Rebel yELLE

Can't quite remember where I found this (pdf) the other day -- maybe Twitter, maybe Facebook, maybe via my friend Hysperia -- but it's now going viral among English-speaking feminists in the most of Canada.

It's a feminist manifesto for our times, and it has its roots in Quebec where they  are better organized than they are elsewhere in the country, and farther to the left.

It comes from Rebelles, which has held several gatherings. Now there's action in Ontario. (You can find a Facebook group here.)

Here's a snip:

We are told that feminism is over and outdated. If this were true then we wouldn't need to denounce the fact that: In reality, many of the demands of our feminist mothers and grandmothers remain unmet. Women continue to be the victims of sexual violence. Our communities are haunted by the silence that follows these assaults. Throughout Canada, in spite of our right to it, access to abortion services remains insufficient.

Across Canada as well, colonized, marginalized, racialized and disabled women are coerced and/or forced to undergo unwanted or uninformed abortions, forced to use contraception and are subjected to forced sterilization.

The hyper-sexualization of women in the media has taught us to view women as sexual objects rather than complete human beings. Getting off, lesbianism and being queer are taboo and a women's choice to seek sexual pleasure is seen as negative.

Our identities are eroded as we are taught, from the time we are children, and through television
and magazines, that how we should look, dress, and act is determined by our sex. Violence is normalized, sexual abuse eroticized. Our sexual health education is inadequate and our reproductive rights are disrespected. Our needs are not being met.

In reality, women still represent the majority of the underprivileged. Our government steals children from poor and Aboriginal women. Capitalism exploits working-class women and confines middle- and upper-class women to "consumer" roles. We are told that equality has been achieved, but still the wage gap persists. Immigrant women are denied acknowledgment of their academic credentials and are forced to endure intolerable work environments in order to stay on Canadian soil. We lack affordable and accessible childcare.

Women remain underpaid, underappreciated, and undervalued in the work force. We have gained the right to vote, yet gender-based discrimination keeps women virtually unrepresented in political office.

The manifesto acknowledges the support of men, and includes them as well as ''allies'' on the fight for equity and justice.

Yes it sounds radical. But radical is what is called for in what are shaping up to be revolutionary times.

If women all over the world are not liberated, then we will all continue to be plagued by war, famine,environmental degradation and overpopulation. Lift up the women, you lift up the world.

And if you don't buy that, perhaps you'd like to move to Adghanistan? or Congo?

Comments

[jb]

The facebook page also has a Spanish translation, which I posted to my wall; I hope my students here in Ecuador, and friends in other South American countries pick up the ball and run with it!

[MensRightsNow]

What a load of BS this "manifesto" spews...feminism is now embarrassing the original feminists. Not even worth debating.

well....

"The hyper-sexualization of women in the media has taught us to view women...."

Do you mean the women who gladly accept money to be ``hyper-sexualized``?...ie...They choose to do this in a free and democratic society. Are you talking about the fashion industry that pays talentless genetic freaks $10000 an hour to show off the latest fashions....an industry propped up by women, and fed by materialistic females at the fashion trough...

[christine nectarine]

thanks for the link, i will definately check out this group.

are these kind of statements really considered radical?
as a mother, i have seen the effects of gendered socialization affect my 5 year old daughter. i can't believe some of the sexist ideas she picks up from going to school!

as a social worker and women's counsellor, i see the marginalization of women every day. i witness the negative effects that patriarchy has on families and society. i can't be denied.

[...pat.]

Wow, I see our non-allies have come back from a brief hiatus.