Not long ago I wrote an article, listing 23 reasons why we still need intersectional feminism today. In that article I write about what’s wrong with our society at this moment when it comes to intersectional feminism. It’s a rather negative article, because the world today is not as I (and many others) would like it to be. Today I want to look at this subject from a different perspective. The positive side. I want to sketch up a future that we can fight for. One in which we need little to no intersectional feminism at all anymore. And so I’m writing about what I would like the world to look like in 2100 when it comes to intersectional feminism. At that point, I hope to be 102 years old and see whether we accomplished it (haha).
Work division in 2100
In 2100 the average work week is 28 hours for all genders. The pay gap is closed and there’s no significant difference to be found in working hours for any gender. Sure, here and there individuals can choose to work more or less than 28 hours, but these individuals are not characterized by one specific gender. In addition to this, there are no sectors in which certain genders dominate. In health care, IT, child care and politics (to name some examples), all genders working in that specific sector are balanced and no gender is overrepresented. The same goes for highly theoretical positions like the position of a CEO, where all genders are equally represented. In both physical and theoretical jobs the workforce is also a representation of the ethnic background of society. So if 5% of the population has a Maroccan-Dutch background, this is the percentage of Morrocan-Dutch people working in each sector.
Since all genders work the same amount of paid hours (and contribute equally to the household’s income), the unpaid labor is divided equally as well. It’s the norm to make a list of what’s to be done in an household once you start living together with someone and divide the work equally. Every adult in the household does whatever he likes best and there are no assumptions about what tasks a certain gender can do best. Whether that’s in a 2-adults, 3-adults or 4-adults household. All kinds of family dynamic are accepted, so a share of the population live in polyamory relationships. All types of relationships and love are accepted. And if a child is born, all parents get a year paid leave from work. And like all other tasks this childcare is divided entirely equally as well.
Gender roles in 2100
There are no more gender roles. All toys, clothing and cosmetics are sold in one section and not divided by gender. No color is attributed to a certain gender. Gender reveal parties have gone extinct, instead people celebrate the fact that a baby is coming. All genders feel free to be vulnerable, cry and show emotions. Society accepts of all genders that they show emotions, in whatever (non-violent) form that is. No characteristics are linked to a specific gender, but to individuals. Nor are clothing types to a specific gender. All genders wear all kinds of clothing or make-up and can show whatever body-hair they have (or choose not to, either is unremarkable).
Fat-shaming is history. People accept their bodies and that of the people surrounding them. Losing weight for the sake of physical appearance is not longer done. The dieting industry has therefore died off. And so has a big share of the cosmetics industry. People no longer see the use of anti-aging creams or serums that make your skin look a specific way. People are accepted the way they are.
Violence levels in 2100
Sexual violence and domestic violence have gone extinct as well. But there are strict laws in place for sexual and domestic violence. If it ever happens, people are intensively guided with therapy and intensively watched to make sure they never relapse. Sex work is legalized and no longer a tabboo. People talk openly about visiting a sex worker, it’s the same as going to the sauna. Sexual education on schools is centered entirely around consent and sexual pleasure. The orgasm gap has closed. All genders are taught to speak up when someone speaks in a toxic way or shows toxic behavior.
Laws in place till 3100
All forms of discrimination has gone extinct, but have not gone forgotten. There are special memorial days for each form of discrimination that has gone extinct and these subjects are intensively taught at primary and secondary schools in history classes to make sure kids know what the world used to be like and why we should never go back to it. There are also laws in place till at least 3100 to make sure discrimination can never return. For example, businesses have to let an independent agency research whether there is a pay gap between gender or between people with different ethnic backgrounds. Good lactation rooms are present, but public breast feeding is accepted widely as well. Policies in every sector are complete, stating the right for menstrual leave or for medical gender transitions.
Research, medical care and media in 2100
Medical research and other research has been reformed so that all genders in society are represented equally in studies. Therefore, all genders and people from different backgrounds are taken equally serious when they show up to a doctor. Public media represents The Netherlands at that point. Just like in society, you see all kinds of people in media. From tall to short, fat to skinny and able-bodied or not.
That’s where I would like to see the world in 2100 when it comes to intersectional feminism.
Yours sincerely,
Romee