The Path to Feminism

As I have been navigating through the World Pulse website, reading and learning more about different women all around the globe, I have become increasingly more confident in my ability to be an activist both in the future, and moment by moment in my present day. One of my favorite stories I have come across so far was posted by a woman named Edinah Masanga from Zimbabwe, titled How My Mom Unknowingly Raised a Feminist. Masanga discusses how although her mother had never used the word “feminist” or “feminism” to describe either herself or the values she was teaching, her emphasis on gaining gender equality through education ultimately lead Masanga to hold values many would identify as inherently feminist. This story stuck out to me in particular, as it reminded me much of my introduction to feminism and my upbringing with a single mother.

Although my mother lacked a formal education, I still consider her to be one of the most intelligent women I have ever known. Though she would probably dispute it if I told her, my mother is undoubtedly a feminist. She too, always encouraged me to get an education, and never imposed on me any particular direction to head towards. There was never any gender specific occupations in her eyes, as she granted me full autonomy to follow my genuine interests, whatever they may be. Her never ending kindness, open mindedness, and acceptance towards everyone around her set the stage for me as I inevitably inherited these values as my own. And though she never used the words “feminist,” “feminism,” “gender roles,” or “patriarchy,” ultimately, she didn’t have too.

I see now that the wise words of our mothers is in itself, activism. Promoting gender equality, anti-racism, and anti-homophobia, even if it is solely to your children, places the stepping stones within young minds that will hopefully guide members of the new generation towards the (unfinished) path to dismantling systems of patriarchy and oppression. Had my mother encouraged me to get married or imposed on me that life is nothing without children of your own, I surely would have missed the path of resistance, of liberation, of healing. I would not be here where I am today, a proud woman, an activist, a feminist.