The March to Equality: Women Creating the Future
July 16th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Are women creating the future? Well, aren’t we all creating the future? I mean, why does it need to be said?
Of course we all always create the future. The very fact that we act, and that our actions have an effect on the future, means that we create the future. But what future do we create, and why is this important for women?
I have always assumed that I create the future just like anyone else. But over the years, something strange became obvious. Even though I grew up thinking that feminism was something rather dim for old-fashioned sour women (I had all the freedoms I needed, so why go out and do embarrassing things like burning bras?) I realized that reality never quite matched my ideas of freedom.
What was it? I could be smart, privileged, full of ideals, but when it came to it, I was afraid to stand out, I crumbled under pressure, and didn’t dare to challenge men over the fact that as a women I got paid less for doing the same work. I didn’t think I was as good and bright as the guys, and in fact at some point I had to face up to the fact that whenever something went wrong, I expected a man to come and rescue me! I spent my life finding justifications for this strangely inferior position despite my equal rights and everyone else’s goodwill, but never found justifications that worked. So what was going on?
Well, this brings out a deeper question: a mere fifty years after receiving more or less equal opportunities, have we figured out yet what it means to create the future?
This will be a question that celebrated US feminist, developmental researcher, and bestselling author Dr Elizabeth Debold will speak about when interviewed by British coach, consultant, political activist and feminist critic Lee Chalmers, at the Midsummer Renaissance festival at EnlightenNext on 30 and 31 July. We women have obtained so many freedoms in the last fifty years, but have we figured out yet how to use them? What does it mean to not only liberate ourselves externally (which is of course a great start), but from the inside out?
Are you a woman, or do you care about women’s development? If you feel we need a Renaissance to create the future, then don’t miss this talk!
EnlightenNext presents: Midsummer Renaissance, A Celebration of Spirit, Philosophy, Music, Art & Creativity
