My name is HaLim and I am based in Toronto. I am currently teaching FSL in Ontario. I miss traveling so much! I would like to visit the Atlantic provinces this summer.

I have grown up always thinking that women can do anything that men can. My parents encouraged me to dream big; however my day to day actions and choices were largely constrained by the traditional gender roles. I did not dare to question their values despite the discomfort they caused me during my adolescence. Adulthood and independence exposed me to ideas and people that opened my eyes. I am now more comfortable questioning the dominant ideologies and choosing who I want to be.

I would call myself a feminist as I strongly believe in women empowerent. Even though significant progress has been made in establishing women’s rights and gender equality, I do not think that feminism’s work is already done. Gender inequality and discrimination still exist in various spheres of our society. Women still get paid less than men for the same work. Men still grossly outnumber women in higher management positions. Also, binary mindset is overwhelmingly prevalent, which more than often excludes LGBTQ community.

 I completely agree with the statement that feminism is for everyone. It is an essential line of thought that brings people together to discuss social injustice. With the added attention to intersectionality, it is important that we seek to understand all women’s complex experiences and perspectives no matter their race, class, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Other members of our community that do not identify as being women should also be welcomed into these meaningful conversations. Furthermore, it is necessary to equip teachers with appropriate and effective strategies to incorporate feminism in their practice. Developing young minds who possess an acute sense of social justice, critical thinking skills, and deep understanding of self and others is important.

Looking forward to learning with you all!

Best,

HaLim

I took this course to further my knowledge on the topic of feminism. I believe we still need feminism in order to pave the way for a younger generation of children, and in order to ensure gender equality and inclusivity. I personally like the idea of feminism used as a way to support and empower one another. I am interested in the discussion of patriarchy vs feminism including the power relationship between the terms.

Since then, I have been a part of provincial union task forces on human rights, our local Chair of Status of Women Committee for secondary teachers in the Upper Canada District School Board, and part of our Board’s Equity team. 

What I liked most this week in our studies was listening to Dunne talk from her perspective as a 16-year-old youth. She gets it. She admits from the start that she is privileged – and THAT is so important in understanding and analysing any kind of equity-driven theory. I agree with her when she stated that “Feminism can only have done its job when no woman is discriminated against.” As a privileged white woman, I see things from a different perspective, as does every woman – and as Jiménez states, this informs who we are. Although I cannot see oppression of women at times, it is always there as an undercurrent – everywhere in the world. I am only a small piece of this puzzle.

It was interesting to read about the fifth pillar of postfeminism in the Canlit Guide. I too worry that feminism is getting lost in the new translation of equity and human rights. With the anti-black racism movement, LGBTQ2SI awareness, and indigenous reconciliation, it is even more important to examine the lives of women within these three lenses. This is what I am here to do.

The sexist thinking that bell hooks (2014) mentions has been purposefully restructuring the social sphere in Turkey. I do not like Eids and I don’t think my mum and grandmother like them, as well. They are holidays only for men. I remember my mother who is a pharmacist and who works during the week from 8am to 6pm, prepping weeks before the Eid started to get the apartment cleaned, get the food ready, the shopping done, and everything arranged while my father enjoyed long sleeps and his crossword puzzles with coffee or tea. 
It is also true for me, as well, that “simply being the victim of an exploitative or oppressive system and even resisting it does not mean we understand why it’s in place or how to change it” (hooks, 2014, p. 21). I realized that I was not alone in feeling anger and frustration, just because I was a woman in Turkey, at the university as an English major during my first feminist theory class more than ten years ago. Later as a master’s student, I took classes on new branches of feminism. However, it was not until the last year that I realized I could start a change and that change can start with me by simply sharing my story and breaking silence. (My PhD project is also around this theme of breaking silence through writing.)  

Therefore, I cannot agree more that “feminism can only have done its job when no woman is discriminated against” as Dunne, the sixteen-year-old woman shares with all of us (2020, 01:39). It is what the utmost aim of feminism should be. It should be equity for all across the globe, not just within the privileged small portions of it. And, it should also focus on women not discriminating against each other. It is a very pressing issue that women can be violent against women, as well. As a woman of color from Turkey, I have not always been a feminist. I was terrified of the word. I was told that “bad women” are feminists. To my grandmother, that was as horrifying as communism or any other “ism” that she was taught to be beware. In her opinion, women who have such opinions should be “saved” and taught the “normal” ways. Raising her sons with patriarchal mentalities, looking down on women who have feminist ideals, shaming them, trying to change them are what women do to other women, as well. That is why the linguistic structures of feminist work is quite important. The language of feminism, like bell hooks suggests, should be accessible to all. Feminism should not only be for the few people who can be privileged enough to be in certain academic spaces if the aim is to make it for everyone. I do not think that feminism is for everyone. Not yet in everywhere, anyway. To me, if we would like to see feminism to become for everyone, we should make everyone contribute to it with their own genuine stories. That is why I really enjoyed the activist movement “Who Needs Feminism” the students at UCalgary created in 2013. We need similar movements. We need arts-based approaches. We need performative, visible, and radical ways of reaching to people everywhere. Hopefully, there will be a day where we could think that feminism IS finally for everyone.  

I found the speech by Jessica Dunne to be provocative in its commentary on items that have been highlighted in popular culture. I would say I am a feminist who does not like to wear the uniform. I don’t necessarily agree with some of the polarizing nature of some feminist beliefs, however, I have experienced inequities growing up with three brothers and becoming a single mother at the age of 25. Given my history living in a rural environment, where support for travel to manage health care needs are minimal, I am curious about how people have advocated for better funding and support towards the management of the health requirements for people who have a uterus without isolating any particular representation of ‘correct’ depictions of women in society. Post feminism is particularly interesting for me based on these ideas. Speeches by Audre Lorde have been really influential for me. I would be interested in learning more about intersectionality and the idea of the masters tools. I truly believe that we still need feminism, as the patriarchical and typically Western ideals are still embedded in our canons of representation, ideals of 'success' and societal gender expectations.

 

Never taken a women studies or gender course ever! Simply because I never thought I would ever need it, as well as it was never an academic requirement to graduate so I didn’t really pay attention to such a field of study. However, with recent events on everything mostly related to women these days (females prevented from attending schools, abortion restrictions, hijab bans, women losing jobs because of their religious identity) I am now quite interested in feminism.  

 
2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why/why not? If so, when/why did you decide to be a feminist?

 

Before reading this week’s content, I would have not considered myself a feminist. This is because I didn’t really understand what it meant to be one. I thought that being one, meant just trying to compete with men all the time to try to obtain superiority over men or be in level with men. I consider myself a feminist now because I now understand its many definitions. As some of the students in the classroom video put it, “its not an attack on men, but a fight for fairness and equality, which is something everyone should have” or “if you have ever been oppressed or been discriminated against because of something you identify with or something you identify as, then you should definitely look into feminism” simply, “if you ask a feminist what their definitions of feminism is you will get a 1000 different answers.” To me, I now understand that feminism can be personalized, touching those who are struggling from injustice. It used to be just women and now it’s anyone who is discriminated against and well, there is plenty in today’s world. Thus, we need more feminists for positive world change! 

3. Why did you decide to take this course? What do you hope to learn?

 

I wanted to understand the connection between feminism and education, I never thought that there was a link, and this was probably because I never truly understood feminist theory and perspectives. I hope to learn how to incorporate feminist perspectives in my teaching and explore the implications behind doing so. 

4. Do you think we still need feminism? Why/why not?

 

Prior to this week’s content, and like Jessica Dunne previously thought too, I wouldn’t have thought that there was a need, because we can vote now and work in good positions (most of the time), we can buy estates, we have tv shows, we can drive awesome cars, and so, what else was there left for women to achieve? However, as much as it seems like it’s all good and great for women today, it is still not good and great for all women. We must ask ourselves which women are we talking about when we are describing those living the great life, and most of all, where are they living? We still need feminism for the forgotten women outside of North America as well as, women living locally in Canada too! We need feminism (I am switching my definition to justice and equity for women) because that matter is still not over! As Jessica put it “I now know that feminism can only have done its job when no woman is discriminated against for any reason.”  Thus, remains the need for ongoing feminism.  

