Throughout history, women have faced systemic oppression, restricted rights, and societal limitations. In response to these barriers, women have courageously fought for change, challenging injustice and advocating for equality in various ways. Their efforts have played a pivotal role in shaping a more just and inclusive world.
In this article, we will talk about the influential women who have paved the way for justice, strategies for sustaining mental well-being in activism, and ways to embrace and celebrate womanhood.
A Brief Glimpse of Women’s History and Important Figures
Simone de Beauvoir
“She had a pen to defend women's rights.” –Anonymous
Simone de Beauvoir was a French existentialist philosopher, writer, and feminist activist. She is best known for her groundbreaking work, The Second Sex (Le Deuxième Sexe, 1949), which laid the foundation for contemporary feminist thought. She argues that humanity is perceived as male, and women are defined in relation to men as not-male. She writes, “He is the Subject, he is the Absolute—she is the Other”. Her ideas have challenged the way people think about themselves, inviting them to rethink gender roles in the patriarchal world. Beauvoir was also an activist who advocated for contraception rights, the legalization of abortion, and was also vocal about workers’ rights and anti-colonialism. To this day, her legacy keeps influencing women and feminist movements all over the world, encouraging them to challenge societal norms and oppression in pursuit of equality, autonomy, liberation, and independent existence.
At Beauvoir’s grave in Montparnasse Cemetery (Cimetière du Montparnasse), her headstone is often covered with lipstick marks, kisses, flight and train ticket stubs, notes and letters in different languages. Here has become a place of pilgrimage for worldwide feminists. People travel from afar at different moments, leaving their marks and engaging in a dialogue across time and space with this great feminist pioneer. In front of her grave, the bonds and solidarity of women are embodied.
Resource:
Book - The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her passing in 2020. She is the second woman to serve on the Court.
As one of only nine women in a class of over 500 law school students in college, RBG faced significant discrimination and microaggressions. Girls in her cohort were questioned about their thoughts of taking a seat that could be occupied by a man in a meeting with the dean. Despite excelling academically, she struggled to find employment after graduation, as women were unwanted in law firms. However, the barriers she came up with didn't knock her down, but fueled her lifelong commitment to fighting injustice.
During the times when women could be legally fired due to pregnancy in most states and women were required to obtain their husband's signature to take out a loan, RBG used her legal expertise to challenge systemic gender discrimination. She strategically took on cases that would make good laws, working alongside other determined women to advance reproductive rights, voting rights, and equal pay legislation. Their work and efforts propelled the civil rights movement in the U.S., ultimately helping to liberate women from being seen merely as extensions of their husbands.
Throughout her tenure, she was a fierce advocate for gender equality, racial justice, same-sex marriage, and reproductive rights. She broke precedents and carved a path forward, striking fear into the beneficiaries of the patriarchy, - who, in response, labeled her as "witch" and "evil." As a pioneer, she redefined what it means for a woman - or simply a person - to live a life of purpose, becoming an icon and source of inspiration for younger generations.
Resource:
Documentary - RBG | 2018 • 1 hr 38 min
Nüshu
Nüshu, best translated as "women’s script" ("Nü" means "woman" and "Shu" means "script"), is a syllabic script derived from Chinese characters several centuries ago originated from Jiangyong, Hunan, China. It is a script exclusively used by women and is the only existing female script in the world.
Living in the traditional patriarchal culture in China at the time, women were oppressed in many different ways, including being denied opportunities for education and the ability to read and write the written language, which was considered "men’s script." Consequently, women’s voices were silenced, leaving no records of their lives. To give each other hope, local women in Jiangyong developed Nüshu, a script men could not understand, as a private form of communication among women. Women used Nüshu to write poems and songs, creating sisterhood to support each other.
During the Sino-Japanese War and Chinese cultural revolution, most Nüshu works were destroyed. Since then, with improved living conditions and better access to education, women no longer needed Nüshu to communicate with each other, leading to the language's endangerment. Fortunately, it was rediscovered in the 1980s and more preservation efforts were taken in the early 21st century. With pop songs, documentaries about Nüshu, and the rise of the Chinese feminist movement in recent years, there has been renewed interest in Nüshu among the wider public. The message Nüshu conveys is powerful: if we are denied the ability to read or write, then we create our own script. The younger generation is spreading Nüshu as well as its power through various mediums to advocate social justice and feminism. You can see Nüshu merchandise, memes, and tattoos, and educational posts about what it is. It is always heartwarming to see so many beautiful connections among women being created through Nüshu, and it reminds us that we are in solidarity with one another.
