I would like to begin by humbly thanking all the millions of women and men around the world who marched on January 21st, 2017. Also, to thank the millions of women and men who were not able to march this weekend but who similarly support and fight alongside everyone as allies and advocates of women’s basic human rights.
Now, let’s talk about the F word. Feminism is not a bad word, and it is not only for radical females who are assumed man-haters who burn bras. Feminism is about standing together as human beings for equal opportunities and basic human rights. Feminism is about love and respect for all genders and about understanding how gender intersects with race, sexuality, etc. and this creates a unique experience for all women. Feminism is about sticking up for women who have a different experience than you. Feminism is about owning up to being a ‘nasty woman.’ Feminism isn’t about burning bras but breaking down stereotypes, stigmas, prejudices, unjust violence, hate crimes, unequal pay and treatment, sexual harassment, the patriarchy, etc. Feminism is for everyone because everyone plays a role in these things and therefore must play an equal role in dismantling them.
Samantha Nutt wrote an article titled 'Feminism is more than a noun—it's a process' and says, “Domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, and the daily diminishments that involve being talked over, dismissed, obsessively scrutinized or simply ignored—these are some of the ways in which women are admonished, at times killed, for not minding their so-called place. It’s a universal problem.”
One of my favorite things I heard during the march in Boise, Idaho was from a father who was walking alongside his daughter. He said, “Wow, isn’t this amazing? All these women marching, they are really pissed off!” Although some could view this negatively, the tone in his voice was more astonishment and was far more sympathetic and hopeful than anything else. He walked alongside his daughter for her rights and her children’s rights and their children’s rights. He saw that the largest rally in Boise’s history was because women are willing to fight for their rights and will make a beautiful and peaceful display all around the world in order to show how important we believe it is to secure and protect fundamental human rights.
This is a crucial time in history for everyone to stand up for women’s rights. We have been called to action, due to the election results and the actions already implemented by our predator-in-chief, and it’s time to pay attention to what is going on and how all of these executive orders will affect women and men negatively and immensely.
Now, I must recap the women’s march with some of the best signs that have been circulating the Internet.
“Keep your rosaries off my ovaries”
“My neck, my back, my pussy will grab back”
“A woman’s place is in the resistance”
“Men of quality support equality”
“We shall overcomb”
“Build bridges, not walls”
“Keep your tiny hands off my rights”
“This nasty woman and her cuterus”
“Keep your laws out my drawers”
“Our rights aren’t up for grabs”
“Girls just wanna have fun-damental rights”
“Thou shalt not mess with women’s reproductive rights- Fallopians 1:21”
“1968 is calling, don’t answer”
“Think outside my box”
“Mind your own uterus”
“The future is nasty”
“Protest like a girl”
“Same shit, different century” and
“My arms are tired from holding this sign since the 1960’s”
And now, onto the moment you have all been waiting for! Here are 10 amazing, inspiring, and important TED talks related to feminism and the women's march, in no particular order:
1. What will you tell your daughters about 2016?
Chinaka Hodge
https://www.ted.com/talks/chinaka_hodge_what_will_you_tell_your_daughters_about_2016
2. A political party for women’s equality:
Sandi Toksvig
https://www.ted.com/talks/sandi_toksvig_a_political_party_for_women_s_equality
3. How online abuse of women has spiraled out of control:
Ashley Judd
https://www.ted.com/talks/ashley_judd_how_online_abuse_of_women_has_spiraled_out_of_control
4. The lies we tell pregnant women:
Sofia Jawed-Wessei
https://www.ted.com/talks/sofia_jawed_wessel_the_lies_we_tell_pregnant_women
5. We should all be feminists:
Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc
6. The urgency of intersectionality:
Kimberle Crenshaw
https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_ur...
7. Confessions of a bad feminist:
Roxane Gay
https://www.ted.com/talks/roxane_gay_confessions_of_a_bad_feminist
8. Violence against women, it’s a men’s issue:
Jackson Katz
https://www.ted.com/talks/jackson_katz_violence_against_women_it_s_a_men_s_issue
9. My daughter, Malala:
Ziauddin Yousafzai
https://www.ted.com/talks/ziauddin_yousafzai_my_daughter_malala/transcript?language=en
10. A girl who demanded school:
Kakenya Ntaiya
https://www.ted.com/talks/kakenya_ntaiya_a_girl_wh...
***TED has a topics page on Feminism, here's the link:
