Feminism and feminist theory is inherently rooted in validating the experiences and struggles of women; it is meant to critically analyze and deconstruct the ways in which gender intersects with other experiences to create inequalities for women. Through the analysis and deconstruction of these intersections do the experiences of women become validated and are in many cases made “real.” I do consider myself to be a feminist, one that considers the importance of validation to be vital. My experiences of emotional abuse, alcoholism, and anxiety were, and are still, horrible experiences that I will never be able to “get over” or to completely move past, but I am now able to understand that my experience have not tainted me. That I, and all people, deserve to live dignified lives and to have our experiences validated in healthy and safe ways. Feminism, I believe, is the pathway to deconstructing these systems of oppression, these “lens’ of
Feminism and feminist theory is inherently rooted in validating the experiences and struggles of women; it is meant to critically analyze and deconstruct the ways in which gender intersects with other experiences to create inequalities for women. Through the analysis and deconstruction of these intersections do the experiences of women become validated and are in many cases made “real.” I do consider myself to be a feminist, one that considers the importance of validation to be vital. My experiences of emotional abuse, alcoholism, and anxiety were, and are still, horrible experiences that I will never be able to “get over” or to completely move past, but I am now able to understand that my experience have not tainted me. That I, and all people, deserve to live dignified lives and to have our experiences validated in healthy and safe ways. Feminism, I believe, is the pathway to deconstructing these systems of oppression, these “lens’ of