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I am a feminist, egalitarian, and a believer in forgiveness. I was raised in a household where my parents taught me to be grateful for my life, and would always remind me of how different theirs were at my age. Their storytelling and recollection of events that transpired throughout their childhoods crafted my views and values of life. Since I was a young girl I believed that “everything happens for a reason” as my Dad would say. I have had my own personal trials with this statement over the years, but it still is one of my core beliefs to this day. This saying has taught me to be a believer in forgiveness; teaching me that you need to forgive in order to move on. My mom taught me to always believe in myself and never let anyone take away my power, which shaped myself into being a feminist. I advocate for women’s rights by attending marches, participating in gender equality clubs, and keeping up to date with current feminist progressions. Likewise, I am an egalitarian. I believe that everyone is equal and we all deserve equal opportunities, despite any and all differences. These four pieces of literature, music, film, and art all represent a different aspect of who I am and my core beliefs.

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As a feminist, I admire Judy Chicago’s impressive installation of The Dinner Party, and its celebration of women. By selecting certain mythical, as well as historical female figures, such as Emily Dickinson, Sappho, the Fertile Goddess, Anna van Schurman, Sojourner Truth, and more, it calls to attention their contribution to society and the characteristics they embodied as such powerful women. For example, Anna van Schurman was a Dutch painter who was known for her attributions to learning and her defense of female education. Sojourner Truth was an American women’s rights activist, and Sappho was an Archaic Greek poet. All of these women at the table did something momentous that crafted a women’s role in society, whether it be through poetry, painting, literature, or actions. There are 39 place settings at The Dinner Party, which each spot adorned with a flower-designed plate and embroidered tablecloth with the names of the women. Judy Chicago claims that, “I am trying to make art that relates to the deepest and most mythic concerns of human kind and I believe that, at this moment of history, feminism is humanism.” I admire Judy Chicago for her artwork since she brought to light important female figures that have influenced a female’s role in society and the rights of women today.

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The song “Show Me Love” by Hundred Waters is a beautiful song that celebrates love without cruelty, hate, ugliness, or evil. The song is comprised of only 4 stanzas, with the patterning of 6, 3, 6, 3 lines. The lyrics describe a person asking for forgiveness in need of love claiming, “though I may make mistakes..show me love”. I admire this song because I believe that love is infinite, genuine, and capable of healing anything. This song has showed me that you have to fight for what you believe in, but that anything, whether it be love, rights, or forgiveness, they are worth fighting for.

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As an egalitarian, I strongly believe in equal rights for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. This movie Hidden Figures, released on December 25, 2016, documents three African American women that work at NASA in their fight for equal right. They fight both as women and people of color in the 1960’s where discrimination, racism, and misogyny were common in society (more then it still is prevalent today). Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson are the women behind one of the most momentous operations in the United States history: the launch of John Glenn into orbit. These women were not praised for their work, shown respect, or given credit for their contributions to the mission. During one scene in the movie, Katherine Johnson is talking with Colonel Jim, and standing up for herself after he is surprised that NASA hires women, “Yes, they let women do some things at NASA, Mr. Johnson, and it’s not because we wear skirts. It’s because we wear glasses.” I admire this movie for its raw, authentic, and unapologetic depiction of how women were treated at NASA, the discrimination they faced, and yet how they never gave up. I aspire to be more like these women, they defied all odds at their jobs, fought for their rights, and overall made an impact in United States history.

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This is my favorite book I have read. “The Shack” tells the story of Mack Phillips and his trials with forgiveness and religion after his daughter Missy has been murdered on a family trip. This book takes the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions as the story of Mack evolves as he struggles with depression and the confusion of his innermost beliefs. In the story, Mack travels back to the place where it is suspected his daughter had been killed after receiving a suspicious letter advising him to visit the desolate shack in the woods. Here, he meets the three people of the trinity, who teach him forgiveness in the midst of all evil. A member of the trinity tells Mack, “Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person’s throat...When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment...But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation.” I believe in forgiveness, despite how hard it might be to forgive someone. I have had my own trials in life where I have had to forgive others, and this book helped me realize that forgiveness helps with closure and alleviates all pain and suffering.

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The Shack (2017) - Understanding Forgiveness Scene (9/10) | Movieclips