5. How does Jessica Dunne expand understandings of feminisms today?

 

She shed light on race and privilege, which is often overlooked when talking about feminism as some woman may never face discrimination and so, have never heard of or will not be bothered about feminism. This helped the listener realize that there are still some women who are discriminated against and thus, there remains the need for feminism even if it is 2022! She also shed some light on intersectionality “the connected nature between all social categorizations such as race, gender, sexuality, nationality, and so on.” These categorizations are also part of feminism implying that the feminism identity is complex. So, because of this complexity, and intertwining of causes, Jessica fears it may lead “to this idea that all movements are fighting against each other for attention, rather than fighting together towards a common goal.” Thus, to me, this may be why there is a distort image about feminism as people no longer understand what this word stands for, because they are unaware of the complexity of feminism.

 
6. What do you think about bell hooks' assertion that feminism is for everyone? 

 

I think there is a need for everyone to be informed about feminism so that students, workers, fellow citizens know the historical roots behind feminism and what feministic movements achieved for all of us today (not just women). First, to revive the forgotten historical events that has shaped our world today. Second, to educate others about past sexist discriminations that have prevented women research and contributions to be put through. This will shed light on whether we continue to practice this today at work, schools, and school curriculums, etc. Third, to foster citizen advocates who will stand up for themselves against discriminatory injustices.  

 7. In light of student comments in the classroom video, reflect on how feminist theory and/or practice might be relevant in some aspect of your particular context (e.g., work, school, private life, entertainment, media, etc.).

 

I think feminist theory and practice is relevant in schools. I think societal change begins from school as it is a mini space that reflects the outside school life. So, as a teacher, if I teach through a feminist lens, that is, I give my students equal and open opportunities to speak their minds, and demonstrate their learning, as well as make them informed about feminism, they will learn to be better people and be more conscious about what they say or do, like one student mentioned. I was so pleased to see how the teacher in the video handled feminism to the point she made feminism simple and personal, so that each student forms a “good citizen” identity and thus, now knows not to participate in, and stand against improper actions. 

 
8. What did you find interesting, surprising, relevant, new, provocative, absent... in relation to content this week? 

 

I found it surprising that feminism can be for everyone. I have always thought that since the word roots from feminine it must be only about women. Then when I read about postfeminism and how people argue it should be humanism, I initially thought that would have been a great idea. However, changing the word to humanism, may get rid of feminism and that would not be ideal since there is still injustice towards women. Yes, we still need a word for just women to emphasize the issue on women because there remains a huge need for that! So, I simply now also understand the complexity behind the importance of word choice, and definitions.  

 

 

Much like bell hooks’ brief mention of other women who simply went to a class to know more about feminist thinking, I came to this class to do the same with little to no prior knowledge or education of feminist theory. After this week’s videos and readings, I feel as though I already have a wildly better understanding. I also agree with hooks that if feminism was introduced and taught to our youth while beliefs and identities are still being formed, we could live in a drastically different world. hooks also points out that most individuals aren’t actually aware of the many ways they have benefitted from feminism in their everyday lives. Whether people know it or not, I agree that feminism is for everyone.

Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why/why not? If so, when/why did you decide to be a feminist?

I wouldn't have considered myself a feminist before this class mostly because I would have been worried not to know how to explain what it means to be a feminist if someone were to ask or challenge my ideas. After this week's readings and videos, I feel relieved to know that feminism is for all and that it's okay to have your own definition and in reality everyone does. I am looking forward to the entirety of this course to work on defining my personal definition of feminism and what it will mean for me to be a confident feminist moving forward.

