Farewell Feminist Lessons
After 10 weeks of reading my terribly written feminist ramblings, the time has for you all to be finally set free. I’m giving you a metaphorical sock and you are now free elves.
You’ve been freed.
But before I let you go, I want to dedicate this final blog post to some of the important life lessons I’ve learned from feminism.
- Be open about your sexuality- To quote Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s in her Ted Talk on why we should all be feminists, “We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the same way boys can.” Society has a great way of repressing women’s sexuality and this is vey dangerous. It is important to be open about sex, especially for women, in order to foster healthy relationships.
Let ’em know, my queen.
- Love and rock your body- Often the hardest thing to love is yourself, especially in a culture that narrowly views a beautiful woman as petite and inconspicuous. But you have to realize that you regardless of what shape or size, all women are beautiful. Your body is amazing, and nothing should ever make you feel otherwise. You got it, so flaunt it. While promoting health is important, there is nothing wrong with believing in beauty that goes outside of convention.
- Stop slut-shaming and speak up when other do so- The labels of “slut” and “whore” are just another way to oppress women who are champions of their own sexuality. Women are berated (and berate themselves) for dressing too sexily for no reason besides this patriarchal construct. If it’s not your vagina, then it’s not your business. And if you hear anyone else not respecting another woman’s personal choices, then simply speak up about it.
I’m resorting to memes now…but Condescending Willy Wonka gets it
4. Women are allowed to enjoy their interests- Whether its reading Jane Austen of Real Housewives, Game of Thrones or Gucci, women are their interests. There should not longer be a black and white divide between “feminine” or “masculine” interests. And it’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy both!
Where are your social conventions now?
5. Understand that the women’s issues you face are completely different than the next person’s- Simply being a woman is not enough to understand the types of discrimination felt by another women. Gender inequality is experienced in micro and macro forms, and we need to create safe spaces for those nuances and intersections. Being respectful of these empirical differences is vital for progress.
6.Trans women are women- If someone identifies as a woman, she is a woman. She fights the same fight you fight, and it is about time something is done about the violence against them.
7. Support all women- Criticism, competition, and comparison does nothing in the fight for gender equality. Sisterhood means loving each other, and that means support. Support women in positions of power and influence— feminists in politics, media, entertainment, science, etc.—so they can create a better world for our daughters.
Women supporting other women is the most beautiful thing there is.
I hope you all will apply some of these feminist lessons in your own life, for they truly create a difference. And now it is time to say goodbye. I hope you have enjoyed reading and seen a new perspective here on The Pragya Project.
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4 Responses to “Farewell Feminist Lessons”
Pragya, a great way to end blogging. It was a good way to sum up everything you’ve said this semester! Your use of pictures was very good (especially that gif!). I think you would be an outstanding feminism blogger. The way you make heavy topics, light and ad humor to something that people could easily pass over is something that would benefit our society. Also, kudos to you for that HP reference in the beginning!
Pragya, a great way to end blogging. It was a good way to sum up everything you’ve said this semester! Your use of pictures was very good (especially that gif!). I think you would be an outstanding feminism blogger. The way you make heavy topics, light and ad humor to something that people could easily pass over is something that would benefit our society. Also, kudos to you for that HP reference in the beginning!
This is a really good list of feminist lessons. It’s like a concise “Feminism 101”. I want you to know, Pragya, that I really have taken lessons from reading your blog throughout the semester. I learned more about what it truly means to be feminist and ways that I can incorporate it into my life, ways that I’ve actually found myself using. I find myself more and more wanting to just make a stand for women in general. I don’t think I would have had such relatable and understandable exposure to feminism had it not been for your blog, so thank you! I feel more educated, and I no longer feel weird about the term ‘feminist’. It’s been a great time reading your blog, I’ll miss it!!
PS. I’ve always loved your blog name, “The Pragya Project”. It’s so catchy 🙂
It’s so weird to think that our blogs are coming to an end for the semester. I hate to say it, but Thursdays are always the English class day that I look forward to because commenting on blogs is actually *gasp* mildly enjoyable. I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog this semester Pragya. While you can find no end to feminist articles and causes online, it was refreshing to see a writer with whom I can relate and who is currently having a lot of the same experiences that I have. I’ve definitely seen feminism on a different level thanks to your blog. It’s relatable, easy and interesting to read, and, most of all hilarious. What a great conclusion to your blog.