Women's Assembly, Public Event.

A couple Saturdays ago, on October 18th, I attended a Chicago Women’s Assembly where groups were set to focus on specific topics, draft a paragraph stating the issue, why it is important, and what needs to change. Then the many paragraphs written were compiled together, edited, merged, and titled as the Women’s Agenda. The agenda was meant to reflect the thinking of a broad cross-section of Chicago women about domestic issues and policies and ways to take action to address them. I generally think this was accomplished. I attended the event with a friend, Katherine, and we both stuck together. Before arriving, I expected there to be a decent amount of young females present and I was surprised by the lack of young women there. It was my impression that most of the women there were for the most part, 40 plus years old. The few younger women I saw where college students who were conducting interviews for Global Girl Media about the event and about women empowerment. The group I was a part of for the drafting of the paragraph, discussed economic independence, opportunity and empowerment. Despite the age difference and different levels experience between the people in my group, we all contributed a lot. I felt encouraged by the women to speak freely, ask questions, and contribute to what was written. I left the event feeling involved and passionate about women's rights. I also left feeling pretty cool because Katherine and I were interviewed by Global Girl Media. The question that stood out to me most was regarding Feminism. They asked me if I considered myself one. I said of course, and mentioned the quote by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in Beyonce song, Flawless, that says "Feminist: a person who believes in the social political and economic equality of the sexes." And then went on a rant about what that meant to me and why I was surprised by the lack of women who embraced that word. Their follow-up question stunned me, "do I hate on men? Why do I think there is such a bad connotation with the word Feminist?" I was unsure whether they were trying to trick me or....? Of course, I told them, NO. I do not hate men, and proceeded to explain the misconception I see on media about what feminism is about.
Attending the Chicago Women's Assembly made me a more conscious female. I realized there are still so many things that need to be tweaked a bit, or changed completely, in order for us to have a more just and equal position in society.
Here is a picture of Katherine and I at the event: