|
WHAT IS BLUE
- MARGE ADAMS When I began the Introduction to Women’s Studies class last September, I felt like Rebecca West, who said, "I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat..." Whenever someone called me a feminist it felt not like a compliment but more an accusation, an insult. I knew I disagreed with this perception, and looked forward to exploring and clarifying my answers to two questions, "What is feminism?" and "What is a woman?" I find asking the question "What is feminism?" is like asking, "What is blue?" Any simple definition is, in actuality, no definition at all. Author Susan Faludi said, "Feminism simply (means) supporting women’s rights and choices." That is like saying "Blue is a color." Both are true, but are sadly lacking in depth. I think that any discussion of what feminism is must include a discussion of what it is not. Feminism is not a call for a matriarchal structure that is simply patriarchy wearing a dress. Feminism does not desire the placement of one gender or race over another. It does not want female domination. In my quest to find this elusive definition, I stumbled across the following on the Internet: "[Feminism] must be an alternative to the patriarchal structuring of society - therefore a feminist is anyone, male or female who honors The Other, regardless of what that otherness implies - gender, ethnicity, religion, race or ability, etc. In this way we start to create a very different society, one small step at a time. If this is feminism, I’m for it - if this is beyond feminist, I’m for it." [emphasis mine] I agree with this conceptual view of feminism. As one of the speakers at the Women’s Studies Conference stated, "Patriarchy is disadvantageous to everyone–women and men." Over a hundred years ago, in her address to the First National Conference of Colored Women, Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin said, "Our woman’s movement is a woman’s movement in that it is led and directed by women for the good of women and men, for the benefit of all humanity, which is more than any one branch or segment of it." Herein lies the root of what I believe feminism to be. Not only "supporting women’s rights and choices," but also believing in the importance of all things considered "feminine" –and those considered "masculine". There must be balance and equality. The strength of anything is measured by the strength of its weakest part. We must recognize that the feminine is a social construct and not based on genetic factors at all! By not only denying the strength, integrity and importance of women and the "feminine" but also repressing it, we are oppressing our entire society. The Women’s Foundation in San Francisco says, "Feminism is understood to include the unequal status of women economically, socially, culturally, and politically, and a commitment to redress this situation." I think this is another integral part of the definition of feminism. Women need to stand up and be heard. To adopt a "This is wrong and we aren’t going to take it anymore!" attitude. I realize that in many parts of the world, this is difficult, if not impossible, for women to do. But those of us who can, must work to improve the lot of women globally, in accordance to the needs of those who can’t. I think of so many powerful women’s words: Sojourner Truth’s "Ain’t I a Woman," Bell Hook’s "Talking Back," the numerous stories from women enslaved in their workplaces, homes and marriages. In the words of Mai Kao Thao in "Sins of Silence," "If to be a good [in this case] Hmong woman means to ignore my identity, to swallow my pride so others can abuse me, or to shut my eyes in the face of injustice by turning the other cheek, I do not want to be a good Hmong woman." Thao makes the first step in committing to redressing the situation by refusing the role expected of her. Many women cannot even make this seemingly small step. In her keynote speech at the Women’s Studies Conference in Orono, Amrita Basu recounted how there had repeatedly been talk of improving women’s lot transnationally, and yet no actions had been taken to do so. We need to continue to strive to see that these promises are kept. Another piece I consider essential to the feminism as a whole, is a refusal to accept the prevailing dichotomy that seems designed to pit woman against woman. We are bombarded by images that seem targeted at creating competition among us. Naomi Wolf’s "The Beauty Myth" discusses the representation of our bodies. I want to point out that every woman is a contradiction within herself. She usually sees herself entirely in relation to others. The real definition of what a woman is, is what she is. Period. Feminism embraces a diverse womanhood, at least my definition of feminism does. So, what is feminism? Perhaps Charlotte Bunch said it best when she said, "Feminism is a transformational force, an individual and social force, It is a way of looking at the world–a questioning of power/domination issues, an affirmation of women’s energy." I couldn’t have put it any better than that. |
BUSINESS LANGUAGE NEED TO KNOW RETURN
|