(Originally posted back in April, sorry about editing the timestamp. Blame the misogynist hackers.)
The dictionary definition of feminism is stated: the movement for the political, social, and educational equality of women with men. In my opinion, feminism can mean a whole deal of things. It can mean women fighting for jobs that were mainly held by men with equal pay. It can mean women fighting for equal education in a so called male dominant world. Feminism can give lesbian women the chance to adopt and have children. Audre Lorde gives her opinion about the meaning of feminism throughout her essays and books that she writes. She consistently challenged a number of things like racism, ageism, classism, sexism and heterosexism, serving as a means for change within and among social movements, in which she herself participated in. Audre Lorde also discusses how perceiving others as being different is a main reason why black women feminist can’t get ahead.
I have to question things like that, to be honest. Lately, in posts and comments on some of the blogs I read, there seems to be a “will you women just stop whining” attitude developing in response to feminists speaking about the global injustices endured by women. We’re accused of being stuck in a ‘cult of victimhood’ by people who either don’t have the first clue or those who relate their own tale of survival and self-perceived success with nary a thought for those with less power/resources/privilege/ support/luck than they have. You know, that ‘you can help yourself, just look at me – I play the system and it works for me!’ view.
I just wonder if there ever will be light at the end of the tunnel, and it makes me sad.
