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In a world where women are expected to cater to the community- be a mother, assume wifely duties and be a role model, living for oneself is rebellion.
Women, especially women in the limelight are expected to live for the community. The role of a role model is hoisted upon us and we are supposed to use that as a mental restraint. When next we want to choose a meal to eat, a clothe to wear, a party to go to, we must remember the imaginary eyes right there with us in the bedroom and and ask ourselves “what will the community want” before making a choice.
On April 14th 2025, The recent case of the all women crew involving Kerianne Flynn; Aisha Bowe, a former NASA engineer, Lauren Sanchez, singer-songwriter Katy Perry and CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King that went to space bussed and spinned many headlines. Olivia Munn who described the trip as gluttonous asked “what did they do up there that would benefit women and girls down here?”
I think the problem started with crew THEMSELVES marking their trip as a women empowerment venture, and same goes for the argument for and against. Now, here is my take on it:
I am not one to sit on fences, however, I strongly believe both sides of the arguments hold some sway.
1. It is inspiring in that, it is the first time in 64 years (as reported by CBS news) that an all crew is going to space. Despite the fact that an estimated 100 women have been to space, however, women only make up 15% of space travellers. Hence, whether a joy ride or an empowerment move, it is in fact a huge step to bridging an existing divide. Like Bowe rightly said, representation matters.
More so, women in STEM have always been treated as assistants. There is a fiercely persistent bias that women in STEM are less competent. Despite their remarkable feats, there is always a giant male shadow casting down on the. Having an all women crew go to space all by themselves and return safely, that in itself is a huge statement because it brings women to the front burner.That itself is, I believe, a feminist win deserving of being celebrated. Secondly,
2. Secondly, I have always, firmly held the view that women should be able to live their lives without turning it into an inspiration. Unpaid labour isn’t just in the washing of dishes but also the mental and moral labour we owe to the community at large. Part of the unpaid labour women deliver to the society at large, consists of holding the moral fabrics of the society. And women should not fall into the trap of turning our every move into inspiration. I believe this was the biggest fault of the joyriders.
Their joyride was something that can be experienced by 0.00001 % of the privileged populace, so framing it as an aspiration for young girls is so so far-fetched and put of tune with reality. Achieving weightlessness is something most of us will never experience
The closest the rest of us can get to achieving weightlessness is to wait for the rapture.
And personally, I am very very glad that feminism has come such a long way that hedonistic pursuits are no longer the special reserve of the old boys club. The girls too can and that in itself is a huge win, a feminist win. However, while enjoying those wins class avails us, we shouldn’t be so tone deaf that we begin to try to cast giant footprints that girls should fit in when in fact, they are very much out of reach even to many at the topmost cadre of the society.
Despite their trip making feminist statement, nonetheless, it didn’t have to be marked as an empowerment move. They might as well have just gone to space and enjoy their time and money. Men do that all the time! They go to space, to gulf clubs, strip clubs, everywhere and spend heavily on their pleasure exclusively, totally self-serving. Who are they inspiring? The boy child?
For this reason, I am of the belief that the whole facade about being an inspiration was unnecessary. It would spark feminist discourse, true, in the aspect of representation, it is truly a women empowering moment, but the ride itself, might not qualify as one if being looked at from the angle of class divide.
The girls should have just enjoyed their time and gloat about it as much as they want.
It is ok for women to indulge in things for their pleasure. That in itself is rebellion, that in itself is a feminist statement- a woman who is just navigating the world like the men.
