Volume 08

I would like to begin by discussing various outlets of feminism and how it is impacting
society in 2015. ere are two large segments in the ideology of equality
that differentiates slightly based on concepts of gender. One branch describes
feminism as a sameness meaning that both man and woman are indifferent, uid,
and the diversities are formed by society. e other describes man and woman to
be different and makes the notion that these differences should be celebrated and
applied equally with no metric to scale otherwise.
I know feminists that don’t shave, as well as those who do, I know feminists who
let blood run freely down their legs when they menstruate, male feminists, feminists
that wear full make up, heels, and skirts, as well as feminists who are strippers,
those who are gender neutral and uid, and then some who claim proudly
to be “wifey”. I relate to all of these feminists and relate personal experiences to
each of them. All of these women (men, and those in between) are my sisters.
ere tends to be quality of doubt and uncertainty towards feminism because it
is believed that feminism is a recent trend coined by man-haters. ere is also an
element of frustration with feminism because there is a history of exclusiveness
and rejection towards women of different ethnicities. e most recent wave of
feminism has included doctrines of equal wage, sexual liberation, and a new
branch altogether: Womanism. Womanism focuses on gender uidity and ethnicity.
Womanism has sparked the beginning of an era that draws towards self-love,
the preservation of sisterhood, appreciation for womanhood, and the equality of
racial diversity amongst women.
As with most things, I am learning that the fundamental aws and societal push
back on feminism is not entirely an abstract issue as much as it is an issue with
myself, and how I treat other people. If we want to experience the positive social
change of feminism and equality we have to love the kind of women we are as well
as love the kind of woman sitting next to us.
Photography by Charles-Austin Ross