What if one day, nearly all of us had the same immune system – and one virus or disease arose that could wipe us all out? The human race; all life; Gone. What would happen?
French feminism in the 20th century was ever-evolving, so in this article, I will take you through the different waves, examining how it evolved across different historical moments, shaped by war, colonialism, intellectual innovation, and a growing awareness of intersectionality. There are some book recommendations throughout, too!
Virginia Woolf’s work demonstrates how, so often in literature, women are made rivals competing for the attention of the male gaze, thereby legitimising its supremacy. She demonstrates how, in ‘A Room of one’s own’, the relationship between Chloe and Olivia thus signifies some great change, wherein the two are allowed to simply exist together, momentarily undefined by their relation to men- “‘Chloe liked Olivia…’ Do not start. Do not blush. Let us admit in the privacy of our own society that these things sometimes happen, sometimes women do like women.” (Woolf, 1935, p. 123) Therefore, it is clear that the dynamics between women on a romantic scale should similarly undermine this literary tradition, providing a secluded space where rivalry is replaced with tenderness and male validation becomes insignificant to female appreciation for the female.
As the Guardian highlights, ‘Iraq’s oil boom is blamed for worsening water crisis in drought-hit south’. Iraq is the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter, where the oil industry is not only important, but necessary, for the Iraqi economy. In 2023, the government received $115 billion in revenue from the oil industry, accounting for 95% of the annual governmental budget. In a world where energy sources continue to be diversified and transitioned, Iraq relies on its expanse of oil fields, which inject millions of barrels of water every day, draining out any last drop of water left. In recent years, the water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have declined significantly, partly due to climate-related temperature shifts, but largely exacerbated by the regional oil infrastructure. How far can this go before change is irreversible, or is it already too late?
At its centre, Sylvia Plath’s ‘The Bell Jar’ is an exploration of the human condition. Set in the 1950s, at a time where women were expected to conform to societal norms, roles, and expectations, it seeks to examine the challenges of finding meaning in a world that often attempts to define us, while highlighting the psychological toll this can bring. Throughout the novel Plath explores themes of existentialism, feminist philosophy, and the ultimate pursuit of authenticity, all of which are displayed through the protagonist’s struggle for meaningful existence.
