I look at my younger sister sometimes. Not in any particular way. I just simply stare at her. Watch her mannerisms and personality come to light. See her anxiety fade for the moment with the next joke or story thrown her way. I immediately realize how proud I am of my little sister. Introverted and anxious for as long as I can remember, but still with an opinion and fight all her own.
She could have listened to our Salvadorian mother and her outdated beliefs, and become the daughter I know my mother wishes I was. But she didn’t. She followed me. Listened to my rants and understood me when no other family member did. I stand alone in many ways of thinking within my family structure, but none more than gender equality.
I can do everything from speak in a normal vocal range in English and Spanish to yell about the very oppression that has locked us out of rooms that we helped build. But nothing changes. I wish I could find some alternative way to get through to the most important people in my life, but I don’t think there is. If it wasn’t for my sister, then I would be standing alone. I would be a lonely feminist in a crowd of ignorant sexists. There is nothing extraordinary about that statement within our societal context but seeing your accomplishments and strengths belittled only because of your sex can get tiring after a certain amount of time.
I was aware from an early age that gender equality would be something that would suffocate my willingness to prosper in all aspects of my life moving forward and it would be something I would have to fight. I just wasn’t ready to see it thrive within my family and be able to stay silent. Speaking up came from within and due to my own personal growth, but none of it would have mattered if I didn’t have someone backing me up. I would have given up a long time ago and conformed to my mother’s beliefs had it not been for my little sister.
Everything I believe and know to be true has been shown and explained to her. My first thoughts on not being able to do the same things as my older brother at a prepubescent age to the lack of female empowerment the women in my life have dealt with for decades without the urge to progress in any form even up to today. She has heard it all and still chose to stand by me. I will always be thankful to her -- more than she will ever know.
She was the first person in my life that ever declared themselves a feminist in front of me. I would like to take credit for that but I know I can’t. She’s riding that new wave of feminism until the term and movement isn’t necessary anymore. All I can do is be proud that my sister decided to become a strong independent woman and break away from an oppressive mold that has been embedded into our Hispanic skin from birth. She is one of the strongest people I know.
Not because she calls herself a feminist, but for the simple reason that deciding to break away from our family in this aspect came with an enormous amount of negativity. She was willing to believe in me and most importantly, in this movement all on her own.
