In Venezuela, it is a very risky move to say, “I am a feminist.” It is like a declaration of war that uncovers all the most imaginaries, paradigms and recalcitrant archetypes that live with the mentality of those who neither live the marginalization nor see gender discrimination (or when they know it, they try to hide it)., We realize that these messages touch deeply rooted values ​​and beliefs, dragged from previous generations at the expense of women being treated as human beings, in the intense emotional tone with which many react to any feminist slogan or data that lays bare the violation of some of our rights.

The movement in Venezuela has advanced much more this year than in its entire history. Diverse information on actions in favor of women’s rights has proliferated primarily through social media. Numerous articles and reports on investigative results have been published that show the enormous inequality with which Venezuelan women have been subjected to in different areas Discussion has been generated around opinions for and against the movement in social media. In short, women are on the public agenda.

However, that is precisely why a very hard reaction has been generated that uncovered the misogynist, macho, racist and patriarchal Venezuela. As Kira Cochrane says, “If you want to know how deeply some people resent the idea of women’s advancement, you just have to peek into the media networks.” Machismo has no discursive arguments, that is why it aggravates, minimizes, disqualifies, ridicules.

But as everything must be appreciated, these angry reactions confirm that in this country more feminism is needed more than ever. As they say in my hometown: “It is better to fall than to remain hanging.” This illusion of equality and of 4×4 Venezuelan, empowered women unaware of the powerful effects that gender stereotypes have on them, is just a mask that fell off.

United Organizations

Several organizations are uniting for a campaign in the end of the year called #SoyFeminista as a result of testimonies in several networks of some influential people who can sway public opinion that basically show ignorance about the fundamentals of a Venezuelan feminist movement.

Amnesty International’s Women’s Network, Uquira, AVESA, FeminismoINC, Natural Sisters, Linda Loaiza Foundation, Mérida Feminista, Empowered Eggplant, EmpoderaRSE, Chain Allies, Human Kaleidoscope, Affirmative Union, NGOS, Venezuela Reflections, Exodus AC, Woman and Citizenship and the Orange Network, spread messages to show that there are plenty of reasons to support our struggle.

Why are we feminists?

Several reasons activate us. Some global, others local:

  • Only 10 countries out of 152 have a woman as head of state and 10 out of 193 as head of government (UN Women)
  • The care economy focuses exclusively on women: lines to acquire regulated products and medicines from grandparents, parents and children in Venezuela.
  • We are treated socially as weak, hormonal, emotional or depressive.
  • 70% of people suffering from hunger in the world are women (UN Women)
  • In Latin America there are 124 women in poverty for every 100 men. Feminism seeks to close that gap.

In Venezuela, the evidence that the complex humanitarian emergency we are forced to live impacts women differently has mobilized us all: politicians, businesswomen, youth, civil society, and university students, to protest loudly and clearly, to lobby, to expose the situation to international organizations who are increasingly more attentive to what is happening in the country, so that it is known that victims of hunger, sexual exploitation, trafficking, clandestine abortions, teenage pregnancy, need immediate and priority assistance.

  • In 33% of Venezuelan households, women stopped eating sometime in the midst of the crisis.
  • 60% of women in Venezuela have delayed or lagged their nutritional needs to favor other members of the family group.
  • 4 out of 10 households are led and maintained by women, 70% of them without a partner to assume their responsibility.
  • Of the 20 foods on average that Venezuelans consume, women consume 12 of those with the lowest nutritional value, while men ingest 15 of those with the highest nutritional value (Women to the Limit Report)
  • In the second half of 2019 alone, 8,200 pregnant Venezuelans entered Colombia seeking medical attention.
  • Venezuela ranks 3rd in teenage pregnancy in the region.

Who are we and what do we want?

The campaign also sought to vindicate the image of feminist activists, who since the time of the suffragists are labeled as crazy, dirty, Nazis, hysterical or exaggerated. But the truth is that you can be a feminist and be a mother, feminine, have a husband, dedicate yourself to the house, have a stable job; can be thin or fat, tall or short, blonde or brunette; can shave, put make up, diet; you can be, politically speaking, from the right or the left; in short, as a feminist I can be whatever I want to be without feeling guilty about it.

Feminists want equal rights and want to eliminate the domination and violence that men have exercised over women historically, structurally and systematically; we want sexual, intellectual, political and spiritual autonomy; that discrimination in careers boys or girls want to study in without being conditioned by their sex is eliminated; that women are not pressured to marry or have children if they choose not to, as if motherhood were the only way of fulfillment for a woman; we want men to be involved and equally responsible with household chores, that they can focus on their physical appearance without doubting their sexuality, that they have permission to express emotions, that they are not taught to rape since they were children as if it were normal, that they understand what a NO means and practice consensual sex.

We want women not to be criticized for choosing not to do household chores or for not liking to clean or cook or take care of children; not to be hypersexualized or objectified since girls in media, songs, advertising; not to be taught to believe in romantic love and weddings as a fundamental goal in their life; that infidelity is not normalized or that women are blamed for being raped or assaulted, that judges know about gender and do not take inequalities as a normal thing, that women can walk on the street without harassment and without fear.

We want each person’s sexual orientation to be respected, the right for women to decide whether to abort or not; that blacks, indigenous women, those with disabilities, lesbians be respected. We want to provide quality medical care to women and for women not to have to leave the country to get it; that they be given a fair, empathic and supportive treatment, that politicians, academics and businesswomen can exercise their vocations without sexual harassment or limitations imposed by glass ceilings, that the contributions of many in science, literature and technology become visible.

Finally, among other things, we want to express our opinion without being attacked. The correct name of our social and political activism is Feminism. Said loud and clear, with all its letters, without shame or disguise: I am a feminist.

Good statement to start with determination this 2020!