co nt e n ts Editorial

TORIAL Dear ceiling smashers, norm breakers, stereotype subverters, and sister E D I 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

work of resisting the patriarchy’s pathetic excuses to pit us against each other and instead identify our shared oppressor interlocking in the systems of capitalism, patriarchy, imperialism, etc. Realising what it means to be women means trusting the womanly intuitive knowledge that our feminism is not divided because of difference, but enrichens and thrives because of it; it helps us challenge one another in order to strengthen our collective will, channelling our purpose to band together and fight, smash the glass ceiling, break the norms, subvert the stereotypes… as the sister warriors we all are.

By the nature of us having different journeys and encounters with each other and bearing different backgrounds and sensibilities, each woman will ultimately have a uniquely complex relationship with feminism. This edition of Elle Dit presents to you a collection of fierce and uncompromising feminist voices who are not afraid to admit to our differences as well as cherish our similarities. We fight for the immense joy of collective feminism, laugh at the sheer fatigue of double burdens and double standards, and vent at the hatred of the mutual oppressor i.e. the patriarchy… At the same time, we also negotiate feminism with other aspects of our lives including race, class, status, gender, sexuality, and disability, in the interconnecting dimensions of social, cultural, medical, spiritual, and political lives.

With the help and support of the wonderful team of female editors for On Dit this year, Grace, Habibah, Chanel, and Jenny, we guest editors, Ngoc Lan and Sienna, are honoured to pass along the torch of feminism on campus and present to you Elle Dit in all her glamour and glory. We hope you enjoy this edition.

With much love and solidarity,

Ngoc Lan and Sienna