One Woman Army

Listen to my story, silence me no more...

“And where the words of women are crying to be heard, we must each of us recognize our responsibility to seek those words out, to read them and share them and examine them in their pertinence to our lives. That we not hide behind the mockeries of separations that have been imposed upon us and which so often we accept as our own.” - Audre Lorde

I am in awe of the words of women.
I sit here alone, in a house on the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the voices of women who I spoke with so long ago. Women who I worked with, talked with, laughed and cried with - who trusted their stories, their words, their lives, to me, to my care, to my listening and witnessing. To take these stories of theirs - their herstories - and to share them, use them, analyse them, trust them, guard them, work with them, and to honour them.

To honour their herstories.

They were not mine to give, and yet here I hold them.

I am challlenged with how to tell their stories, to give them the adequate - no, not adequate - the necessary attention they so deserve. How to respond to them and ensure that they are received into the hands of others with the necessary care that they require. How to do justice to women's words.

We, women, live in silence. Our stories, not told. Not spoken. Not listened to. Not given respect.
How to them justice when they are told?
How to be an active, truly present listener and witness?

To ensure that women's voices are not lost in our re-telling of the story?

This is my challenge.
Not my stories to tell, yet here I am, entrusted in telling them.

To be continued.
-Artemis.

Sunday morning reading: Empowerment4Women

I'm all about promoting fantastic feminist works - writing, art, and inspiration.

Today's brainfood of choice - Empowerment4Women.com - a beautiful online feminist magazine. The new issue is now posted online, with beautiful photography by Sheilagh O'Leary, featured poet Malaika King Albrecht, and incredible writing.

Not to be missed - Tell Me A Story by Leisha Sagan, and Today's Class Topic: Rape by Jessica Trusiani. This last one in particular moved me to tears - I am in awe of women's story-telling, and this author inspires me.

Happy Sunday reading.
-Artemis.

Little girls, little boys - stereotype me please?

There are days when I wonder about having children.
I have grown up in my life always longing to have children - and even now, work in childcare. I love my job, I love my work (most days - tantrum days not so much) but then I look at our gender-segregated society and wonder what are we teaching our kids?

And how could I bring someone into that?

I often hear people say that feminism is no longer needed today - that we live in an equal society. Then I look around and see the wage gap (70 cents for every dollar a man earns - and even less in Atlantic Canada). I see cuts to women's centres. I see sexual violence.

Yesterday there was a news story about a 9-year old girl in Halifax who was fighting to be included in a boys' summer camp that included activities like fishing, hiking, camping and golfing. The alternative to the boys-only camp was a girls glamour camp that included activities such as manicures and a spa visit.

That is NOT what I want to be teaching my children - that girls are only supposed to learn beauty rituals while boys get to play outdoors. Oh yeah, lets just turn our little girls into sex symbols and glamour girls with no brains before they even hit puberty. And then we wonder what happened to people like Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan and Nicole Ritchie - why the media promotes beauty so much, why they are our children's role models.

Not my children.

And yet my heart still breaks when I remember the day when my niece (now ten years old today) - at that time only 4 years old, started to cry when I offered her some of my lip balm. She cried and cried, repeating "I'm not pretty I'm not pretty, I need more makeup" and my heart broke for her - that at only 4 years old she was already associating her own outer beauty with cosmetics. However unconsciously, that had happened. And my heart broke.

People may have said that the incident in Halifax about the boys-only/girls-only gender-segregated and blatantly stereotyped camp was only an isolated incident and doesn't reflect society. I argue that it entirely reflects society. The fact that the majority of the people in that community thought there was nothing wrong with the gender-segregated and stereotyped camp shows exactly that it does reflect society.

I want children, yes. But I am frightened of bringing them into this world. I look after children whose parents are trying to avoid every gender stereotype possible - and still outside influences invade.

-Artemis.

Feminism: Reclaim it.

Society has made it near to impossible and unacceptable today to call oneself a Feminist.

But here it is - I am a Feminist.
I believe in Feminism - it pervades my soul and encapsulates every single part of me.

