Chapter 23

One point addressed in this chapter that I became interested in was feminism.  I did not consider myself a feminist because I personally have not experienced inequality or discrimination because I am a woman.  However, this changed a few weeks ago.  In one of our classes, which I am sure most of you remember, Prof Andrews separated the men and women.  I was so upset, but when I reflect on what really made me mad, it was just that literally and figuratively put into a corner and could not say a word.  To my knowledge, this was the first time I had experienced sexism.  What's worse, this was
exactly what women in our past experienced and that is why this feminism in this chapter really stood out to me.

It was disturbing to read that someone would write a book defining women as "other."  I
wholeheartedly appreciate the French feminists for their response...a Mother's Day parade with the slogan "Celebrated one day; exploited all year round."  It seemed that one after another, these women experienced men who did everything they could hold or discount women.  Such as author Berry Freidan who's book claimed women who were educated experienced an identity crisis because they were unfilled by marriage and motherhood.  Then it was surprising that the feminist in the global South resented the women in the West.  Just as I was really beginning to think I understood feminism,  the South came along and challenged that thinking.  But feminism in the was contingent upon women helping each other out in a place where any kind of feminism was considered un-African.  

This part of the chapter really helped me understand something I didn't think I was a part of and I appreciate that!