I will be spending the next four years wants me to be myself.  

Will I run into people who don’t like me for my ideas?  Yes.  There’s no question about it.  As the saying goes-“haters gonna hate.”  But am I going to let it get me down?  No.  I am beautiful, and my ideas are beautiful.  I can change things, I can change the world.  There is both a lot I can do and a lot I want to do to make this world a better place, not just for me but for everyone.  And I can.  Because I am not alone.

i am strong, i am invincible

I am woman.

I would like to thank the Academy for putting another crack in the glass ceiling.  I am of course referring to Kathryn Bigelow’s historic win as the first woman to ever win a Best Director Oscar in last night’s 82nd Academy Awards.  In Oscar’s long career, only four women have ever been nominated for one of the biggest awards in the film industry.  Although I have never seen her film The Hurt Locker, I have heard amazing things from my movie loving jazz band director. 

Bigelow’s win ties in quite nicely with what I was originally going to write about today.  Today is International Women’s Day, a wonderful day in which women around the world can stop to look at our accomplishments through oppression and resistance.  Today, women can look back and be thankful to our foremothers for their struggle in gaining higher wages, political freedoms, and social equality.  We have achieved an incredible amount in the last century.  This August will mark the ninetieth year of women’s suffrage in America. 

Yes, we can vote.  I’m still not happy.  Alice Paul wouldn’t be either.  The United States of America has yet to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, which Paul began pushing for in 1923.  We have not signed CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all Discrimination Against Women), and we are the only developed nation not to do so.  How are we to fight continued inequality when our own government refuses to help?  Not to be forgotten, however, is the legislation passed that has helped women.  Title seven of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in the workplace. The Pregnancy Discrimination act amended this clause, stating that a woman cannot be fired from her job because she becomes pregnant.  The Equal Pay Act of 1963 states that women that do the same work as men should be paid equally.  If this is so, why do women make, on average eighty cents to ever dollar men make?  Correct me if I’m wrong, but eighty and one hundred are not equal.  Most women, most men, in fact, are unaware of their rights in this country.  Many just accept their pay quietly, or do not realize that they are discriminated against because of their sex.  Many people believe that because this is the twenty-first century that everything is fine and dandy in the world in relation to sexism and gender discrimination.  Think about this.  Those twenty cents could make a difference to a woman who has a family to feed, a house to heat, and a life to support. 

This is an issue that frustrates me to no end.  I can not believe that America, a country that prides itself on freedom and equality can not bring itself to pass an Equal Rights Amendment. 

I still have hope.  The first act of legislation President Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.  I have hope in all the people taking Women’s Studies at the high school.  The course, albeit incredibly easy, really opened my eyes.  It helped to light a fire that was already burning; it turned into a five alarm blaze.  I have hope in my fellow Women’s Studies majors and those that teach it in our schools, and in those that truly have the passion that I have for this subject.  Together, we can make the glass ceiling become nothing more than broken shards in the dumpster.

“God may be in the details, but the goddess is in the questions. Once we begin to ask them, there’s no turning back.”–Gloria Steinem

May you all have a happy International Women’s Day.