Feminists come in all shapes and sizes - round, tall, grey, red, large, with glasses or without, curly hair, straight hair, punk, male, female, transgendered, intersexed, lbgt, straight, whatever. Feminism is about equality and equality-seeking. All other types of oppressions can somehow be linked back to women's oppression - the oldest oppression in history. By defeating women's oppression, we can deal with all other types of oppression.

But in order to do that, we must name what we are doing.
Not give it a new name. We must reclaim it and own it and believe it. Feminism is not the same as womanism. It is not personism. It is feminism for a reason and has a long, amazing, beautiful history of women and men who fought for equal right in society and rights for women. A long history of women who were chastised in society, segregated and punished for standing up for their feminist beliefs and for fighting so that I can go to university, so that I have reproductive rights and rights over my body, so that I can live the life that I am living today. To name it by any other name is a disservice to all those who fought for where we are today.

We are Feminists.
It is not a dirty word.
It is not a terrible thing to be.
I can't count how many times I have heard someone say "Well sure, I believe in equality... or I'm against wage discrimination... or violence against women... but I'm not a feminist".
Yes you are.
But you need to own it. Name it. Be it. Reclaim it.

It means believing in equality. Believing we can have equality. And in doing that - and naming yourself as a feminist, you are creating and enacting your own activism in your own way.

Yes, men can be feminists.
Yes, there are feminists of all races, sexualities, cultures, genders. Men in grey suits can be feminists and so can the neighbour who lives across the street. The woman wearing high heels and dressed in a cleavage-baring dress can be a feminist. Just because I wear makeup and heels and like to dress up and wear pretty things doesn't mean I don't believe in equality.

I am a feminist.

That's right. I am a feminist!

There are times that I forget entirely just how difficult it is to be a feminist in this world.
How hard the world really does make it for us.

Its easy to forget these things, when surrounded by a group of people and by a community where everyone is activists and feminists. Where it is acceptable to speak about your feminist viewpoints, to rage against sexism and misogyny and patriarchy, to talk about your body, or menstrual and sexual health, or violence against women.

When you live in such a community, its easy to fool yourself sometimes that it is like that for everyone all the time. That it is like that everywhere.

But its not.

The other evening I had the opportunity to chat with an amazing, powerful, strong woman. A grad student like myself, I knew of her feminist values and she knew of mine. My friends and I ran into her out on the town with her own group of friends, and it was suddenly that she was leaving her own group to sit and talk about feminist experiences with us - or lack thereof.

She spoke of how much she believe in menstrual health - but how society makes it impossible to use alternative products without suffering social consequences. Her examples was of her using a diva cup once at work and suddenly being labelled a feminist and the entire office talking about her diva cup. She has not used alternative products since.

The entire night suddenly was filled with her stories - and all of it came down to suffering the social consequences of being a feminist - and how she was not strong enough at this point in her life to do so in so many ways publicly.

It broke my heart. I ached for her and I wanted to help to empower her to be able to embrace feminism.

And really what it comes down to is a disdain, a hatred, a social and cultural punishment against the word and the idea of "feminism" itself.

I.
AM.
A.
FEMINIST.

I say it loud and I say it proud. I wear it on my sleeve, and on my heart. I talk about it, I embrace it, I hear it, I yell it, I feel it. Its in my blood. Its me.

But in society, it is not accepted. And what social movement has been okay in the past? I can't think of a one. Social movements are always punished and berated and society finds new ways to force it down. They get twisted and turned into something ugly that is no longer acceptable in society. The same is true of being a feminist. Every stereotype and nasty joke you've ever heard - apply here.

Its time to reclaim it.
I want it to be okay for my sisters to talk about their feminisms, to act them out. I want them to feel safe to be who they are.

So lets reclaim it.

I am a feminist!

-Artemis.

A Feminist Welcome!

We're back and ready to kick some patriarchal ass - so to speak! Hope you like the new blog - there are some layout changes, and updating is still in progress although all old posts have now been moved over here from the old wordpress site.

