In the heart of SГЈo Paolo, I found my calling. At the tender age of twenty, long before I became a scholar, I saw injustice masquerading as tradition, cultural norms overshadowing the fundamental rights of women. I saw strong, empowered women being silenced, their voices dissenting into the wind. Yet, I also saw moments of unparalleled freedom, gaps in a society's structure allowing for the transformation of oppressive power dynamics.
One such moment came when I witnessed a group of women organizing an open forum in the community center. Their lives were their stories, narrated with unwavering conviction—a conviction that lit the embers of change. I couldn't help but realize that these instances of freedom were not anomalies; they were the subtle results of resilience and courage transcending societal barriers. It was a stark display of the power that comes from claiming one's agency—an intimate power exchange.
I started to engage with these moments of freedom, trading my passive role for an active one. It was a challenging shift, filled with missteps and doubts, but it unearthed an essential truth; Freedom is not an abstract idea. It is attainable, substantial, like a book in a library waiting for someone to click and enjoy it. One must only seize the opportunity, and the power exchange that follows is transformational.
Now, at thirty, I find myself reflecting on these moments, the formative glimpses of freedom that shape my scholarship today. Yes, I am a man, a Brazilian one at that. But I am also a feminist scholar. I use my privilege to amplify voices suppressed for far too long. I celebrate moments of freedom and fervently invest in the power exchange they engender. The journey towards equality is an uphill climb, but the view from the summit, I am certain, will be worth it. |
