—
Anonymous. 62. Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon. Currently: New Jersey, USA. Raised Christian. Travel. Healthcare.
What does the concept/word “feminism” mean to you? What does the concept of equality mean to you?
Feminism means women’s rights in the workplace, in healthcare, in housing, voting, education and all areas of our lives all over the world and not just the west.
What do you think is the most pressing struggle for women today? What is the most crucial aspect in your eyes?
I think that question has to be answered globally. Yes I’m in the United States but we must consider a global view. Globally speaking, most women have very very little rights – right of property, the right to decide what to do with their bodies, the right as to who they want to marry and who they want to be with, basic rights. In the United States, women certainly have a lot more rights than let’s say women in some parts of the world who are still fighting to have a right for speech or education. So globally speaking, we have a long long way to go.
Is feminism a subject you think about? Have you ever read a book or seen a documentary about feminist issues?
Yes I do and I’ve seen various things. The stories about clitoralectomy/genital mutilation of young girls are most disturbing; they show how powerless the female sex is in some parts of the world and the tragedy that some of the older women condone this practice and don’t or are afraid to protect their young girls. Most men in the west have no idea that this shit goes down. Half of your male readers are not going to know what you mean when you ask: “How did you learn about feminism?” They’ll probably say: “What do you mean how I learned about feminism? I’m learning about it right now, I’ve never read stuff like this before.” Your interviews are wonderful, more power to you; it may move some men to remorse and a process of accountability because you don’t know who your reader will be, it could be a guy who drugs his female dates to exercise his need for power and distorted pleasure.
Why do you identify as a feminist and how/when did you learn about it? What were you taught about women growing up?
I have a twin sister so I grew up with that and was always sensitive to her opinions and struggles that she had during dating. I actually grew up with two sisters and their dating experiences made me sensitive to the struggles that they had with men. Also growing up in Lebanon, I witnessed women being abused, exploited and yes not counted – I think that’s the key word. Growing up I witnessed women not being counted and I always wondered why, how can men do that, not count a woman’s (my mother’s, my grandmother’s) feelings and opinions.
Is feminism empowering for men? If so, how? How does feminism differ for you?
Does feminism empower men? My answer to that would be: absolutely. Because when you have a woman who is a mother, when you have a feminist mother, that woman is going to raise her son to be sensitive to other women, to be respectful towards women. In essence, I believe feminism is a product of the emotional soul development of men and women, because ultimately, feminism is about having an open heart, at the core, feminism is a heart issue. You might go to a location in a country where women and men both think feminism is a wonderful thing and in contrast you might go somewhere where both men as well as women believe feminism is a horrible thing. It all depends on their level of awareness and evolution – emotional and spiritual evolution. Yes, women are more sensitive to the subject of feminism than men are, it’s a simple fact. For men it’s not a personal subject matter we discuss much, you will not find a group of men sitting around the dinner table discussing feminism, it’s very rare.
Why do you think the word “feminist” is associated with a negative stigma? What do you think it connotes? How do you think it could change?
It’s misinterpretation, when feminism is misinterpreted by some people. I really believe that most people in the west like the word and have come to associate the word with women’s rights and I believe there’s great sympathy for feminism. I mean yes, there will always be that pocket of population that is against it. I really believe that the reason men or even women who are against feminism are folks who aren’t in touch with their own feminine nature, or terribly fear it. But I don’t really believe feminism today has as bad of a rap as people make it out to be. Maybe some folks think that feminism is going to increase chauvinism. I believe the stigma comes because feminism in the fearful minds of some men means that women do not need them, do not need men. That is not true of course; the sexes will always need each other and inter-depend. Feminism doesn’t exclude anyone, especially men.
Is there anything else you’d like to add? Are there any other questions you think I should be asking?
Yes please explore the subject of women in power. Is feminism a tool/access to power, does it empower/disempower women and how do powerful women hurt the feminist agenda by abusing power? Many industries that exploit women aren’t always run by men. There are women in high corporate towers in healthcare, entertainment, banking, fashion, who own companies or hold powerful positions and who unfortunately contribute and allow the exploitation of other women (their sisters) to carry on for their own selfish gain. So what happens to feminism when women are the source of exploitation and abuse of other women? Sometimes it is women who are the agents of anti-feminism and this must come to light. I was recently talking with a woman about a serial rapist who was on the news and she said: “All those women are liars.” I said: “I’m sure there are liars in there but you can’t tell me that 15 women come forward and they’re all lying.” It’s interesting, you have to look at that because some women hold the position that women are catty, women are liars, women will exploit men, women will do anything to get famous and make money. It’s very interesting. The film “Raise the Red Lantern”, a Chinese film, a painful film, it takes place in 1920′s China and it’s about this lord who has three wives. He marries a fourth who’s the youngest. The other wives are jealous and threatened of this young new girl. My point is, instead of the four women forming an alliance against this man, they start destroying each other. Some women hold this position of: “I’m gonna bring her down” and fail to see the bigger picture and how their actions truly slow down and hurt the feminist movement. The challenge for such women is to explore and engage in cooperative alliances with other women and let go of their internalized competitive patriarchal force which hurts us all.
—
This post was originally published on the author’s Tumblr and is republished here with permission.
—