Five Things Feminism Has Done For Me

Once upon a time, back in my university days, I was working in digitization at the University of Calgary Press. Those were some good times. We played in photoshop all day and listened to Stevie Wonder, Shonen Knife and Paul Simon. We ran wild in the provincial archives and learned a ton about local history, provincial law history and the terrors of medical history. It was awesome. This job was super-flexible, so I was able to take off for a class for a few hours in the middle of the day and then come back, thus earning money and finishing my degree a bit faster. One summer I decided to take two classes: Women'’s Studies and Music History of The Beatles. My dear friend K used to hate the days that I had Women'’s Studies, because I would come back to work, horrified and depressed about what I was learning. 'We have it so good,' I'd tell her. '“You need to take that class.'

That'’s why hearing that our government has cut $5 million of funding to Status of Women Canada when they have $13 billion surplus this year made me crazy. Skylark tagged me to write my '5 things feminism has done for me' so Canadian bloggers can show our support for the SWC.

So here are my five things:

1. Feminism has made me a Person.

It's kind of shocking to think that in terms of the Senate and the British North America Act, Canadian Women have only been considered as "people"” for 77 years. Thanks to the Famous Five, in 1929 women were at last allowed to become members of the Senate. Interestingly, most of the provinces gave women the right to vote between 1916 and 1925, although Quebec did not until 1940! Something to keep in mind at election time, ladies, when you think how hard women fought for your right to vote!

2. Feminism has given me the right to read and learn.

Books aren't "inappropriate" for young women anymore! yay! I can be educated! yay!!! And most men consider that desirable. And the men who want Jessica Simpson (bless her little heart) are not the men I want! Hallelujah!!!

3. Feminism has given me options.

I can choose any career, I can choose any hair style, I can choose to say yes or no, I can believe anything, I can want anything and I can work hard to achieve my goals. I can laugh or cry or get mad. I can climb trees and hop fences. I can be a tom-boy and a girly-girl. Which brings me to:

4. Feminism has given me the ability to live with less fear.

I say less fear because, like every woman I know, we are aware that we have to be cautious in certain situations. There are some streets that I won'’t walk down alone in the dark, and some situations I wouldn't put myself in at all! However, that being said, I can show my ankles or my hair and not be afraid for my life. I do not need to live in fear of a father, brother or husband. I have the power to say no to a man or scenario, and I have the law behind me. I do not need to be subservient for fear of my life. I do not need to face rape, HIV or genital mutilation on every corner. I know that abuse and rape are still risks in Canada, don't get me wrong, but we have rights that women in other countries simply don'’t have.

5. Feminism has given me the ability to keep fighting.

As far as we have come, I am reminded every day of why we can't stop fighting. I'’ve had jobs with bosses who pinch, bosses who introduce me to other men as "“my intern *wink, inappropriate laugh*"”, profs who look me up and down and then ask me to go for a drink to discuss "“grad studies"”, male co-workers who tried to call me "“sunshine"” or do George Bush'’s patented "“shoulder massage"”. I'’ve learned that it'’s hard to be a young woman trying to stand up against inappropriate behavior from an authority figure. I've learned that when you say "“no" to a prof you can start getting "“C"”s instead of "“A"”s. It can be a big pain in the ass, where each new job is a new battle to let them know you won'’t take it, and that in the Old Boy'’s Club you'’re either invisible or the little pet who brings in the coffee. We can't stop fighting. But hopefully as time goes by, we'll have to fight less.

I don't know too many Canadian bloggers, so I'll "tag" the lovely Strawberry Blue Viking, the equally lovely Queen of Swords, Joshua (I doubt you read my blog, but what the hell? And no, Feminism isn't just for women) and the delightful Mocha... I know you're not Canadian, but I don't see why this should be strictly Canuck territory. I'm tagging loosely here, people... NO pressure :)

La-La-Love,

~g~