Resource:
Documentary - Hidden Letters | 2022 • 1 hr 27 min
Website - Home of Nüshu
Women In art and Literature
Women always find ways to express themselves. Barbie helps people visualize a world without patriarchy; while the movie Hidden Figures and the musical Suffs reflect on gender and racial oppression, inspiring women with the message that WE CAN DO ANYTHING. The musical Six re-empowers women, transforming its characters from merely being Henry VIII's wives into the subjects of their own narratives, asserting their own identities. Women write. Virginia Woolf and Alice Walker explore humanity, gender issues, and social structures. Through her sociology books, Chizuko Ueno actively voices feminist-related issues and raises public interest in gender matters, especially in East Asia. Chinese feminists are innovative. Facing resistance from traditional cultural values, they are breaking into the mainstream through comedy, addressing serious women’s issues in a lighthearted way.
Sustaining Mental Well-Being in Activism
Engaging in social justice work is fulfilling but it also comes with emotional challenges. Change is slow. There is resistance. It’s not uncommon to find it hard to consistently live up to the beliefs that we hold. We may feel anxiety, despair, frustration, and exhaustion. We may experience burnout and doubt. Compounding the stress, we may feel bad about ourselves for even feeling this way in light of everything going on; perhaps dismissing our feelings because “it’s not so bad”, “or it could be worse”. Furthermore, those who speak up may face online harassment, threats, and/or physical danger, which introduces fear and even trauma. Here are some ways to take care of mental well-being while engaging in activism.
Support Community
Surrounding oneself with individuals who share similar values and beliefs provides encouragement and fosters shared resilience. Community support can be a great source of strength, resource and relaxation during challenging times. Additionally, creating a culture of care within activist communities ensures that emotional well-being is prioritized for everyone involved.
Creative art
Creative art is a powerful tool for healing and restoration, allowing activists to process emotions, express experiences, reclaim a sense of agency, and celebrate victories in the face of systemic oppression. It can be of any form - writing, painting, sewing, collaging, music, dance, drama, or any other artistic expression born from creativity. For instance, Yun Theatre held drama workshops “Monologues of n Women” where participants acted out scripts adapted from real-life social events about women’s oppression. Art helps activists channel complex feelings into something constructive, providing a safe space to process and explore them. Additionally, artistic expression can have a profound impact on its audience, creating a ripple effect of change. Creative art group is also a meaningful way to foster solidarity, as shared experiences can connect individuals and strengthen communities.
Self care - you still have to do grocery shopping
Sometimes, we may sense an intense responsibility on our shoulders as an activist. We feel upset, angry, and violated by the social and political climate ourselves but also see the same feelings in other people. We experience tension when navigating the system as an activist, as well as during personal interactions. We feel pressured to keep working—not just for ourselves, but for others. At the same time, we may feel exhausted and unable to operate, yet then guilty for taking a break, especially when new social issues arise.
At the end of the day, activists are human beings. We experience negative emotions, breakdowns and we need rest - it is not a reward, but a biological imperative. We still need to do grocery shopping and laundry, take care of our pets and plants, and spend time with loved ones, enjoying our little life. We need to take time for recovery and recuperation, in addition to our work and engagement.
Activism in all formats
Meaningful change can be in many forms. Outside of organized activism work, we all have the capacity to speak up when discrimination or any form of “ism” occurs. We can continue practicing inclusive language, and support others when they experience injustice. We can share feminist book and movie lists, prioritize mentioning women and queer individuals first in name listings, and support women-owned and minority-owned businesses. Taking a break from activism doesn't mean stepping away from ushering in and cultivating change—you can still contribute in these ways!
Change takes time. As we discussed, it takes effort and intentionality. As we reflect upon the contributions of women from history, we can also celebrate and champion those women we share space with now, looking to a more equitable, safe, and just future for us all.