From the Personal to the Universal: The Second Rise of Feminism

My days at university were filled with the evolving rights for women – the first test-tube baby, the pill, first women’s refuge, brave new feminist literature including ‘The Female Eunuch’, gender equality, the first International Women’s Day.

When I wrote ‘Shadows of Olive Trees’ I did not realise it would be part of an awakening that has led to the #MeToo movement and the inspiring election in 2021 of Kamala Harris the first female, first Black and first South Asian US Vice President.  

So what is feminism? It is about gender inequity. It is never about men against women. A human rights issue, it is where men and women should have equal opportunity and choice. History shows how difficult it is to achieve this, where the courageous women of the suffragette movement fought and died for the right to vote. Wherewith the second rise of feminism (the 1960s-70s), ground-breaking pioneers of feminism, Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem, were vilified as destroying the family. They spearheaded the battle for equality of sexual rights, pay, education, protection of women and children against violence. Gloria Steinem says. ‘The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.’  

The feminist movement is re-emerging through movements such as #MeToo where there is no colour, religion, gender, or socioeconomic status. Above all, ‘it’s about helping survivors heal’ says its founder Afro-American Tarana Burke. As part of this movement, high-profile sex offenders such as movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and acclaimed actor Bill Cosby have been convicted and gaoled.

Emma Watson, Harry Potter actress and United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador spoke powerfully on feminism at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to launch in 2015 the HeForShe campaign. She aimed at galvanizing a worldwide movement of men and boys to advocate for an end to global gender inequality. She encouraged men to take up this mantle for their sisters, mothers and daughters so that they are free from prejudice – but also so their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human, too. Initially, Emma was afraid to declare herself a feminist, due to attacks feminists face.  However, she overcame her fears, to call men, as well as women to stand up for ‘feminism’.   She has been joined by high profile actors such as Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Isla Fisher, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, Jessica Biel, Helen Hunt, feminist pop music icon PINK, Alecia Beth Moore. 

For feminism to have resonance, it is critical that young men and women engage in a way that is inclusive, promoting, dialogue and empathy. Providing facts and information is interesting but often it does not engage emotionally and is disregarded. When the story is not didactic, not telling readers what to think, it ignites critical thinking and creates powerful learning experiences. Stories are central to human cognition and communication. When we empathise with characters and their journeys, we walk in their shoes. Then feminism is no longer just a term. It becomes part of the values that are integral to personality. 

I share my lived experience through stories to empower young people, in particular, to make their own decisions about equality and feminism.

‘To my knowledge ‘Shadows of Olive Trees’ makes Gervay the first writer to reinterpret the lived experience of young women in the seventies for an audience of young readers today – which in the light of recent media debates focussing the perceived differences between older and young feminists seems like a relevant and timely enterprise.’ University of Technology, Sydney

In Kamala Harris’s words. ‘What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful and your voice matters.’