One Woman Army has been around for over a year now - and I've thought about upgrading to Typepad for quite some time. I finally did it. I am loving this new site, and once again feel a love for the freedom of feminist blogging. Expect to see many  more feminist-centred, newsworthy, analytical and the oh-so-personal posts of the past that have been lacking for some time now.

Stay tuned.
-Artemis.

Friday Feminist Blogging

Dispelling the myths of feminism… I love it. I ought to use this when I do presentations to groups on gender inclusivity when we tackle myths of feminism…

Thursday Thirteen#2: Feminist Because....

Thirteen Reasons Why I Am A Feminist!

1. I am a feminist because, most primarily, of my foremothers that came before me. Because of my mother, my Nana, and my grandmother - probably none of which would’ve called themselves Feminists - but they were. They helped me to develop my sense of feminism before I could put a label on it. My grandmother who birthed 6 children, was shipped around Europe during the second world war, gave birth to my father in Vienna - on a mental table by herself with no doctors around because she wasn’t Austrian, then watched the janitor come mop up her blood. My mother who raised me, worked, suffered depression, and died from it. My Nana who took in foster child after foster child, and taught me about love and respect and caring for other people. They are my foremothers and taught me the importance of being female - and of being oppressed, and of being equal.

2. I am a feminist for my sisters. My sisters who taught me how to be an active young woman and rally for the cause!!!!! Who taught me the meaning of sisterhood and companionship and having one’s back.

3. I am a feminist for my niece and young cousin. Because I watch them get pushed around, and I know how tough their life is going to be growing up female.

4. I am a feminist because I was drugged in a bar. I got lucky, I made it home. If you can call being drugged lucky. I used to consider myself one of the lucky ones for not being a victim of violence. Then I realized that we are all victims of violence in some regard - and no woman should have to consider herself “lucky”.

5. I am a feminist because I want to stop being asked “for the man in charge”. I am “the man in charge”. I am the boss. Just because I’m female doesn’t mean I don’t deserve an equal wage, equal pay, equal benefits and equal respect on the workplace.

6. I am a feminist because I am tired of walking home at night and feeling scared. Or crossing the street to get away from the guy walking down the sidewalk towards me. Of carrying pepper spray in my purse.

7. I am a feminist for all the amazing women in history who have been silenced. For the “herstory” that remains undiscovered. For the herstory that needs to be reclaimed.

8. I am a feminist because I have the right to choose - whatever I want to. I can choose to have an abortion. I can choose to keep my baby. I can choose to give it up for adoption. But it is my right and no one can tell me differently. I am a feminist for legal abortion and the right to legal abortion so that every woman can have the safe and legal right to choice.

9. I am a feminist because women’s work is unpaid, underpaid, and undervalued. Childcare. Education. Nursing. Social Work. Caregiving. Who decides the value of an occupation? A society that benefits the patriarchy. My work is of value and deserves the right to be recognized.

10. I am a feminist for the right to my body. For the beauty of my body, however it may be. Fat, thin, lazy, old, wrinkled, spotted, freckled, hairy, red, puckered, skinny, droopy, curvy. I celebrate my body in all its beauty regardless of the society that tries to tell us how to portray our bodies. To tell us what beauty is.

11. I am a feminist because my health might depend on it. That means women’s health and as such must be treated as only women’s health. Why are people always surprised when women react differently to some prescriptions or medical treatments? Because they were initially developed only on men and women are different. Our physiologies are different and so of course medical procedures should be different.

12. I am a feminist for all the women in the world who are silenced, objectified, violated, murdered. Enough said.

13. I am a Feminist for ME. My right as a person. My  right as a woman. My right to be equal.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. racyli

2. Debbie

3. Caylynn

4. Jane

5. Gabrielle

6. Shanna

7. Starrlight

8. Buttercup

9. Nathalie

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

All I want for Christmas

Dear Santa,

Its been quite a few years since I’ve written, but I’m sure to be on your good list this year! I’ve been so well-behaved - no name-calling, back-stabbing, putting gum in people’s hair - nothing like that. I’ve been an angel, so I’d like to ask for a few things for Christmas.

