I'm yardwork, and I served as interim host for the Feminism group for a few weeks while we had our election for lead host. I'm very happy that Gormy Cuss was elected, and I'm looking forward to reading and posting here.
To me, feminism means working together to achieve full equality for women. Globally, a shockingly low percent of property is owned by women, for instance. There are very deep inequalities that keep many women and their children in poverty, even though women are responsible for much of the food production - particularly in the developing world - and healthcare decision making.
Feminism became a central reality in my life about seven years ago, when at the age of 45 I realized that I am a lesbian. As a result of this revelation, I changed my life in many ways. I left a 20+ year marriage, found a full-time job and began a new career, and became solely responsible for my own support. My partner and I, while deeply committed to one another, choose not to live together. I co-parent two children from my previous marriage and am paying one-half the costs of sending them to college. I also provide significant care and support to my mother. All of this is possible because women in the United States are legally allowed to have jobs outside the home, and we are legally allowed to live on our own and make our own decisions. In many parts of the world this is not true. Even in the United States, women still make significantly less than men doing the same job with the same experience and qualifications. I have learned the necessity of speaking up for myself at work first hand - and learned the pitfalls that are unique to women, as we always risk sounding too demanding or difficult if we don't "ask nice."
My dream for the Feminism group here on DU is that it be a lively place for conversation among all people on DU who want to discuss feminism and women's equality, and that it be open and welcoming to people of all colors, ethnicities, religions, and nationalities, all sexes and gender identifications, all sexual orientations, and all ages allowed by DU's ToS. I hope to read a wide range of opinions and ideas and learn from the experiences of others. I hope to gain insights, strength, and hope from other people's stories.
In terms of hosting responsibilities, I believe that there won't be much need for intervention but I am prepared to do whatever might become necessary in consultation with our lead host and other co-hosts. I have served as a mod on old DU and on MIRt on DU3. In general, I believe that providing an open atmosphere with a few clear guidelines will keep issues to a minimum.
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