feminist of the week: keri swisher
Name: Keri Ann Swisher
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
Describe yourself in one word:
Optimistic
What is your feminist philosophy?
My feminist philosophy is for gender equality in its entirety. In my classes we talk about how you can be a feminist in different ways, like a Marxist feminist or a liberal feminist. My feminism lies within recognition of gender inequality, and the progress and steps needed to get back on track.
Why is feminism important in today’s world?
Because there is still misrepresentation in many fields, such as media and politics – It’s like any ‘ism’ that needs to be fixed and made aware to the public. It’s certainly not just a women’s issue. It boils down to people having a choice and agency to do what they want and be who they are.
What is the most important feminist cause in your life?
Right now, I think I am most interested in women in [U.S.] politics as I definitely want to see a woman in office, seeing as though we are one of the only developed countries who haven’t had a female president. I am interested, globally, in sex trafficking as a woman: the exploitation of young women and men.
When did you have your feminist awakening?
I would say in high-school I visited an all girl college and there was a speaker there who was hardcore, for the cause. I had never heard a woman speak like that: It was empowering yet frustrating because up until that point I hadn’t heard a woman in a high position of authority. And women’s literature wasn’t celebrated in my English classes and there wasn’t much on women’s history in school. Seeing that speaker took away a glass ceiling of my possibilities and inspired me to further my education. It helped me realise that just because something isn’t taught in class, doesn’t mean I can’t learn it for myself.
What’s your advice to other feminists?
My advice to other feminists is to acknowledge the progress that has been made and use a comparative lens with other global causes to see what other women are up to.
Who is your favorite feminist?
Adrienne Rich. The reason I like her is because she is a theorist. She explores compulsory heterosexuality in her work. She is hardcore.
