My life IS much easier than the woman in the Congo. What feminist is saying it isn't?
I have access to food. Contraception. Legal right to leave an abusive spouse. A more stable economy. More investment in a social safety net. Even though there is a wage gap here as well, it's not as severe and affects are mostly tangental (motherhood penalty). I can work to support my family. I'm white. There has been no military conflict on US soil since WWII (terror attacks excluded), and that was only in Hawaii and a botched attack off the coast of Oregon most people don't even know about.
So yes. My life is better.
What exactly is your point though?
If you have cancer and you fall and break your leg, your broken leg needs to be treates even though the cancer is the more serious condition, does it not?
If you're short on money when the bills come due and you don't have enough for your power bill and your car payment, does it need to be pointed out that they both must still be paid but losing power is a worse outcome than losing a car (for most people) and you have a better chance to negotiate a reduced payment with the car company than the power company?
Your argument is petty and makes no sense. We live in a complicated world with a lot of overlap and overlay.
What exactly would you like my feminism to do for the women in the Congo? And shouldn't that be their decision and not yours? What makes you such an expert on the difficulties of being a woman in the Congo?
Women from other nations have made it clear that they don't need or want white saviors. My feminism will respect their wishes, not kowtow to grandatanding theatrics to somehow "prove myself" to some Random Barney in a snit on the internet. I don't have to prove anything to you or anyone else.
Foreign (to me) feminists have a point. If they don't strive for the equality and dynamics they want on their own and achieve it on their own, they'll forever be at the mercy of someone else to maintain it, lest it be taken away again. That's just trading one master for another. That's not equality.
I support them in their efforts in any way I can that they have asked for and are taking leadership on. Even if all I can do is listen to their stories with empathy and compassion and cheer them on.
That's not nothing. Being seen and heard and valued is not nothing.
Probably the biggest way my feminism helps the women of the Congo is learning. We all learn from each other, both successes and failures. That's collectively. My personal part as an individual is very small and mostly focuses on feminist principles enacted upon single motherhood.
Women the world over are learning from you too. What do you think they're learning?
