Feminism: Speak Up! The Project

What is to be a feminist? In what ways can feminism be expressed? By whom? And, why some people simply avoid calling themselves “feminists”? We had this and other questions in mind. Just like many women around the world, we have grown up as girls, as women, as adults in patriarchal society. Raised as part of a worldwide reality of expanding globalization, of increasing inequalities, violence, fundamentalisms. White, middle class, surrounded by an environment also of solidarity and care, we were brought up in a privileged environment. Still, the questions were kept in our minds: why the world generates so much disparities and pain? And, why while some are quiet others speak up? In different ways, feminism has been part of our lives, as a lens to perceive our society, as a tool for self reflection, as a source of inspiration, of sharing with others the values we have for life. Our experiences, within and outside the feminist movement have given us the conviction that feminism is a unique and crucial instrument for social change. But, reality has also shown us that feminists’ actions, discourses and proposals for change have not been reaching the hearts and minds of the people, man and women, politically active or not, of the ones that have also been daily affected by the same critical reality that feminists have been fighting to transform.

Feminism: Speak up! was created as a font of inspiration, a project not meant to be “ours” but to belong to everyone. Anyone that, just like us and many others, want to find ways to speak up!. Speak up for the good things of life, yes! But also against the unacceptable reality we find around the world. Sexism, racism, homophobia, discriminations of many kinds: the force of unequal power relations translated in frequent violent actions, harming societies, taking away people’s beliefs, thoughts, dreams.

The Project includes the 2 videos we present here. They are meant to question and face the 2 main obstacles we identified towards the understanding and renewal of the feminist movement: outside feminism, the incomprehension and the lack of information about it, about its activities and its relevance to the contemporary world. Inside the movement, an urgent need to listen what the others, from “outside”, have to say. We invite you to use the videos in your community, your organization, with family, friends, partners, neighbors…..debate, discuss, propose, act, react!

Welcome! Be part of Feminism: Speak up!