I don’t really need any more challenges. I fail at completing them! I saw the post about the Women Unbound challenge at Eva’s blog yesterday, though, and on looking through her fantastic list, realized that I have a lot of the fiction books on my TBR pile, and can probably get some non-fiction from my libraries. I’ve also been feeling a bit bored and useless, having had no response to any of my job applications yet, so maybe a challenge will perk me up.
The meme:
1. What does feminism mean to you? Does it have to do with the work sphere? The social sphere? How you dress? How you act?
This is a hard question, surprisingly. I think feminism is the freedom to embrace being a woman, to be considered equal to men (but not the same) in every way, to not worry about the fact that we are women and not as strong as men. Feminism is encouraging women to become scientists, astronauts, and politicians, or equally embracing a woman’s decision to stay home with her children or pursue a lesser career. Whatever women want to do, we should be able to do.
2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?
I think so – I’m not really outspoken or anything, but I’m not like that in any area of life. I am interested in women’s issues and feel free to speak out when I think something is wrong, however, which I do think makes me a feminist.
3. What do you consider the biggest obstacle women face in the world today? Has that obstacle changed over time, or does it basically remain the same?
Well, I think part of the problem is that women are still marginalized. Exceptional women can go very far, but there are always far more men at the top. Worse, women are still sexualized, taught that a tiny ideal is normal and that the rest of us are ugly and unattractive. We still have to fear rape and then fear that no one will believe us if we speak up, or worse that we will be blamed, even if no one says so outright. This is wrong. I think the situation for women has gotten better, but there is still a long way to go.
On a lighter note, I took a look at Eva’s huge list of 80 books that count for the challenge, and used them to compile a lovely pool of books to choose from:
Nonfiction
- My Invented Country by Isabel Allende
- Wild Swans by Jung Chang
- Virginia Woolf by Hermione Lee
- I plan on adding or changing this list depending on what turns up at the library – I love history about women!
Fiction
- Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
- Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen
- Agnes Gray by Anne Bronte
- The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby
- I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
- The Hummingbird’s Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea
I also plan on having a look around the library today for more non-fiction especially. Two of those books I chose are out at the moment and I really want to start early, while I’m still excited!
I liked your answers! I think women today face a lot of the same issues they always have. We are the “weaker” sex. We are somehow inferior to men. We are evaluated based on our looks.
I’ve never been really outspoken about feminism. Doens’t mean I don’t believe in it!!
I just read I Capture the Castle this past month. FANTASTIC read!! As is Speak, which I read last year! I haven’t put together a list, but I’m sure I’ll be joining this challenge too!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..A Little Graphic Novel Love…The Preacher: Gone to Texas =-.
Good luck with the challenge!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: One Hundred Butterflies =-.
So glad you’re taking part in the challenge! I hope you enjoy the books you read- looks like you’ve got a good pile there
I’m joining this one as well!
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..The Wordy Shipmates – Sarah Vowell =-.
Women still have so far to go — I liked your definition of feminism.
Love all of the books you chose! (obviously, lol)
I’m a definite feminist, but I don’t speak out all of that much (unless something’s really upsetting). I’ve found that whenever I mention even basic stuff about women (like what you say in #3) around the guys in my life they get insanely defensive and think I’m attacking them. Which is incredibly annoying, because as soon as their defenses are up, I can’t get through to them.
Wild Swans is fantastic. I highly recommend it.
I’m probably joining this as well.
.-= 3m´s last blog ..Amazon’s Top 100 (minus the top 10) =-.
I am having such a hard time picking books for this challenge! It is not being helped by all the lists that are circulating. There are so many books that I want to read off of all of them!
.-= Kailana´s last blog ..Olympics 2010 =-.
I just signed up too! I think speaking up is just one part of being a feminist – sometimes our actions speak just as loud as words.
My list is way too long, and I just pulled stuff from my shelves – I think I could do this challenge every year and still find something to read!
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Women Unbound Meme =-.
I agree that women are marginalized…I liked your answers to the questions. Very thoughtful. I’m also really glad to see so many people signing up for this challenge
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: Apples and Chicken =-.
Great list! I’m adding Atwood to mine. Happy reading.
.-= Vasilly´s last blog ..Women Unbound Challenge =-.
I’m curious to find out how you feel about I Capture the Castle. Personally, I hated it, but I was expecting something lighter.
I definitely agree with you about women being sexualized. Not that being sexual is bad thing, but when all you are is a walking baby machine, I take issue.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Creepy Art =-.
SO glad you’re taking the challenge. I am, as well. There are so many great books out there, so many great women, so many great voices. Thanks so much for adding yours to the mix!
.-= Ronna Detrick´s last blog ..There’s a (beautiful, amazing, & brilliant) teenager in my house! =-.
Oh, I so agree with you about the sexualization of women. I think I noticed this the most acutely in my life when I was breastfeeding my children. I was amazed that feeding a child could be so controversial, just because the feeding was taking place at a mother’s breast.
.-= Katy´s last blog ..Women Unbound Start-of-Challenge Meme =-.
I love the idea of this challenge, but haven’t decided whether or not to join in.
.-= carol´s last blog ..Awards =-.
Meghan –
I was wondering how you were going to incorporate medieval books into this challenge.
Looking forward to your thoughts and reviews.
Shellie
.-= Shellie – Layers of Thought´s last blog ..An Exciting Thing has Happened – Yippee! =-.