Making a Stand
The National Organization for Women, (http://www.now.org/), is a well-known feminist organization that started in 1966. Their goal is to promote equality amongst women, eliminate discrimination, and end violence against women. With these noble goals in mind throughout the years, this organization has established women’s studies courses in universities, fought for lesbian rights, escorted patients into newly-established abortion clinics, and set up Rape Crisis Centers and hotlines for assaulted women across the country. NOW has made a significant impact on women everywhere. With organizations such as this one, women are now able to stand up for themselves and be their own person. Another prominent feminism website is called, “Save the Internet.” In their blog on women’s image on the internet, (http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/09/07/06/internet-feminist-issue), the view that the internet is a source for women to express their opinions on women’s rights and attempt to create social change is discussed. This view looks at the internet from an optimistic point of view for women and actually encourages women to be more proactive online. Rather than hiding their identities, this idea helps women embrace their identity on the internet. An idea |
as powerful as this one allows women to go against the grain and take action. Whether the action is creating support groups, petitioning for women’s rights, or even just reading inspiring blogs from other women, the internet is an incredibly reliable source for bringing together women from all over the world.
Other organizations, such as the Feminist Majority Foundation, (http://www.feminist.org/welcome/our_work.html), and feminist.com, (http://www.feminist.com/), are other great sources for information on women’s rights. It is essential to have websites such as these that truly allow women to come together and stand up for what they believe in. Aside from the internet being a wonderful source that women can use to spread information and unite, it is also a place where women can show their true identities. By women taking a stand on the internet, it shows that women possess qualities like determination, strong-will, and independence. It is important to display these qualities on the internet in order to prove that women’s internet identity should include them. If these qualities aren’t already in internet-users view of women, then women should continue to fight until they are. I believe that, even if women’s identity on the internet is already set, that women have the ability to change it and, therefore, change other’s views on women’s place on the internet. |