Seeking allies

Most of the time, it can be pretty obvious that when someone has an opinion about us as an individual and we don't agree with that opinion, we do or say anything we can to change it. In this moment, we are not concerned about if the other person will reject us or not, because to stand up for our inner selves is a personal duty. On the other hand, when we feel strongly about a particular issue, it is not always as easy to wholeheartedly speak up for the issue at hand. We start to become concerned about how the opposing viewpoints might change the relationship between ourself and the other person- it is a threat to our reputation and our desire to belong. This has been a personal issue for me in terms of speaking about what I believe in, and standing up for feminism no matter what the cost.

What I'm beginning to realize that my issues are a part of me. I'm going to have to fight and for what I believe in and deal with the consequences, whether or not that changes the way a person sees me. After all, if someone can't appreciate my beliefs and my concerns, they're probably not worthy of my friendship anyway. It is my duty as a feminist to educate, to inform others of my ideas, women's rights, and the way society is structured in order to make the marginalized suffer while the privileged continue to be privileged. I can't let anyone intimidate me, silence me, or tell me I'm not important because no one else is standing behind me. I have to begin to realize that even though I may be the only one voicing my opinions, there are allies out there. I need to discover that all it takes is speaking out to realize that the people who are standing behind me are all around me. Maybe they will speak out, or maybe they will stay silent, but I cannot know that they are there until I force them to show themselves. In order to speak loud enough to be be heard, it has to start with one person before we can reach the desired collective. I am capable of creating "we", and even though it will be always be hard to do, it must be done. Life is not meant to be easy, but if it was, then what's the point?