Why ‘The Personal is the Political’ Still Holds True Today
The phrase ‘The Personal is the Political’ was coined by feminist Carol Hanisch in the 1960s. It refers to the idea that personal experiences and issues are connected to larger societal and political structures. Despite being several decades old, the phrase still holds true today, as a variety of political movements continue to show how individual experiences and struggles intersect with larger systemic issues.
Examples of ‘The Personal is the Political’
One example of how ‘The Personal is the Political’ plays out is in discussions around sexual assault. When sexual assault survivors come forward with their stories, they are often met with victim-blaming and disbelief from those who think that their experience is isolated and not connected to wider cultural norms. However, many feminist activists have argued that sexual assault is not just a personal issue, but a systemic issue that is deeply connected to larger issues around sexism and misogyny. By sharing their stories and demanding systemic change, sexual assault survivors and activists have helped to shift the conversation around sexual violence from an individual one to a societal one.
Another example of ‘The Personal is the Political’ is found in the disability rights movement. People with disabilities have long been disadvantaged by a world that is not built to accommodate their diverse needs and abilities. Rather than just a personal issue, disability rights activists have framed disability as a political issue, taking on battles around accessibility, employment, and healthcare. By reframing disability as a political issue, the disability rights movement has been able to demand systemic change and access to equal rights.
How We Can Apply ‘The Personal is the Political’
There are many other areas where we can see how the phrase ‘The Personal is the Political’ holds true. From the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community to the ongoing fight for racial justice, individual experiences and struggles are inextricably linked to larger political structures and cultural norms. By recognizing these connections, we can better understand and tackle the root causes of systemic issues.
One way we can apply ‘The Personal is the Political’ to our daily lives is by examining our own experiences and their connection to larger societal structures. For example, if you have experienced discrimination or prejudice, consider how those experiences relate to larger issues of oppression and inequality. By recognizing your experiences as part of a larger system, you can begin to take action and demand change. Similarly, if you have privilege in certain areas of your life, consider how that privilege is connected to wider structures of inequality. By examining our own experiences in this way, we can better understand our place in the world and work towards creating a more just and equitable society.
Conclusion
‘The Personal is the Political’ remains a powerful and relevant concept today. By recognizing the connections between personal experiences and political structures, we can better understand and tackle systemic issues. From sexual assault survivors to disability rights activists, political movements continue to show how individual experiences are connected to larger issues of oppression and inequality. By applying this concept to our own lives, we can work towards creating a more just and equitable society for all.
