Theorizing Activism

          In taking a Women’s Studies class online, I was skeptical at first.  I though, how do I express what I truly feel in words, how do I get to know my classmates?  Although I feel I had a firm grasp on the subject of feminism, I feel that this class has widened my knowledge on the subject greatly.  Through lectures that provided historical and concrete information, classmate’s blogs, and the discussion boards, I have learned the facts, but also a to a great degree, the opinions of my generation.  I have learned that the difference in these opinions depend greatly on the intersectionality of our lives.  We are all from different places, we have grown up in different ways, our lives are unique.  At the end of this class, whether or not we all assign to feminism or not, we are taking away an in-depth perspective on gender, class, race, identity, etc.  The topics that we have grasped in such a short time are problems present in everyday life—welfare, politics, discrimination, abuse/violence, and much more.  
           Lisa Maria Hogeland states in her article “Fear of Feminism: Why Young Women Get the Willies,” “Feminism requires an expansion of the self—an expansion of empathy, interest, intelligence, and responsibility across differences, histories, cultures, ethnicities, sexual identities, otherness.  The differences between women […] are our most precious resources in thinking and acting toward change” (http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/learn/resources/fear-feminism-why-young-women-get-willies).  This is exactly why I think that our virtual classroom is so beneficial.  All of us are different and coming together to educate one another.  I know personally that many writings from my classmates have made an impact on my life.  It is important to embrace our differences; this is what I take away from the class.