Jennifer Dyke week 4 response

My Feminist Manifesto

To better understand the world from a “women’s” perspective

To uncover that I am not alone in the feelings that stem from my gendered oppression, many other women feel the exact same way

To have control over our bodies and their reproductive uses

To feel that our work is in fact valuable, for it can be compared to the work of Jesus. It is us who nourish your babies, tend to your elderly, and feed poor and care for sick

There is no word in West African languages for “boy” and “girl” but rather prefixes for anatomically male child, and anatomically female child. Gendered-ness has been socially constructed by the conquerors of the West as they felt superior and wanted all good things for masculine bodies

To practice our own religions or no religion at all if we so choose. Women are created as moral beings by your maker, possessing the same talents and abilities. Start telling the truth of scripture. We hear nothing of Sarah or Ruth’s heroism, only of original sin from Eve. Christianity is forced down our throats because we are expected to “good Christian” women. The religion of the oppressor, imprinted on colored bodies, female bodies, everybody

To reject the coercive process of gendering bodies. We don’t have to fit in every single, tiny, compartmentalized conception of “female-ness” that your small mind creates. There are many ways of “doing gender” that do not include restrictive braziers that you forced upon our bosoms or the blisters from wearing silhouette shoes

Our tight clothing, short skirts, low cut blouses are not for your amusement. They are for our comfort and enjoyment. They are not an invitation to peek at our breasts or glance at our asses. It is not an invitation for a sexual encounter or arousal

We will not stay home for fear of your rape-culture. We will walk down the street with our heads held high. We will not be secluded in gendered spaces or cat called by strange men in fancy cars. We will not be confined to a life of domesticity like our mothers and our mother’s mothers

No longer can you tell us what to make of ourselves. It worked in the past but then we were disjointed, now together we stand united in sisterhood. Stop pushing us out of your spaces. We will come roaring in and we will be great! We will be doctors and lawyers and senators and surgeons and teachers and even Jesus. We will teach our daughters and our daughter’s daughters not to accept anything less

Sisters rise up! You are not second class citizens. You are the offspring of greatness. The sword you wield is now more pointed than ever before. You have warrior’s blood running through your veins of the Amazonian’s. You can make The Republic a reality. And you will not stop until all is accomplished or you drop dead trying. For you are woman and you are made of everything great