Conservative femanism? Call it what you will...
So I have been sitting here for a while pondering life, listening to Coldplay- which is always handy for times of thought.
I have been viewed with caution in class a few times this year when discussing women's rights and the idea that feminism is not and should not be a universal right. I know I should be all for women's rights and equality, especially if I am interested in gender studies, but it really is more deep than that. Feminism, isn't as black and white as the papers will have you believe, it isn't as simple as making feminism universally applicable. Take a step back for a moment, this ideology is completely western in nature, it is nothing more than a concept women in Europe and America have dictated as being essential in every society. In reality, these women do not speak to everyone, this idea of universal feminist values is not necessarily tangible in all cultures. Take Islam for example, not only do a great many Muslim women agree and support the suppression of their gender but the idea of feminism, in the way that westerners perceive it, is not consistent with the Islamic faith, Allah (whilst various interpretations have arisen) dictated that women are subordinate to men, whilst they are equal in human decency, they are the protected sex. Anyone who believes in liberty and left-wing politics surely has a sense of cultural awareness and tolerance, however, with feminism and like issues, there is a general mistake that female equality is absolute. In Europe and America (I count Australia and other 'western' societies in this geographical definition) feminism is viewed with simplicity, it is irrefutably necessary for women to have equality within society, anything less does not meet the standards set by us. Little room is given for religious sensitivity or flexibility, instead centuries of cultural beliefs are disregarded and overcast with what 'we' have decided is politically and socially correct. The notion of equality is indoctrinated with European beliefs and ideals, variations of this are not inferior. In many other countries, including Islamic States, interpretations of feminism have been constructed and developed that sits agreeably with the Qur'an. If another country or culture adopts a variant form of feminism, it is not wrong, or sexist, it is merely different. To inflict the common ideology of universal feminism on others identifies the 'whites' as the 'Knowers', and reaks of cultural illiteracy and western superiority. What we need to do, as a western society, is embrace cultural differences without placing our ideals on a pedestal, without dictating our beliefs and values on others, demeaning their race as unequal or 'backward' upon the realization that they have not met our standards.
Anyway, Violet Hill just came on and it is the single most nostalgic song for me in regards to England and my life there. It feels like a distant dream now, living with Louise and Bex on the Thames and watching the snow settle on the lampposts, wondering if Louise and I will get the day off. *nostalgic sigh* I remember my babies, they still send me photos and emails and are amazingly grown up, even though it's only been 8+ months.
My new job is frustrating me and is making me long for my old life on an island that ISN'T secluded from the rest of the world. The little girl I look after is extremely underdeveloped languistically and socially for her age, which worries me. Her father has run off somewhere and her mum seems more interested in attending balls and functions than tthe fact that her daughter can barely string a sentence together. She is a gorgeous little girl but I fear that Autism may have something to do with it, my psych friend and I have diagnosed her...aren't we grown up psychologists LOL.
Friends are another thing that are making me frustrated. I love my friends, but lately I have come to realize that, hey, I don't actually have to keep mundane, immature and vindictive people in my life just to stay included...I actually have an array of friends all over the world from children to mature adults, from sociologists to cleaners....I have an amazing and eclectic group of friends that I might not speak to but know that when I see them again I will be welcomed by with opened arms. So I have decided not to bother with people now, I am not going to play chasey anymore.
It was hard when I first arrived in Melbourne, even Mary sort of swallowed when she was speaking to me and asked me if everything was ok and if she could do anything for me. I was alone apart from my father who...if any of you have heard before, is a 1st class twat, and even he is in another state. II also ound it hard to make friends because I worked all the time, I disliked my job, my home, my subjects and I hated the Australian culture. The last part is still true but now so many things have changed for the better.
Something that has really been bugging me lately though, especially at my uni because they are all so wealthy, is the fact that very rarely do you come across someone my age who actually gets life! So many teens/young adults have life made for them, they are supported financially by their parents, they are mollycoddled by mum and dad. I am not saying that I have some terrible arduous life, but it's hard sometimes...trying to work to support myself, pay rent and bills, work out my mother's life for her, be my sister and mother's counseling service, have Bex so far away and somehow save to see her and go on exchange as well as eat!. There was one week a few months ago when my dad phoned and asked how I was,I had just had to spend a lot of money on moving into my new house so I told him that I didn't even have enough money to buy groceries. His response was to laugh and say that I would be fine, just to keep working. This is a man who owns 2 HUGE homes (if you have seen Mary's, imagine that times 2) a nice car and has a cellar full of wine valued into the high thousands, not to mention has been given numerous financial handouts from my grandparents....anyway, the point I was trying to get at is, those who are given the fairly cotton padded route in life have the habit of annoying me and I frequently find myself having little time for their lack of understanding and knowledge of the 'real' world....It takes a lot to be independent young adult in this society and I am proud that I have lived overseas and held down jobs and juggled a job + uni +a personal life which can only be described as insane. I am also proud of those who are doing the same or are going through an even harder time and keeping it together, I think that it shows character and you should give yourself an amazing pat on the back! or even better, go out and have an amazing night of hot, glamorous (is there such a thing?) sex!
I think that is enough rambling for one day, next, I will speak on Indigenous rights and the 'authentic' perception many westerners become trapped in...I may also touch upon the entire notion of westerners as the 'knowers' and how this needs to be constantly intercepted and re-evaluated when approaching cultural issues.
Bee
xxx