"30 years ago sexism was rampant and in your face; today, sexism is considered more subtle. It's harder to see."
That was one perception raised by last month's intergenerational conversations about Feminism. A few women who were "there" 30 years ago, quickly responded: "It seemed subtle to us at the time. That's the thing about sexism. It wraps itself around cultural norms such that its hard to observe and hard to be aware of, even when you're a victim to it."
Awareness is as infinite and as circumstantial as the horizon. It's only complicated by the extent to which we are looking inward or looking outward.
How often are we truly aware of ourselves, our interactions with the "outside world," and how that may or may not affect our beliefs, actions, and behaviors?
For example, a recent study found that teens who watch Sex in the City, Friends, and other TV shows featuring sexual situations are far more likely to get pregnant or get someone else pregnant than their peers. While I am not a teen (quite to the contrary it seems), it makes me wonder -- what messages am I internalizing through my weekly doses of Heroes and Lost? How aware am I of their influence on me?
There is some level of awareness that I have come to recognize and appreciate to some degree. I know that I entered a bout of depression while reading Anna Karenina caused largely by the themes of the book. My husband is good about reminding me when I haven't been to a yoga class in a while (and I am good about reminding him when he has skipped a meal.) At a deeper level, I have come to understand myself as a professional. I know that I get joy out of the creative process. I know that I lose energy "fixing" things. I know that I need to be surrounded by solution oriented individuals. I recognize that I have zero patience for nay-sayers.
But it has taken me a long while to understand myself as a woman and the degree to which my gender has shaped my experience. And to that, the only thing I really do know is that it HAS shaped my experience. The rest is undiscovered territory. But it is an exciting territory to consider. As much as there is "looking back" that can be done, there is far more in terms of "looking forward." What do I bring as a woman? What strengths, gifts, and talents can I be unleashing? What are my own "womenly" blind spots?
As you consider your own story, what are you waking up to in your perception of
women? What questions continue to go unanswered? Where have you fallen asleep as it relates to
women’s experiences in the world? Where are you finding moments of shame and moments of pride?
I hope that these questions turn you on a bit to your awareness as yourself as a woman. I hope that you'll also consider expanding your awareness of women in Maine. This month, we're hosting a number of venues to begin this exploration. As always, I hope that you'll contribute to this blog. You are also all invited to join us on a visit to our grantees where you can explore how public policy, education, and better jobs are improving the lives of women and girls. We also invite you to join us for a brown bag discussion in Portland on November 12 when Lael Jepson will further delve into our views of feminism. Finally, in Making Change Happen, Cathy Johnson will talk about how her awareness has informed her activism.
Join us!
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