25 Ways To Be A Better Feminist
This list was compiled by the #bossbabesATX team. We're all learning. *This list is in no particular order, and we likely didn't cover them all. **Check all that apply to you.
Shop local and in your community.
Consume news from different viewpoints, perspectives and authors of different backgrounds (financial, racial, cultural, etc).
Understand and accept that there is no one way to be a “good” woman.
Unlearn eurocentrism; consider different viewpoints and histories.
Take some time to familiarize yourself with our government’s current landscape (local, state-level and national). Figure out how you can best assist efforts to disrupt bills, laws and organizations fighting against (consciously or unconsciously) women’s rights.
Seek out and discover legislation, policies and system that affect all women—even women who don’t look like you, even women who don’t live in this country. Consider the global impact of sexism.
Listen to trans women, black women, brown women, sex workers, undocumented women, women with disabilities, women with anxiety... Just listen. Show up to the table with a learning heart.
Dismantle systems and cultures of violence against women.
When approached with angry Internet commenters or patriarchy ruining the party, observe, research, then act. (And when you can’t do that, just keep your nails and your mind sharp—prioritize your safety.)
Call/write letters to your legislators.
Better yet, MAKE IT A PARTY, and get your friends to do it, too.
Recognize and honor the bodies and labor performed by other women. Appreciation and respect go a long way.
Support women artists, comedians, musicians, writers, makers, organizers, etc.
Read women authors and visit woman-owned bookstores.
Shut down rape jokes.
Question, question, question dominant culture and narratives surrounding women and female bodies in the media.
Notice inequalities—and then speak up about them.
Literally just take a bath or a long, hot shower—whatever's clever. Reinforce your badassery, so the next time you've gotta deal with patriarchal bullshit, you're ready to go.
Care for our girls! Invest in the youth—in their prosperity, education and safety.
Regularly check in with the women in your life and share professional, activism-related and community resources.
Donate to women-powered, pro-women nonprofits; they need your help.
Write love letters reminders of resistance to your girlfriends; maybe even send them via snail mail.
Fight for equality in the workplace; improve your negotiation skills. Ask for more.
Say bye-bye to fat-shaming and tell someone she looks good in that.
And last but not least, don’t forget that feminism is intersectional. Showing up for women means showing up to speak out against inequity in the many ways that it manifests—be that in the form of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, etc. That means your learned experience may not be the only narrative you should consider. That means there may be moments when it's time to listen and learn. You might not have all the answers, and that's OK. Your resistance—however you choose to engage—should be flexible, evolving and is inherently valuable.