I recently held mentoring sessions with three separate groups of young feminists and women’s rights activists. There were some questions that came up in every session. I am sharing a brief summary here.
What personal values have remained constant for you, and how have they shapedthe way you lead, influence, and build movements?
I have always passionately believed in the right to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination in all spheres of life. Next is the right to a voice. You need a voice toraise concerns, advocate,and demand accountability. One of the first things you do to take away someone’s power is to deprive them of a voice. When someone lacks a voice, they have no personhood, dignity, or respect. They live in fear. To address marginalisation and exclusion, people need the right to space – to think, read, write, organise, share ideas, and build solidarity. We can complain all we like as individuals, but things do not change without joint action.
What does it truly mean to live Feminist values?
First, you need to be clear about what Feminism means. Feminism is a global struggle against all forms of patriarchal oppression. It is about affirming that women are complete human beings.Feminism is a movement against systems of oppression and injustice, not against individual men. You can have a wonderful father, husband, brother, but still suffer within an unjust system that deprives you of rights.
