S&F Online
Take Action!
child care work/life Marriage
by Jessica Valenti

TAKE ACTION!

Debates surrounding women's roles in the family are becoming increasingly hard-fought and contentious, yet young feminists are often absent from the table. While many family issues may seem remote for us younger activists, the outcomes of these disputes affect all women, and our voices need to be heard.

Perhaps when thinking about women and families, we do not feel the same immediacy as we do with topics like violence or reproductive health. But the antifeminist movement is fighting hard to constrict our choices at home, at work, and even in the wallet; these issues require urgent action. Wherever we envision our lives in 20 years, it is time for young feminists to lay claim to this issue and make it an active part of our political priorities.

While women's circumstances may vary, there are general issues, including childcare, work, and marriage, we can follow and actions we can take to create a future that will provide real choices for women.

In examining these issues, and others, it becomes clear that the work we have to do is far from over. The antifeminist movement is making concerted efforts to roll back women's rights across the board, and they seek to prevent women from defining their own roles within the family. As the debate rages on, young feminists must make their voices heard and take action to increase women's options and support women's choices on these issues and others.

To keep abreast of these issues and to become involved, you can visit the Web sites featured in the links section of each topic.

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©2004 Jessica Valenti. Published in S&F Online, Young Feminists Take On The Family.