All I really want for Christmas is the funding to Status of Women Canada restored and equality put back in its mandate. If there’s one thing you can bring me - this is it! SWC has done so much for women’s equality in Canada over the years, and the work isn’t done yet. If you can’t do it on your own, how about getting every woman in Canada to email Bev Oda on Christmas Day to ask her for it as our Christmas gift? Here’s how to reach her: [email protected]

What else would I like for Christmas? A job that pays the same wage as my male friends, all wrapped up in a stocking with a big red bow.

The Court Challenges Program restored in Canada - how can we challenge the government on women’s equality without it?

A t-shirt for every day of the week - This is What a Feminist Looks Like! Wear it loud and wear it proud!

Safe streets to walk on, safe bars to dance in, safe drinks to drink. How hard is that? Can you get it for me by New Year’s Eve?

What I really want for Christmas? Time with my family and friends. A home to call my own. And the knowledge of what it used to be like to be a feminist - because in my Christmas gift, feminism is no longer needed since we’re living in a post-patriarchy.

Hey, I said I’d been good, so I figured I’d make my list big That’s what Christmas wishes are all about!

Happy Holidays everyone, whatever holiday you may be choosing to celebrate!

- Artemis

Women Are Angry...

And they have every right to be.

I’ve talked before about the cuts to Status of Women Canada.

$5 million dollars. That a whole 40% of its operating budget. This past week, the supposedly right honorable Minister Bev Oda, Minister responsible for Status of Women, announced the closure of three-quarters of the Status of Women offices in Canada. This effectively disables the organization - and with it women’s equality in Canada.

Oda said:

“The government recognizes, knows and does not have to be told that women are equal… Women across Canada will support the $5 million cut.”

Women are already equal huh? We don’t need this money? I guess this is why she also removed the word “equality” from the agenda of Status of Women Canada.

Women’s rights, services, advocacy and equality are under full-attack in Canada. So women are equal? This is the reality of Canadian women:

• women with post-secondary degrees earn 68.9% of what their male counterparts do.
• Canada ranks 38th in the world in the wage gap. Who’s more equal than Canada? Cambodia, Kenya, Czech Republic, and over 30 others!
• Canada ranks 25th in the world in the representation of women in professional and technical occupations.
• the average income for Canadian men: $36,865. The average income for Canadian women: $22,885.
• 1 in 5 Canadian women live in poverty.
• half of all single, widowed, and divorced women over 65 live in poverty.
• 67% of minimum wage earners are women.
• 29% of Canadian women have been assaulted by a spouse.
• half of all Canadian women have been sexually or physically assaulted.
• 43% of women have been sexually assaulted before the age of 16.
• in Canada, women make up 50.4% of the population, but only 20.8 of the seats in the House of Common.

EQUALITY IS STILL ON MY AGENDA.

This year is the 25th anniversary of Canada’s signing of the UN Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women. It’s time to hold Harper accountable.

Here’s a snapshot of events across Canada:

On December 10th (Human Rights Day), if you’re in Ottawa, rally for equality and justice! 1:30pm at the Supreme Court of Canada.

In St. John’s, Newfoundland? Join in the protests as the only Status of Women’s office in Newfoundland is being eliminated! December 8th meet at the Colonial Building at noon to rally against the cuts.

In Victoria, British Columbia, head to the government buildings at noon on December 8th. These cuts come on top of massive 100% funding cuts to women’s centres in BC over the last 4 years by the Campbell government.

In Winnipeg, Manitoba, attend a Funeral for Women’s Equality on December 8th at noon at the Women’s Memorial Grove on the legislature grounds.

In Moncton, New Brunswick, meet at the City Hall at noon on December 8th.

Bring your signs, your pots and pans, your energy and let this government know that women’s rights are human rights!!!!!!

For more information:

• Womennet
• Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA)
• The Women Are Angry
  

In sisterhood, Artemis