WOMEN UNBOUND - Start of challenge meme!

Alright, so to kick off this challenge there is a meme to respond to. Here it goes:

WOMEN UNBOUND Start of Challenge Meme:

1. What does feminism mean to you? Does it have to do with the work sphere? The social sphere? How you dress? How you act?

Feminism is an ongoing movement that focuses on improving the social status of women (equality between men and women), educating the world on the inequalities between men and women and the ways in which these inequalities can be addressed, establishing more rights for women to become equal partners to men in every arena (academic, political, social, economic, etc.). I think that feminism does have to do with the work sphere, the social sphere, the way we dress and they ways in which we act (social behavior, customs, cultures, gestures, language, etc.). In fact I believe that it affects every aspect of our livelihood (to some degree).

2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?

Yes, I do consider myself a feminist, because I believe in the feminist movement's agenda to work on establishing more rights for women, and raising awareness of the many issues women face on a daily basis, along with helping to secure equal rights for women in every area of their lives (specifically, political, social, work, economic).

3. What do you consider the biggest obstacle women face in the world today? Has that obstacle changed over time, or does it basically remain the same?

Inequality within the political, academic, work, social and economic arenas. Over time, there have been some slight changes, but at the end of the day, women are still being paid less than men and are still being overlooked for promotions because of their gender.

Okay, so those are my answers to the meme. I'm looking forward to figuring out which books to read for this challenge. Happy Reading!

WOMEN UNBOUND: A Reading Challenge

I just found out about this interesting challenge called, Women Unbound.
Basically, it is a challenge devoted to reading texts, both fiction and non-fiction, that are related to the concept of 'Women's Studies'. As a women's studies major I am most definitely interested in this challenge and think its a wonderful way to get more people interested in writings that focus on the culture of women and their roles within society.

Here are the details for the challenge:

The challenge runs from November 1, 2009-November 30, 2010, but you may join in the fun whenever you wish! Participants are encouraged to read nonfiction and fiction books related to the rather broad idea of ‘women’s studies.’ The definition according to Merriam-Webster is,

"the multidisciplinary study of the social status and societal contributions of women and the relationship between power and gender".

For nonfiction, this would include books on feminism, history books focused on women, biographies of women, memoirs (or travelogues) by women, essays by women and cultural books focused on women (body image, motherhood, etc.). The topics I’ve listed aren’t meant to be exhaustive; if you come across a nonfiction book whose subject is female-related, it counts! Of course, if you’re not sure you can always ask about it in a comment. And if you need some ideas for specific books, check out the ‘Reading Lists’ page.

It’s trickier to say what is applicable as fiction. Obviously, any classic fiction written by a feminist is applicable. But where do we go from there? To speak generally, if the book takes a thoughtful look at the place of women in society, it will probably count. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to explain in your review why you chose this for the challenge and its connection to women’s studies. Once again, if you need some specific ideas, check out the ‘Reading Lists’ page.

One quick note about author gender. There isn’t a rule if a book’s written by a woman it counts and if by a man it doesn’t count. I firmly believe that men can be feminists and that not all women are feminists. As long as the book adheres to the definition of women’s studies I’ve shared above, it counts.

Interested in participating? Great! There are three levels you can choose as a reader (you can count books for other challenges as well):

• Philogynist: read at least two books, including at least one nonfiction one.
• Bluestocking: read at least five books, including at least two nonfiction ones.
• Suffragette: read at least eight books, including at least three nonfiction ones.

You can sign up for this challenge over at Women Unbound.

For any other questions regarding this challenge head on over to Women Unbound.

I don't have a list yet, but I am going to read at least 8 books for this challenge. So, I guess I'll be participating at the Suffragette level. Here's to some great reading!!