Evolution (cont’d)

What feminist thought and activism achieved for women between its early rise and recent developments – and more so in the last 40 years – is now history. In spite of blathering from naysayers and the fearful, resistant and misogynistic, the evidence of change in society to improve women’s lot has been clearly established. Not only is feminist knowledge reliable, it is dynamic. Generations will continue to use this knowledge to improve their mental potency and position to negotiate the conflicts between women and men and subordinately-minded women.

Future generations must continue to expand the meaning of feminist knowledge which will be needed for them to be dependable protectors of Mother Earth on behalf of all people. And as less credibility is still given to women in general, power – the most scarce of all resources in the gender equality equation – is needed to anchor our position. Power rests on credibility which lies in past performance and if you’re ever in doubt, study up on the past 50 years of my generation’s evolution. Credibility depends on intellectual rigor and passion.

Feminists whose lives have been improved by the women’s movement know what they know and why they know it. They have a common understanding of past struggles. They can identify the changes in themselves and where and when the world changed its attitudes toward them. They have constructed a path to understanding human affairs and are able to connect discursive points in the environment, policies, history, economics, psychology and religion – where the patriarchy has bunged up and how they do and will cling to the power that has allowed them to get us into this mess. It is now our job to connect this power and experience to the values of the feminine principle and transcend the degradation that we and the earth find ourselves in.

Things are getting worse, not better. Copenhagen just flopped. Consensus has gotten us nowhere. So the time for chitchat has passed. We must control our own course to answer humanity’s needs. A billion courageous acts are needed. But this is something that feminists are used to, for feminism itself is a courageous act – always was and always will be. And it’s late. It cannot be postponed.

“Our role as grandmothers is to protect young women and children, to work for peace in every way and at every level, and to improve the quality of life for everybody...” Isabel Allende