Feminism’s critical principle is the affirmation and promotion of the full humanity of women; an assertion that must be made in light of a world that diminishes women’s dignity and autonomy thereby authorizing their subjugation. Sexism is the word we use to name the attitudes, prejudices, and actions that work to diminish women’s dignity and autonomy for their subjugation. Patriarchy is the resultant ossified system of those attitudes, prejudices, and actions as they become the norm.
Patriarchy is also much more than that as it expands into a comprehensive system of control and dominance. It is a system that inherently seeks to subsume and define all other systems. At minimum, it shapes them or distorts them, including religion/spirituality.
At FAR, we reflect on the many possible and actual intersections between feminism and religion/spirituality. bell hooks defines feminism as a movement to end sexist oppression. Religion and spirituality can likewise be, and many times are, part of that movement. And alternatively they can likewise be, and many times are, characterized by sexism and defined by patriarchy.
Yet, we, as humans, are these very systems. Humans are the system, one way or another.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the fact that systems continue to run because individual people willingly participate in them, sometimes even vile and oppressive systems, of which we become increasingly aware day by day with this administration. Yet, how we each navigate the systems within which we find ourselves is still up to us, at least in part. I wish there were not overriding factors that sometime cause us to not be able to opt out—things such as livelihood and survival—these are real and sincere and I begrudge them to no one. Still, there is much that is within our hands to do (or refuse to do)—what do we do with that part of our choice?
In my recent post about the American Community Survey, which is a part of the U.S. Census, I shared about my struggle with participating in an otherwise benign census if it wasn’t for our untrustworthy administration. I couldn’t look past the fact that at the end of the day, that very helpfully designed community survey meant to do good for the people is currently in the hands of a fickle and dangerous administration.
We are not in normal times, and the choices we make are happening within a very particular context, the small and the large of it.
The question I have for us at FAR, as I reflect on and navigate my own participation within this current reality, is about the role our religion/spirituality calls us to play. I have a response-ability at every given moment…what is the character of that response? What does my religious tradition, and the commitments it inspires in me, require?—and does it align with my feminism? If not, how can I make it so?
Most of the time these day I am at a total loss for words about the situation our country is in. However, I am not at a l loss about the sense of conviction I have about living a feminist life while I am in this world, even if only within my small part of it.
Deep breathes, small steps. That is all I can pull off in these devastating days.
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Thanks for posting this, Xochitl. I think you express well what so many of us are feeling/understanding with our current, horrendous, and cruel administration.
“Most of the time these day I am at a total loss for words about the situation our country is in. However, I am not at a l loss about the sense of conviction I have about living a feminist life while I am in this world, even if only within my small part of it.”
My grandmother used to say when things got difficult for her: “Keep on keeping on.” So much “keeping on” for me these days feels like Sisyphus rolling a boulder up a mountain only to have it roll back down. And then to do that over and over and over again. Will my work amount to anything? Who knows? But, I DO know that if I don’t do whatever “good” possible, my integrity can slip away. I don’t want to pay that price. It’s too high.
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OH I AGREE – WE MUST KEEP O ROLLING THAT BOULDER UP HILL IF WE WANT TO HANG ON TO OUR INTEGRITY. NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME.
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So true, Esther, that’s all I got right now, sticking to my values and preserving my dignity and integrity. We can’t let the horrors of this administration steal that from us. And, yes, Sara, No Matter the Cost!
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This is all any of us have now except to start asking the question how can we weave our individual threads into one unified WHOLE in order to stop this atrocity. We ARE the people – there is nothing out there that will ‘save’ us…. I think many have given into that delusion –
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OH XOCHITL YOUR QUESTIONS ARE MY OWN – THANK YOU FOR THIS DEVASTATINGLY HONEST POST.. IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW TO NAVIGATE OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES – I CAN ANSWER THAT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE ALIGNS ME WITH FEMINISM ON CONCRETE LEVELS THAT SUSTAIN ME – EVEN AS I FACE EACH LOSS. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO FAR’S INCLUSIVITY BECAUSE HOW MANY OTHER FEMINIST SITES WOULD POST STORIES THAT FEATURE PLANTS OR ANIMALS? – I JUST PARTICIPATED IN A WOMEN’S GATHERING WHERE THE REST OF NATURE WAS IGNORED EXCEPT AS METAPHOR – SAME OLD STORY – PART OF ME REMAINS PUZZLED – HOW CAN WE KEEP IGNORING THIS EARTH CRISIS WE ARE IN THAT DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS TRYING TO KILL US ALL. FOR ME LIVING A FEMINIST LIFE IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ATROCITY HUMAN AND OTHERWISE – BUT MY FOREVER QUESTION REMAINS UNANSWERED. HOW CAN WE MOBILIZE AS HUMAN – REGARDLESS OF RACE OR CREED TO STOP TIS INSANITY? I KNOW IT’S POSSIBLE BUT A GREAT SILENCE SEEMS TO HAVE SETTLED OVER US LIKE THE PLAGUE. I SEE THIS TENDENCY MANIFEST IN THE LACK OF COMMENTARY ON FAR…. AS BELL HOOKS ALSO SAID – “YOUR SILENCE WILL NOT PROTECT YOU”
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Sara, you remind me of Mary Daly. She would also often ask something similar – in her words, “where is the revolution!” I’m not sure I know, but I do believe that its form must reflect the desired goal. I so agree with you about the necessity of creating and/or deepening our relationship with earth, nature, and non-human animals. That really is the relationship that could save us – if more and more of us allowed ourselves to be shaped by that connection, we would be saner, kinder, more conscious beings. I am grateful for your witness.
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Well that’s an astounding compliment Xochitl…thank you….I love these words – “form must reflect thae desired goal… it’s not just the necessity of returning to earth but creating threads that unite one group to another so that we can act as one being to STOP this atrocity – we did stop a war in the 60’s – it can be done – but as Harriet (I told her to send her poem to you to be published) suggests we must be clear – We will not rise up in violence or give in to hate……
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Thank you for this post, Xochitl. I chronically feel that I never/can never do enough to help, to resist, to witness. It is so small, but I don’t want to discount noticing beauty, human and other than human, and attempting to be kind whenever I am face to face with someone, family, friend, or stranger. That alone can be quite challenging. Your kindness and integrity suffuse FAR. Those qualities are at the heart of any feminism and religion worth practicing.
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Elizabeth, your kindness exudes through even this virtual platform, and it is no small thing AT ALL. Seriously. Imagine if our administration had even just an ounce of what you have and do. It’s be a different world. Thank you for your kinship 💕
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Thank you, Xochitl! Right back at you! <3
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