My Journey Through Feminism

Before taking this class, I did already consider myself a feminist. My knowledge
came solely from sources like Rookiemag and Tumblr. Rookiemag is an online
publication for young women that includes artwork, poetry and writing about feminism,
politics, style, films, books and generally what the experience of a teenage girl is like
(similar in nature to Sassy magazine from the 90s). 'Tumblr feminism' follows a similar
discourse in that it is conversations and information written by young women with the
audience of other young women in mind. Through these online sources I learned a great
deal of valuable information about rape culture, LGBTQ women, women in the
workplace, women in the media, gender bias, intersectionality, Riot grrrl, activism, etc.
etc. Although I had what seemed like a wide-ranging knowledge of feminism, I wanted to
learn more and I knew I could do so by taking an official Women's Studies course.
A huge piece of knowledge I got from taking this course was information about
the history of feminism and it's pioneers. Before this class, I had only heard of bell hooks.
All of these young women who I was reading feminist theory from had idols by the likes
of Kim Gordon, Kathleen Hanna, the women of Pussy Riot, Sylvia Plath, Laverne Cox,
Courtney Love, Amy Poehler, Beyonc, Lupita Nyong'o, and so on. All of these women
are certainly feminist icons, but they are all women of notoriety due to their exposure in
mass media. I had only learned about the women who were pushing the envelope in terms
of feminism that were a part of popular culture. These women are certainly very
influential and crucial in the notion that because of their exposure in pop culture and
media, their message reaches many ears - including the ears of young men and women
who will grow up to hear and regurgitate these ideals and push them into the minds of
their generation and the generations to come after them. Feminism in pop culture is
important and this system is great, but I wanted to know about the women who fought for
legislative rights of women - the women who established feminism, on the forefront of
the movement.
I learned exactly such through taking this class. I learned about the work of
Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, Anita Hill, Gloria Steinem, Virginia Woolf and Susan B.
Antony. Each of these women played a key role in affecting women's issues and
progressing feminism. Anita Hill's influence is so important because her experience and
her bravery to testify before all white, male senators on the sexual harassment that she
was a victim of by her boss Clarence Thomas in her workplace. A month after Anita
Hill's testimony, the Civil Rights Act was strengthened by Congress to enable those who
charged sex discrimination to have jury trials and seek punitive cash damages. We can
thank Ms. Hill and her eight hours of testimony for a huge amount of the sexual
harassment laws we have today. Her influence has helped every working women come
closer to equality in the workplace and encouraged victims of sex discrimination in the
workplace to seek justice. Before taking this course, I had never heard the name Anita
Hill but had seen and experienced sexual harassment in one too many real life instances.
Now, I know the woman that we can thank for influencing substantial footing in the fight
against such harassment.

I can also now thank women like Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth and
Elizabeth Cady Stanton for their work towards the abolishment of slavery and for woman
suffrage. As the textbook puts it, "Many abolitionists became aware of inequities
elsewhere in society. Some realized that to improve women's status a separate social
movement was required. In this way, for many abolitionists, their experiences with
abolition inspired their desire to improve the conditions of all women's lives" (10). I can
thank Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott for helping to conceive the Seneca Falls
Convention in 1848 after being refused seating and any voice as delegates to the World
Anti-Slavery Convention. The "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions" was
produced at this convention, which demanded improved status of women's rights and
women's suffrage. The Seneca Falls Convention is seen as the beginning of the women's
movement in the United States and we have these women to thank for this. The liberation
and rights that I can have as a modern day woman is all thanks to the women that came
before us.
I also learned about how important it is to understand intersectionality. Geek
Feminism Wiki defines intersectionality as, a concept used in critical theories to
describe the ways in which oppressive institutions (racism, sexism, homophobia,
transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, classism, etc.) are interconnected and cannot be
examined separately from one another. It is important to recognize that white women
can be discriminated against on the basis of gender whereas women of color can be
discriminated against on the basis of gender and race. Or, a lesbian or a trans woman of
color can be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race, sexuality and gender
identity. Intersectionality is important because no two experiences of oppression are
alike. As a white woman, I still experience more privilege than a transgender woman of
color. It is crucial that women in places of more privilege than other women do not
become blind to their privilege as it is ignorant and it dismissed the experience of women
who are oppressed on more than one basis.
I owe substantial education for informing me of all the women that did the
legwork for the feminist movement. It was so refreshing to receive such an expansive and
diverse education that included no discrimation toward race, sexuality, class or gender. I
think that every student should take the class. The class heightened my awareness even
further on all of the issues we spoke of in class or that the incredible women speakers at
extra credit events spoke of. This class has helped to further my education on women's
issues and the history of the feminist movement and has given me the drive to further this
education more and encouraged me to want to take part in activism. I feel empowered
and moved by the education I have received in this class and I am eternally grateful for
the powerful and influential women that pioneered this movement. I hope to help further
the rights of women across the globe and remove systems of oppression.