The first journal entry! I am looking forward to these weekly journal entries, as I too have found that journalling is a great way to reflect on concepts, experiences, and the ways we exist in the world.
This week our class discussion looked at feminist anti-oppression beliefs and what these beliefs meant to us individually. To me, a feminist anti-oppression framework is a way of looking at the world that recognizes, acknowledges and seeks to change the privilege-oppression dichotomies that exist in our society. It is a philosophy that seeks to undermine, eliminate and dismantle discrimination and oppression, specifically in terms of challenging sexism, racism, ageism, ableism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. It was interesting in class to see how other womyn interpreted this feminist anti-oppression term. Most womyn commented on a subtopic or aspect of feminist anti-oppression, rather than a general statement. This made me think about how people interpret concepts (and consequently the world) in incredibly different and unique ways. Even what it means to be a feminist differs significantly depending on who is speaking.
Since my first course in Women and Gender Studies, my understanding of feminism has changed dramatically. I remember being very hesitant to take the introductory course to WGS, but with my mum encouraging me, I decided to give it a try. Initially, I thought in order to self-identify as a feminist you had to be radical. After all, all the cool feminists were radical, right? Now I’ve developed a much more inclusive and open idea as to what it means. To me, in its most basic form, being a feminist means wanting equality for all people (which means we need to start by empowering the most oppressed groups). We can extend this and suit it to our own personal values, beliefs and visions for the future.
For this reason, it is important for me to work at an organization (be it a student placement or a real job in the field) where the mission statement and goals closely align with my own. This means that I will be looking to work at an organization which self-identifies itself as having feminist foundations/principles for action. Since my first course in WGS 6 years ago, I have found some way to be involved in feminist work: school, paid work and volunteerism. Bringing feminist, anti-oppressive principles to my work and life is important to me. I did a double major, one of which was in WGS, and then continued to complete my Masters degree in the same field. I worked at a maternity home for pregnant and parenting young mothers for a year and a half. I began working as a volunteer crisis line counsellor for the rape crisis centre in Peel two years ago. Being involved with these organizations has been important to me, and will continue to steer where I go and what I end up doing in the future.
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