Feminist Pride Day 2012

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.