Feminism: An Ideology and Lifestyle

Feminism is equality. Feminism is women and men on an identical playing field. Feminism, to me, is the right and the fight for women to be equal to men. Feminism is mostly acknowledged as an ideology, but it is incorporating these ideologies into one's lifestyle that will facilitate a change. One does not just think feminism, one is feminism. I believe that through feminism, through women acknowledging the issues, putting in the effort to ignite change, and uniting as one regardless of race or class, there may actually be a chance for this revolution to occur.

In a world dominated by men there is a strong need for women to come together and to fight to have the same rights that men have. Feminism is a unified front of women. This unity should be considered more of a philosophy than a literal occurrence. Women need to keep in mind that in regards to our biology and our experiences as being defined 'women' we are no different.

Sojourner Truth, albumen silver print, circa 1870

Richardson

A 1932 Soviet poster for International Women's Day...

This is important. Although we can all be considered 'women' we are also classified by other descriptors such as our socio-economic status or our race. As women, though, none of this matters. Women must unite...regardless. As an ideology, Audre Lorde said it best in her article, The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House: "It is learning how to take our differences and make them strengths (1984, p. 23)." Lorde later went on to say, "The failure...to recognize difference as a crucial strength is a failure to reach beyond the first patriarchal lesson. In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower (1984, p. 23)." "Our world" refers to the world of women. Women experience a lifestyle unlike that of men. In order to survive, coalitions must be formed, issues...