a future in feminism

I think about what I want to do with my future and I know that I want to study people. people watching, analyzing other people, picking other people's brains, looking at gender roles in society -- that's what I love to do. so I thought to myself today, why don't I just major in gender studies? I know that's a major at Barnard and it's probably a major at most other places, so why don't I just do that?

then I was talking to raymond and he told me he's taking a gender psychology course next semester and I wondered why I had never thought about that. I want to study psychology at college, I want to study gender roles and sociology, so why don't I study gender psychology (sociology, I think, is more of an umbrella term)?

also, I've been reading these wonderful feminist books and it almost makes me wish that I had lived during the women's revolution in the 1970's. there were so many radical ideas and yes, the movement did have a huge internal rift once the porn wars rolled around, but it was really a time of change.

so the books I've been reading have been from the early 2000's. it's a new decade (corny, I know). so what will feminism become now? what will be the new definition of "new-age" feminism?

these are the keywords (yes, yes, how truly futuristic of me) of what I see in my generation: sexual liberation, image discomfort, a constant desire for improvement, perfectionism, beauty in choice, breaking the double standard. maybe that's me being idealistic, but it's what I see my generation (that will be 27 by the start of the next decade -- WOW). let's hope that this is what our college years and 20's bring. seems like a good thing to ask for.

in the meantime, let's do what we can to bring awareness to women's issues. we're in the 21st century; read a feminist blog, read (and critique if you want!) womenomics online, check out all the courses offered in gender studies (an area of growing interest, I hope). no matter what, do your part. stay informed on the latest court decision about emergency contraceptive, and figure out who you want to be and what you want to do with your gender in this decade. it's a time of change and everyone is on the bandwagon. I hate to sound like I'm a follower, but for the sake of intelligence and change, are you in?

much love.