Foci

I think the top three foci of the feminist movement should be: 1. The abolishment of violence against women, 2. The construction of a unified, globalized feminist movement, and 3. Equal rights for women in all areas of life, politically and in the domestic sphere. I think the abolishment of violence against women should be the most important goal of the feminist movement purely because it is the issue which is most pressing. It encompasses the most heinous atrocities committed against humans and must be stopped as quickly as possible. Too many women suffer too much for no other reason than that they are female and being oppressed for that characteristic. Only in a time of peace can other progress be made. When women are struggling to survive and fleeing for their lives, they have no opportunity to organize and fight against the systems which have initiated and perpetuated the violence being committed against them. Stability must be gained in order to make strides in other areas of women’s rights.

That said, I think these things are all interconnected. Violence against women is the result of institutional prejudices and cultural ideologies which must be altered significantly in order to abolish the acts of violence themselves. The feminist movement can only work toward preventing and abolishing violence against women by addressing the portrayal of women in media and culture as objects and possessing symbolic value as figureheads of ethnic, cultural, and religious identity. The feminist movement must work to alter these social, political, and cultural representations and expectations of women in order to abolish violence at its root causes.

In order to be able to make such huge revolutionary changes in these areas of culture, society, and politics, it is necessary to have a strong, unified movement which is becoming easier and easier to do with globalization. A universal feminist movement which focuses on specific areas, regions, and issues but is united in a common cause for the safety and equality of women would be ideal. The resources are available to create such a network of support and a strong feminist front which can operate on a significant level through power of numbers to change society at large. However, the feminist movement is divided amongst itself in factions over petty ideological concepts. They argue about issues such as abortion and women’s rights and equality, over which issues should be given precedence and the solution which should be enacted. Yet, I think that in large part, the feminist movement is working toward the same end goal. The renunciation of concerns over small discrepancies is necessary for the movement to unite and be effective in producing change. If the movement could establish a set of common goals, then individual organizations could focus on their specific agendas at the same time as they unify and all work in common against the most major concerns. Only a unified, global movement can be strong enough to alter our societies and cultures significantly enough to make true progress. Additionally, there is much to be learned from sister feminist movements across the globe. If we can learn and give to one another in terms of theory, resources, and strategy, then we can make the world a better place for all women everywhere.

I think that a major focus for the feminist movement should be equal rights for women in all areas of life because it is only when women are empowered from the microlevel (domestically) to the macrolevel (global politics) that their voices can be heard and their concerns addressed. Without proper representation and rights, women are powerless to advance their cause and better the world for their children. This is a necessary result of a unified, global lobbying for change and advancement of the cause of women’s rights. They must be given the power to evoke change in their lives, in the world, and then to maintain it through continued representation and political power.