Am I a Modern Feminist – Probably!
I believe any woman who is willing to struggle, strive — and, if necessary, learn karate — to make their mark in the world is a feminist
Miss Piggy
As most of you know, I’m not a card carrying, shaven headed, left wing, lesbian feminist however, I believe feminism is just as vital today as it was in 1963.
It’s been more than 50 years since Betty Friedan wrote her landmark book, The Feminine Mystique, which sparked the second wave of feminism in the United States, yet despite making huge progress in the workplace and at home, gender issues are still very much prevalent in today’s society - just take a look at the thousands of people who turned out for the Women's March on London last month for proof.
I suppose a lot of this pulls from your idea of feminism and what a feminist is. Whatever your political view, Hillary Clinton summed it for me in an interview with Lena Dunham when she was asked if she considered herself a feminist;
“Absolutely. You know, I’m always a little bit puzzled when any woman of whatever age, but particularly a young woman, says something like – and you’ve heard it – ‘well I believe in equal rights, but I’m not a feminist.”
“Well, a feminist is by definition someone who believes in equal rights. I’m hoping that people will not be afraid to say that doesn’t mean you hate men, it doesn’t mean you want to separate out the world, so you’re not a part of ordinary life – that’s not what it means at all! It just means that we believe that women have the same rights as men.”
For me – that’s what it’s all about, equal rights for women and men no matter your race, colour, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, or disability!!
I’ve read three books recently that have really helped define what modern feminism is to me;
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Set in the not so distant future, Canadian author Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel follows the story of Offred, a young handmaid to a powerful commander, who is a lynchpin in a totalitarian Christian theocracy which has overthrown the United States government. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. What unfolds is a story of female suppression at the hands of a male dictatorship, and the desperate hope of a young woman who clings to the memories of her former life and identity. As unpleasant as it is brilliant, this cruel and bone-chilling story will stay with you for the rest of your life - not just because it’s terrifying, but because it’s terrifyingly possible!
How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran
I love Caitlin Moran, I always make a point of reading her columns in the Sunday Times! Britain’s funniest feminist’s memoir helps women who are ‘too knackered and confused’ to work out if they are a women’s rights advocate (i.e. the vast majority of us) or a raving man hater!
Less of a glossy manifesto on women’s rights and more of an honest attempt to decode what it means to be female, this book is a great read for anyone who’s intimidated or confused by the shifting parameters that define feminism. While no stone is left unturned - from bikini waxing and plastic surgery to objectification and Katie Price - the crux of the book’s argument essentially boils down to this quote:
“Put your hand in your pants.
a) Do you have a vagina? and
b) Do you want to be in charge of it?
If you said 'yes' to both, then congratulations! You're a feminist."
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
This young adult novel is a brilliant starting point for teenagers who are interested in the topic of feminism. It is set in a future dystopian world in which everyone is turned "Pretty" by extreme cosmetic surgery upon reaching age 16. We meet our heroine Tally Youngblood, who rebels against society's enforced conformity, after her newfound friends Shay and David show her the downsides to becoming a "Pretty". This is a brilliant read for any young reader, or indeed fully-fledged adult, who is beginning to question the meaning of beauty, identity and individuality in the age of vanity and social media.
I’m sure there are many other worthy reads out there that can sway opinion one way or the other, I just really liked these books 😊
What I’m wearing today;
Head & Teeth - .LeLutka. Head.Simone 3.0
Eyes - CATWA UN-RIGGED EYE V1.1 - (Custom eye texture)
Eyebrows - Glam Affair - Katya suggest eyebrows 01
Skin - LURE: Emily (Carnation)
Body, Hands & Feet - Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V4.0
AO - [Body Language Sweet Lovely Cute] BENTO AO Kisetsu
Physics - 2.- Sutile -Subtle.~ Physics by Temptation
Shape - Custom Made
Tattoo - Nomadic Owl - Black [CAROL G]
Bindi - .:ellabella:. Kerli V2 dark-nose
Necklace - EF; Empyrean Forge : Archetype Necklace AQUARIUS
Bracelets and Rings - **RE** Real Evil: Deah Glove & Rings - Maitreya Bento - at this round of Uber.
Top - !APHORISM! - Deanna Top Caramel - Maitreya at this round of FaMESHed
Shorts - !Rebel Hope - Ashton Mesh Suede Shorts_Maitreya
Shoes - Pure Poison - Leti Pumps - Maitreya
Incidentally - I took the pictures today with a fabulous new gadget, (well new yo me!!), by the amazing Carlyle Theas of the inventor and creator of the "can't do without" (CTS) Wardrobe! The new gadget is called (CTS) Skylight and is a brilliant tool that alows to quickly switch between windlight settings with the use of an inworld or webbased graphical interface - no more trying to remember which windlight you like in any particular environment - Brilliant!!
As well as the links above, you can also visit Carlyle's site in world here!