express my feminist ideals more

is so full of stereotypes and norms. I’m tired of seeing this stuff being perpetuated. I love design but I also feel wrong defending the “traditions” that really disturb me. I want to change that, as much as I can!

I’ve been talking to my friends lately a lot more, those who share these ideas with me and we deconstruct things that bother us through our daily lives…and we examine why we feel that way. It really helps settle my mind, knowing that there are reasons why I feel certain ways and perhaps what steps to take to be more confident in my beliefs.

opportunity to create something of my own choice, I invariably head back to something that means a lot to me, and oftentimes, my projects for school will involve something related to feminism. I mean it’s not always directly related but I’ll insert a flash of it here and there. Maybe a quote that’s absolutely pro-woman (doesn’t mean it’s anti-man okay?) but I invariably drift in this direction. It’s pretty interesting although sometimes I wonder if I’m not trying too hard to show that part of me.

The last project I had to do – I ended up making a poster that was supposed to promote an event called GirlFest. It takes place in Hawaii (originated there), San Francisco, and for the first time this year, New York. Whoo. It was really fun. I also made a pamphlet cover (so they would just insert the program into it as different events within GirlFest happen). I tweaked the original logo a bit to make it specific to each city. I ended up using stereotypical images for some of it but I think it was fun. :) The teacher seemed to like it.

In women’s studies, we studied all issues – age, race, class, gender, sexuality :)

And so this was of interest to me:

In a rare moment of wonderful intellectual conversation, something I have been hard put to find here in California (not because there are shallow people, but because I have not yet met anyone with whom I can share my love for discussions and debates with), I listened to a very interesting story.

Diverted from discussing our ideal partner’s race (see previous note), a Brazilian guy there shared a story. He was saying how he have been hit on by gay men while working at a restaurant (in the Marina district of SF – which for those who don’t know is sort of a college town, it’s more “new” and cleaner, as well as being quieter). He was not very happy about it, though. He says he’s felt very uncomfortable and have needed to ask his manager to assign someone else to work the table. I was really tempted to say that he should’ve been flattered but I feel that he would’ve not agreed. I mean, it’s okay when men hit on women or women hit on men, isn’t it? At the least, society doesn’t give it a thought (and many people take this to be flattering). Why shouldn’t we feel flattered if someone of the same sex hits on us? They’re humans as well, it’s not like they are subspecies for the simple fact that the sexual orientation differs.

Alongside this story, we were also covering the topic of gay prejudice/discrimination in America.

He then made a very telling statement. He began by saying, “If I was working in the Castro, I know it would happen. I expect it. I am on their turf. So I accept. But I am not working in the Castro. They are coming onto my turf.” (Not verbatim as his grammar was a little off and since my memory’s not videographic but as close as I can get. He certainly did use the words “expect, accept, and turf.”)

Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know there were actual land boundaries for straight people and gay people. Where are the markers for that division again? (And where would the bisexual people go? Tangent – And why are bisexuals to be treated as even weirder than gay people?) So apparently, gay people need to limit their eyes and “gay opinions” within their turf (Castro, I guess) and outside of that neighborhood, need to restrain themselves. Unfortunately, I did not bring this up. I really should have, on hindsight.

I’ve always admired Angelou and her writing. The following poem really struck something in me and I can’t forget it. It’s just so wonderfully written. It’s incredibly empowering, especially if you read it aloud several times.

Please enjoy.

PHENOMENAL WOMAN by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I used to feel so overdramatic and/or melodramatic as I ranted about things that really bothered me (like the pro-life vs pro-choice debate to name an obvious one). My friends listened but they didn’t truly listen, if you know what I mean.

Today, I’m a proud feminist. It’s not a dirty word at all. I’m proud of being one.