Defending Our Dreams: Global Feminist Voices for a New Generation

by Kristy Evans (Editor), Shamillah Wilson (Editor), Anasuya Sengupta (Editor)

The unique experiences, perspectives and visions of young feminists are extremely valuable in both understanding the current world order and in shaping a better future. Young feminists are engaged as advocates, organisers, protesters, researchers and strategists, and their energies, visions, solidarity, creativity and passion are instrumental in defining social movements globally. This pioneering collection brings together analyses by feminists of diverse identities on a range of themes including women's rights and economic change; new technologies; sexuality; and feminist organizations and movements.

Defending Our Dreams includes analyses by contributors from Uruguay, Venezuela, South Africa, Tanzania, Nepal, India, Canada, the USA, Australia, Barbados and the UK. This book is essential reading for all those engaged in feminist research, organizing and activism.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

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Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe because I have read a lot of feminist theory, maybe because the book is 15 years old, maybe because the writers are inexperienced, nothing in the book felt particularly interesting, fresh or exciting. I’d be curious to give it to a 24 year old and hear what they have to say about it but for me it was a very quick read of me going uh huh, yup, sure and yes with each chapter that felt very deja vu.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely good collection of contemporary Feminist essays, written from women's (and some men's) perspectives all over the globe. It really illuminates how feminism is still relevant today, and how it is a struggle that crossed national, cultural, economic boundaries, and benefits both men and women... One of my favorite essays was one on male feminist voices in Africa (We Exist! Voices in Male Feminism) that gave a head on look at how sexism effects how men interact with women, and their health.

All the essays are written in easily accessible voices. It felt like the words of people I knew, not women in countries I'd never met.

[Fadillah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What this book promised as in the title itself, it did deliver a compilation of essays from a young feminists from all over the world which the issues or voices each one of them has written is extremely diverse. I took about 10 days to finish as it’s very detailed but at the same time, it felt very personal. The struggle to reconcile the feminist identity, the lack of faith by people who look at the age as the competence indicator and the purpose crisis of feminist organisations - is the common denominators when i’ve read each of these articles. My favourite chapters would be :
1. Moving the personal to the political : personal struggles as a basis for social justice advocacy by Salma Moulidi. This articles dig deep into the struggle of the author in defending her faith but at the same time, navigating the space of being a feminist.
2. You’ll know what we are talking about when you grow older : a third wave critique of anti trafficking ideology, globalisation and conflict in Nepal by Sushma Joshi. The concept of “cheli beti” might save the girls from being trafficked in Nepal but it condemned women to the space of no rights and lack of mobility across the countries.
3. From Orphaned China Dolls to long distance daughters : a call for solidarity across borders by Indigo Williams Willing. This article promised a critical outlook on transnational adoption. The author provided a reasons on why the notion of these babies is being adopted to a better place with plenty of rights and opportunities is extremely dangerous. These adopted babies were robbed of their cultural identity and the sense belongingness while adhering to the western way of life.
Overall, this is a thought provoking book. It was done in a way of illuminating the truth and at the same time, enlightening readers of the experiences of being young feminists all over the world.