Feminist Pride Day 2012

This is what a twenty-something, queer, British, feminist looks like

I’m a feminist because equal rights for women is a human rights issue and is very much worth fighting for.

Feminism gave me the space and tools to analyze, pin down, and most importantly separate myself from normative gender roles and viscerally negative, internalized social messages.  I think of the diversity of feminist thought as a mindset, a framework through which one  may live, question and engage society in a more aware and healthy way - a framework to shape explanation of women’s subjugation and its proposed solutions. 

Keir, 21, Boston, MA

A woman is like a tea bag. It is only when she’s in hot water that you realise how strong she is. – Nancy Regan

Tiffany Baker, 29, Denver, CO 

My son, Milo (4 months), received this onesie from his queer, feminist “auntie.” 

Gender equality is important because gender inequality is connected to so many other forms of inequality. For instance, homophobia is just one of the ways in which gender inequality is played out. It, too, is rooted in the cultural devaluation of the feminine. I began to notice this cultural devaluation as a problem in the fifth grade when my mother was asked by church leadership to refrain from talking in business meetings, but my father’s input was encouraged and highly valued. However, I did not connect isolated events of sexism to a larger issue until middle school when we learned about the feminist movements. I firmly believe that “coming out” as a feminist was a helpful step in the process of my coming out as a lesbian because, in doing so, I gained experience in standing up for my beliefs and not being afraid to call people out for degrading others. I think a feminist is one who uses sexism as a framework within which to discuss the other forms of discrimination (racism, heterosexism, classism, etc) in order to raise awareness of the issues and attempt to aid others in understanding why these behaviors and beliefs are detrimental to society as a whole, as well as to the oppressed group.

I am a white, able-bodied, cis-gendered lesbian majoring in English and Latin and minoring in women’s studies, and I am not afraid to recognize my privilege and use that awareness to help others become aware of their privilege and work with others who are aware to address the systems that create such inequalities because I am a feminist.

Gender equality is the first step towards equality for all people. My feminist awakening came early in my life as an oppressed member of society through my identification as queer, immigrant, and ethnic minority. It is essential for me to project the issue of gender violence as one of the most significant issues in our society today. Feminists and pro-feminists must band together to work towards gender equality for people of all genders in various racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual communities.

Kong, 21, Minneapolis, MN