EDI T
ORIAL
Dear ceiling smashers, norm breakers, stereotype subverters, and sister warriors, Over three decades ago in October of 1990, the first-ever edition of Elle Dit, the women’s edition of On Dit, was born out of the need for a dedicated platform for hearing what she says and only what she says. These were women who got a lot to say and decided for themselves they would say it. What started as a space claimed by loud, opinionated, and determined women, soon became a tradition of exchanging writings and encountering convictions, thus collective constructing the innate feminism that materialises in Elle Dit. Continuing that line of herstory, this edition of Elle Dit has proven to be a welcoming space for female writers to explore what it means to be women and to be feminists. From the mundane everyday-ness of womanhood to the joyful collective of sisterhood to the urgent push of activism, feminism exists and flourishes everywhere and remains a generous sight for critical thoughts and subversive explorations. Women’s writings have come a long way. From word of mouth to private letters, it has taken many generations of mothers before our thoughts are printed in books and our voices announced in speeches. The evolution of women’s writings reflects the embodiment of a renowned feminist slogan: the personal is the political. Yet although the feminist movement has gone a long way, it still has much more ambitions to achieve, more places to reach, and more minds to motivate. Today, feminism still gets a bad rap; some women are afraid to say the F word let alone admit to themselves and others that they are feminists. And it is not entirely their fault; every woman’s journey and encountering feminism are not the same, and not all are smooth sailing. For some, it requires showing up to marches, speaking out at rallies, or signing petitions. For some, it requires intense but quiet reading and reflecting on the words and works of other women. For some, it requires incredible courage to transform from their assigned sex to become the women they have always meant to be. And for some, it requires acknowledging and forgiving the internal misogyny indoctrinated by growing up and living under the chokehold of the patriarchy. The feminist exists in all of us, but before she can be realised, a lot of work must be done. The personal is the political, but before this motto actualises and materialises in reality, the personal has to become the political. Let us not forget that for all of us, becoming political ultimately requires coming together and sharing what it means to be women. This is more important than ever before, especially during a time where trans sisters’ existence and identities are being increasingly and openly trampled on; cis women are not the only sisters whose identities have been oppressed on the basis of our sex. Ultimately, realising what it means to be women takes the
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