Inspiring Lives Magazine Spring 2017: Issue 4 | Page 16

Feminism Spans
GENERATIONS
Women from their teens through their 70s expressed what feminism means to them and why we still need it.
Even with their different stages of life, career paths, and backgrounds, the women's thoughts on feminism
repeated one theme: everyone needs it, every gender on the spectrum, everywhere in the world. We have come
a long way, but we must continue to rise together.
Libby Jacobs, 69,
Retired Theater Director
Feminism is the acknowledgement that women
should be granted the same rights and opportunities as
men—socially, economically, politically, educationally.
Biology does not dictate social and intellectual abilities.
The movement is most effective when NOT viewed as
strictly oppositional, women against men. Men can be
strong, persuasive feminists.
Kristin Trippett, 36,
Dispatcher for Emergency Resources
have the same rights and privileges as men—and other
women—do. As long as feminism isn't intersectional
and women's rights aren't equitable to ALL women
(women of color, disabled women, LGBTQ) then we
still have a ways to go. Just because some populations,
like women, technically have equal rights under the law
doesn't mean that the same things are as easily attain-
able and accessible to them.
Rev. Nettie Jorinda Bullitt, 71,
United Methodist Pastor and Certified Professional Coach
As white women, it’s privilege to be able to say fem-
inism is no longer necessary or that it's a bad thing.
Millions of women do not have that privilege, and it's
disgusting to me when white women say they have
equality, so therefore there's no need for protests and
marches. Racism, sexism, and homophobia are still
rampant. Sexual assault and domestic violence are
barely punished. Even if you've never been treated un-
equally, we should all stand together and fight for those
marginalized to have the same treatment. We need fem-
inism. We need to start raising boys who are feminists.
Feminism is not a negative thing; it means equality for
all humans. Feminism means to fully embrace and articulate the
pursuit and experience of the abundant life, God's plan
for us, when created in His image, male and female.
“God blessed them and said to them ‘be fruitful and
multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it,’” basically
“rule over it!” (Genesis 1:26ff ). GAIN MASTERY OF
THIS LIFE! Feminism is how women gain and perpet-
uate mastery of this life. This is why I was compelled to
participate in the women's march on Washington D.C.
The mission of Daughters of Deborah Leadership Min-
istries LLC, which I manage, is to encourage women
and girls to recover God's plans for their lives. Jesus said
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”
(John 10:10). Gaining mastery of this life means abun-
dant living as we determine for ourselves.
Ashley Boynes-Shuck, 33,
Author and Patient Advocate Josselyn Crane, 34,
Owner/Jewelry Designer for Falkora Jewelry
Women have come a long way thanks to feminism
and movements towards equality, but we aren't there
yet: not until all women, and not just *some* women, Feminism is about how damaging gender roles and
defining people solely based on gender can be. The gen-
der binary hurts women because they have less power
16
INSPIRING LIVES
SPRING 2017