I think, for me, it's not about defining what's the worst on a global scale, or comparatively speaking, or even philosophically, 'what is the worst thing people are living right now'. I mean, do I care that there is war and poverty and horrible sexism and abuse in far-away country, yes, very much so. But there's very little I can DO about it. I'm not personally going to end a war. I'm not able to keep people from starving half a world away. Maybe I would be if I had lots of money to give, or if I had loads of political influence, but I don't and probably never will. Or if I was a doctor (or a skilled anything...) that could fly over there and help. But I'm not that, either. So me caring about all the women world-wide that die in childbirth, and child brides, and sex trafficking... That's great I guess, but it isn't going to make a lick of difference.
I felt that way, too, that horrible, horrible weight of everything that's wrong with the world. The helplessness. The detachment, that creeps up in the end to protect yourself from feeling it too deeply. But then I started thinking, what CAN I do. There's women being assaulted on their way into abortion clinics right here in my city. I can go walk besides them, and make them feel less alone. There's trans people being hurt and discriminated against. I can go protest for equal rights for them, write to my local politicians about it. There's friends of mine that have been raped, and were too scared to report it because they think the police won't do a thing. I can support a special 'trust person' being instated on the police force for that, right here. There's discrimination, misogyny, inequality, right here in my daily life. I can choose not to be silent. I can choose to help wherever I can, and make noise to others.
Does that make me ineffective on a global scale, of course. But who is, really? I am a proud feminist, an active feminist, and yes, you're right, preoccupied with our first world problems. Because here, I'm effective. Because me simply worrying about some other, bigger problem doesn't do a thing or help anyone. So, feminism, because it is very much needed, and because I can...
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2014-09-28 08:49 am (UTC)I felt that way, too, that horrible, horrible weight of everything that's wrong with the world. The helplessness. The detachment, that creeps up in the end to protect yourself from feeling it too deeply. But then I started thinking, what CAN I do. There's women being assaulted on their way into abortion clinics right here in my city. I can go walk besides them, and make them feel less alone. There's trans people being hurt and discriminated against. I can go protest for equal rights for them, write to my local politicians about it. There's friends of mine that have been raped, and were too scared to report it because they think the police won't do a thing. I can support a special 'trust person' being instated on the police force for that, right here. There's discrimination, misogyny, inequality, right here in my daily life. I can choose not to be silent. I can choose to help wherever I can, and make noise to others.
Does that make me ineffective on a global scale, of course. But who is, really? I am a proud feminist, an active feminist, and yes, you're right, preoccupied with our first world problems. Because here, I'm effective. Because me simply worrying about some other, bigger problem doesn't do a thing or help anyone. So, feminism, because it is very much needed, and because I can...