Feminism something to aspire to

"Some people ask, 'Why the word feminist?
Why not just say you are a believer in human rights, or something like that?' Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general - but to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender. It would be a way of pretending that it was not women who have, for centuries, been excluded." Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, We Should All Be Feminists.
For those of you who regularly follow my writing you'll remember that I recently spoke of the column that simply didn't want to be published.
The column that just wouldn't land in the editor's inbox despite several attempts at being sent. So, here it is. The column where I revive the F-word again, because I believe it's important, particularly with an election coming up. I've been called a "feminazi" and "one of those", and on occasion have been scorned at by men and women alike. It's what can happen when you front a women's organisation.
Of course, I take this all on the chin. After 13 years of doing this gig I have learned to. It serves to remind me that there are folk in our community who still have some learning to do. Actually we all do. Statistics, and even more importantly, the reality of lived human experiences in the 21st century continue to demonstrate the disproportionate inequalities between genders.
Women are over-represented as victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse; and are under-represented in governance roles, in parliament, decision-making and in higher paid full-time work. Pay parity continues to be an issue here at home, with the reality being that women are paid 12 per cent less than men for equivalent work.
Internationally, for many women, the picture remains startlingly similar to how it looked a century ago. Areas of conflict are particularly dangerous for women and girls where the likelihood of becoming collateral damage is significantly intensified - recent political uprisings in places like Nigeria and Syria demonstrate this. Many of us have become so familiar with this picture that we have run the risk of becoming de-sensitised to the reality of the lived experiences of our global sisters. Human trafficking continues as one of the world's largest export industries, and females are over-represented here as well.
One-child policies in China and India continue to wreak havoc on female babies, placing pressure on families and significantly changing the face of population demographics. Women continue to fight for democracy, including campaigns for improved opportunities in education, employment, health, political and spiritual leadership. We continue to hear news of pro-rape meet up groups attempting to re-assert male dominance in a world where female victims of sexual violence are still questioned over what they were wearing, and why they were out walking in the dark alone. All of this serves as a stark reminder that there is still work to do.
Feminism is aspirational. For those with an open mind its core belief structure is about empowering women and men. Feminism has at its heart the simple sense of equality and liberation. Liberation from social structures, systems and conventions that bind us to ways of being in the world. This sort of freedom may be criticised by some as idealistic in nature. However, we all need something to aspire to. And I reckon that a social revolution striving for gender equality isn't really that radical a notion. Feminists come in many shapes and forms, just like people do. I have met some ordinary men who ascribe to feminist principles. Some of them live right here in our backyard. They look like maintenance men, educators, service station attendants, even spiritual leaders. And none of them had to burn a bra to call themselves a feminist. I have also met some extra-ordinary women who have spent their whole lives challenging for gender equality. Some of them did burn bras, and many of them have transformed their world one person at a time, having courageous conversations, encouraging other women to write letters to newspapers, to get elected to boards and councils, to challenge authorities about injustice, and to talk with men about what it means to be a woman in this world. The Women's Network is also aspirational. We champion change daily, seizing opportunities to raise social consciousness and to create new realities in which we can all come together. Heck, even to celebrate. Change is gonna come. It starts with the smallest of steps!
Email me: womnet.wang@callplus.net.nz