Feminism, Revolutions, Reflecting

 A Revolution

I think that sometime soon there should be a women's movement again. I know there's a theory that young women aren't interested in this sort of thing, but that's absolutely wrong from the conversations I have with women I meet on campus or in the workplace. Many women do have trouble with the word feminism, but that's been true throughout all of American history, except for few years around 1968 and 1969. People think it means being anti-man or wearing really hippy-like clothing. Maybe if we change feminism's name to something else, everything would be fine. I’m not sure…

There's actually another difficulty with starting a new women's movement: The Great Cause it would be fighting for isn't immediately obvious. Sure, there are plenty of big problems out there: Too much pressure on working mothers. Not enough job flexibility. And women aren't making enough of the decisions in our political system

The Great Cause could be absolute zero tolerance for violence against women or an end to international slave trafficking for the sex trade. Or equal rights to an education for girls in every country around the globe. Not to mention solutions to the nuclear arms race, global warming, genocide, and all the other challenges.

I hear in my conversations that women of my generation (yes, I’m a little older) often say they wish younger women knew what they went through back in the day, when they were fighting so hard for rights of women in today’s society. The conversations go on about how there's nothing more wonderful than being out with your comrades, protesting something that is clearly, obviously wrong, or agitating for something that is clearly, obviously right. You have solidarity and self-satisfaction and the knowledge that history is on your side, all wrapped up in one package. And the people who are out there with you will probably be your friends for life—no matter how funny your hippy clothes look.

Strayer says revolutions, “are the arrival of new ideas.” I agree. I see countries were women aren’t given rights or don’t protest and it seems like the places where the most turmoil happens. When women fight for rights, a revolution of ideas and peace seem to come forward.