Rebeca Masis-Cubero

Dr Parker
English 113: Feminist Perspectives
22 October 2016

Masis Feminist Manifesto

I believe that the only way to grow as an individual is to be placed in situations and
discussions that are uncomfortable. For me, feminism is one of those discussions. While I dont
fit the stereotypical, mainstream definition of an angry, protesting feminist, many of my passions
and dreams are deeply intertwined with the belief that women are valuable and worthy, and
should be treated according to that standard. I am not saying that I agree with everything in the
feminist movement, but I do believe that fighting for freedom and justice is what I am called to
do. The issues that feminism is concerned with that are most important to me are issues relating
to violence against women. Domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and human
trafficking do not discriminate between race, ethnicity, nationality, economic status, or level of
education. Any woman could be a victim of violence, and too often, their voices are silenced and
their stories are left untold. I believe that I am called to speak for those who cant speak for
themselves, and that is where my passion lies as a feminist. As a feminist, I am profoundly
impacted by my faith and my experiences. I am a feminist who believes that, although men and
women are not equal in every regard, we are equally valuable and worthy of respect. Most
importantly, as a feminist, I am an advocate for survivors.
Through different readings and experiences this semester, Ive concluded that, regardless
of the way it is portrayed in the media, feminism is a movement that fights against sexism, sexist
exploitation, and oppression, regardless of who perpetuates it (hooks 1). This definition

challenged my notion of feminism and helped me to understand feminism as a movement that

fights for freedom for everyone. There are several personal experiences that have molded my
feminist perspective. I was born and raised in Costa Rica, a beautiful country, but full of poverty
and corruption. Because my family was upper middle class, I was given the opportunity to
receive an education and live in relative safety and security. However, many of my friends, who
came from low income families, would start working before finishing high school, saving money
so that their parents could send their brothers to school. Nobody was outraged by this reality. It
was simply part of the culture. While I didnt realize it at the time, it is one of the most blatant
expressions of sexism I have witnessed to this day. Over the last year, as Ive learned more about
injustice around the world and the vicious cycle of poverty and violence, I learned about the
Girl Effect. In poor and corrupt nations, girls are at the highest risk of experiencing sexual
violence in schools. For their own safety, many do not enroll (Haugen 55). While it is evident
that we need to speak for these girls, we need feminism on our campus as well. Five sexual
assaults is five too many, and that is without taking into consideration how many assaults
occurred and were not reported. In sum, many of these experiences and readings have influenced
my perspective as a feminist who fights for freedom for those who are marginalized or oppressed
by sexism or sexist exploitation, regardless of who they are.
My goals in life are closely related to my passion for justice and freedom for women and
girls. Because I have a specific vision for my career and my future, Im planning on studying
Social Work and Religion. My dream is to start an organization that provides both safe houses
and programs for women and girls who have been abused or trafficked. I want to provide support
and resources for survivors to be able to overcome their pasts and heal from the trauma they have
experienced. I believe that part of my purpose in life is to be a voice for women who do not have

a voice, and to empower them and speak that they are valuable and worthy. My feminist
perspective, especially my passion to fight for freedom for everyone, is deeply intertwined with
my mission in life. In the broadest sense, my mission in life is to fight against sexism and
exploitation and oppression.
My passion for freedom and justice influence every decision that I make. My perspective
as a feminist drives many of my actions everyday. I know that I am not studying for my own
success, but that my education will serve a greater purpose, and I remind myself of that often.
My feminist perspective also drives many of my short term goals. My perspective as a feminist
and the way that feminism influences me can be easily summarized into what I am working to
accomplish this year. My friend and I are working on starting a student lead group that will
collaborate with Campus Ministries, CAPS, and STEP. We want to create a community, similar
to Renewed, that can speak hope and freedom in Christ into the lives of women who have
experienced sexual abuse or assault. This idea, and the work that we are putting into making it a
reality, demonstrates the culmination of my stance as a feminist. I am committed to making a
difference and empowering women, no matter where I go, and I want Christ to be at the center of
it all.

Works Cited:
Haugen, Gary. The Locust Effect. The Hidden Crisis at Historys Inflection Point.
Oxford University Press, 2014. pp 55.
Hooks, Bell. Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics. Cambridge, MA: South
End, 2000. 1-6. Print.