When the Rod V. Wade documents leaked. I thought that it was very unfair for lawmakers, individuals and the courts to decide on whether a woman should have an abortion or not. Having rights over women’s bodies just don’t sit right with me just for the simple fact that women should be able to control their own bodies and make their own decisions in the end. Women’s constitutional right to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restrictions has a negative impact on women’s rights and their ability to make decisions about their own bodies. Women should be the only one to choose whether they want to have the baby or not. I understand that the state has an interest in protecting the potential life of the fetus but this law goes against the right to Liberty. Women’s rights to choose to have an abortion is no longer protected by the Constitution because they must now have only one option to keep the fetus. 

From watching the documentary film “Knock Down The House” four progressive women including Alexanderia Ocasio – Cortez who challenged Democratic incumbent in the 2018 United States House Of Representatives Elections. The four activist women bring both their voices and vision to the political arena to seek change in their communities. What I liked about these women is that they are driven to change their communities, although they are faced by challenges their main goal is  to represent the interests of the people by prioritizing issues such as economic inequality, healthcare reform, and environmental protection. 

Both of these artwork is by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Northeastern’s new artist-in-residence. She created these art to address sexual harassment and to show how the power of art can provoke social change. Tatyana explain how the artwork was created “I started the project because I wanted to talk about my experiences with street harassment,” said Fazlalizadeh, in a video about the campaign. “It was my way of speaking back to my harassers—guys who say things to me on the street that are unwelcome, unwanted, aggressive, assertive, and really make you feel uncomfortable.”

I chose this artwork because it’s based on the current situation happening today to women. Women are always getting harassed by men and disrespected if they reject them. For the “women are people not just bodies” Art work I chose this because they created laws to ban abortion and are trying to control women bodies by telling us what to do from what do with our bodies.

The quote is from the Combahee River Collective’s statement, which was a Black feminist statement written in 1977. The statement argues that black women, who are at the bottom of society in terms of power and privilege, can use their position to take revolutionary action that would benefit everyone. By fighting for their own liberation, they would also be challenging and dismantling all systems of oppression.

“Identity politics” is a term used to describe a political approach that focuses on the experiences and perspectives of people from particular identity groups, such as women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others who have been marginalized and oppressed. The Combahee River Collective’s statement was an early example of identity politics, as it focused specifically on the experiences and struggles of Black women.

Paris is Burning is a documentary film that explores the ball culture of New York City’s Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities in the 1980s. The film shows how these communities created their own spaces and subcultures in response to the discrimination and violence they faced in the larger society. This can be seen as a form of identity politics, as the ball culture provided a space for marginalized individuals to express themselves and assert their identities.

Race and gender are intertwined with capitalism because capitalism has historically relied on the exploitation and oppression of marginalized groups, including people of color and women. The economic system is built on the extraction of surplus value from the labor of workers, many of whom are paid low wages and denied basic rights and protections. This has disproportionately affected marginalized communities, who are often relegated to the lowest-paying and most precarious jobs. Additionally, capitalism has historically relied on the exploitation of natural resources and the dispossession of Indigenous communities. The struggles against racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression are therefore connected to the struggle against capitalism.

The concept of a “liberated woman” refers to a woman who has gained some level of personal freedom and independence through her own efforts, rather than depending on societal norms or a male partner for her well-being. The liberated woman is generally associated with the second-wave feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s, which focused on issues such as equal rights, reproductive rights, and the sexual revolution.

The idea of a liberated woman is significant for women’s liberation because it challenges traditional gender roles and norms, and highlights the need for women to have agency and control over their own lives. The liberated woman is an individual who is free to make choices about her own future, rather than being constrained by societal expectations or patriarchal structures. By embodying this ideal, women can inspire others to seek their own freedom and empowerment, leading to a broader movement for women’s liberation.

Both “The Politics of Housework” and “The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm” are examples of how the personal experiences of women can be political. Pat Mainardi’s essay argues that housework is a political issue, as it reinforces gender roles and power dynamics within the home. Similarly, Anne Koedt’s essay challenges the medical establishment’s assumptions about women’s bodies and sexuality, and advocates for a more holistic approach to women’s sexual health and pleasure. Both essays show how women’s personal experiences are shaped by broader societal structures and power dynamics, and how these experiences can be used to fuel political activism and change. Overall, these pieces demonstrate the significance of the personal experiences of women in the broader struggle for women’s liberation.