I am really excited to take this course. My name is Nikita and I reside just outside Toronto. I am in my last semester of my MA in Education, Second Language Education. I have always been deeply interested in women's thought, perspective and experience. I took a women's history seminar in my last year of undergraduate studies and it really opened my eyes to how little value we placed on women's experience and women's place in society and history. In education, we learn what is deemed to be significant and valuable, and learning women's place and their impact on history and society typically does not fall into what is deemed to be worthy of knowing. I am particularly interested in the intersectionality of gender, race and culture, and how these play into our knowledge and understanding of society, past and present (as well what we deem to be valuable). As well, I am interested in unraveling the gender biases in society, language and theory. Personally, I resonated with Bell Hooks when she said that there needs to be a sense of inclusive language and literature ‘that helps individuals understand feminist thinking and feminist politics, needs to be written in a range of styles and formats’ (pg. 22). 

Outside of study, I am a grade 1 teacher. I already see how gender plays such an important role in how young minds are shaping their reality. I am continually trying to make my students, even from this age, think about what they know of ‘boys and girls’ and challenge them to understand that there is not one way of ‘being’.

In my spare time, I try to engage in literature that challenges my own perspectives and understandings of the world around me. From reading classics like Virigina Woolf, ‘A Room of One’s Own’ to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, ‘We Should all be Feminists’ (as well as her tedtalks- so inspirational!) to some of Rebecca Solnit essays.  

I am interested to understand more about types of feminism and feminist movements throughout history, and ultimately to how we got here, today. 

I am super interested to learn from my peers and professors, and from the great works on theory and thought in this course. 

 

I do consider myself a feminist. Much like Jessica Dunne, I grew up around very strong women who considered themselves feminists. I think it was an unconscious choice for me to become a feminist as I have considered myself one from a young age. I believe in the representation of women and that there still various advancements that need to be made in this field. In order for those advancements to occur, as Hook states, feminism needs to be accessible to all and I believe that a way to create and improve upon the accessibility of feminism is through education as is exemplified with the video on high school students in NYC taking feminist classes. 

 

I particularly found the aspects of intersectionality and feminism a very interesting point. As someone who grew up in a biracial, multi-denominational and multicultural household, my whole life has been about intersectionality of all these different aspects that make up my identity. I mentioned before that I have grown up around strong women all of whom were and are working in education. In fact, it is interesting to me to reflect upon the fact that although the women in my family have drastically different upbringings, one side of Egyptian immigrants and the other Eurocentric Canadians, they align on feminist causes and perspectives. I further think that the importance of this intersectionality of feminism and education can pertain to my work in immigration. The intersectionality between, gender studies, feminism, cultures and societies are all important aspects to consider when discussing immigration, refugee and citizenship issues. Looking forward to learning more on these topics from all of you throughout the semester!    

My name is Bing Lu. I come from China and now am located in Ottawa. My concentration is on societies, cultures and languages. This is my last term, so I feel a bit excited and also sad when thinking of the culmination of MEd studies with you in the next 2-3 months.  

The main reasons why I chose this course are the curiosity to inquire into and the significance of the feminism thinking and perspectives in our daily life and teaching practices.  In my previous education, I did not have the opportunity to gain knowledge on feminist thought and theory. However, the feminist/women's/gender studies have always attracted me to learn about this particular area in universities and colleges globally. 

I consider myself as a feminist, as I am always in favour of feminist movement and am convinced that male-dominated institutional stereotypes and the gender inequality still exist in the world. One salient example is that when Kamala Harris was elected the 49^th Vice President of the US in 2021, media reports covered her history-breaking success that she was the first female Vice President and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well as the first African American and first Asian American vice president. This relates to the intersectionality of race, gender, sexuality, nationality, sexism, and oppression. 

I also believe that we still need feminism. I support Hooks’ (2014) argument that we should work to create a mass-based and community-based movement which offers feminist education to everyone, females and males, because feminist theory and practice will always be undermined by the negative information produced in most mainstream media.

Feminist principles should be advocated for girls and boys, for women and men. We should create an unbiased curriculum for children in schools. Therefore, I am committed to including the feminist pedagogy in my class soon when I become a teacher.