Stories will Balance the World | Histórias a Equilibrar o Mundo | Aurélie Salvaire | TEDxPorto
The speaker, Inés Mena Saravia, claims that modern feminist advocacy must move beyond superficial trends by reclaiming narratives and engaging in collective action through new media. She argues that systems of oppression are maintained by shared stories, and true change requires women and diverse voices to tell counter-stories to build a new archetype based on partnership. The necessity of this shift is underscored by the contrast between the systemic issues—like military spending vs. education funding—and the potential for change via accessible, modern tools. ## Speakers & Context - **Inés Mena Saravia** — Speaker discussing the authenticity and strategy of feminist activism in 2017. - **Reviewer** — Interjects before the main talk, noting that the speaker presents as a "fake feminist" potentially capitalizing on a trend. ## Theses & Positions - Being a feminist in 2017 requires walking a "very thin line" regarding authenticity, acknowledging the risk of "cashing in on a very juicy and buzz trend." - The core problem is that society operates within a "matrix so embedded in us that we are completely oblivious about it," creating a world based on fear and domination. - The system trains people into limiting "boxes" (e.g., the "man box" requiring provision, or the "woman box" valuing household management) that restrict potential. - The prevailing cultural narratives are written by men, about men, or viewed through a "male gaze," meaning only half of the story is told. - The primary actions for change are twofold: 1) "reclaim the narrative" by identifying and asserting one's "true story," and 2) engage in "collective action." - Ultimate goal is to shift from a "domination to a partnership model," realizing that "what stories do is that they connect with our shared humanity." ## Concepts & Definitions - **Matrix:** The systemic structure described as embedding limitations and causing people to be oblivious to the reality of the constraints. - **Male Gaze:** A framing concept suggesting that stories about women are predominantly filtered through a masculine perspective. - **"Man box" / "Woman box":** Cultural limitations that confine men (to provision/toughness) and women (to household management/suppression). - **Counter-storytelling:** The active process of telling new narratives to counteract existing, oppressive systemic stories. - **Collective duty of activism:** The modern necessity for everyone to participate in reframing and rethinking biases. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **Systemic Oppression Mechanism:** Narratives are created to back up and legitimize systems of oppression; these narratives are then used to silence other voices. - **Cultural Conditioning:** The system trains girls toward "quieter and calmer activities" and boys toward addressing conflict with violence or disconnecting from emotion, often via media and language. - **Activist Toolkit Utilization:** Using modern tools (Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, short-form viral videos on BuzzFeed, etc.) to make social change visible, fast, and accessible. - **Guerrilla Activism:** Simple, low-cost actions, such as pasting images in public spaces (e.g., naming streets in Paris after women), designed to make people think. ## Timeline & Sequence - **Childhood Influences (Observation Phase):** The speaker observed her parents' fights, developing an early need to "balance their energies" and "channel the conversation." - **Systemic Realization:** Recognizing that the personal struggles of her parents were symptomatic of a "systemic one," spanning from rural South France to Pakistan. - **Modern Context:** The discussion pivots to contemporary issues observed in millennials, such as listening to songs like "Blurred Lines" or witnessing mass street harassment. - **Historical Analogy:** Recalls Gandhi’s sequence of reception: "At the beginning, they ignore you; after, they laugh at you; after, they fight you; and after, you win." ## Named Entities - **Aurélie** — The five-year-old version of the speaker. - **Gandhi** — Figure quoted for a historical progression model of resistance. ## Numbers & Data - Military spending: Stats are up to **eight times** the stats of education spending. - Resource comparison: Stopping military spending for **eight days** could fund **12 years** of education for every child globally. - Paris street naming statistics: Only **two percent** of Paris streets are named after women. - Video segment focus: Example of a video showing a woman working only **78%** of the day. ## Examples & Cases - **Parental Conflict:** Observing parents fighting led her to learn to "intervene between them, to balance their energies." - **Parental Boxes:** Dad trapped in the "man box" (supposed to provide, cope with criticism); Mom trapped in the "woman box" (giving up career for household/village). - **Cultural Tropes/Media Critique:** Critique of sexist ads and media portrayals suggesting women "shouldn't be loud" or "are too emotional to lead." - **Viral Activism:** The use of the "allmalepanels" Tumblr to parody male panels, or the "Man Who Has It All" account to switch roles in representation. - **Street Art in Paris:** Pasting images like "Quai Nina Simone" and "Street Frida Kahlo" to reclaim public space. - **Modern Corporate Activism Example:** The video concept of a woman stating she is "only paid for 78% so..." after being interrupted. ## Tools, Tech & Products - **Social Media Platforms:** Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook. - **Viral Content Aggregators:** ATTN:, BuzzFeed, 80 PLUS. - **Activist Digital Tools:** change.org (allowing parents to question brands selling sexist merchandise). - **Recording Devices:** Microphone, pen, camera (to "grab a mic, to grab a pen, to grab a camera"). ## References Cited - *"Blurred Lines"* — Song cited as a contemporary example of pervasive gender expectations. - **World Economic Forum reports** — Mentioned as the source of data on issues like the pay gap. - **Avengers one** — Cultural reference used in the context of consumer merchandise parody. ## Counterarguments & Caveats - The speaker notes that the initial presentation of "cool feminism" risks being superficial or falsely branded. - It is acknowledged that most people are not "100% altruistic or free from ego." ## Conclusions & Recommendations - **Reclaim the Narrative:** Every individual must identify and assert their "true story" rather than adopting externally defined roles. - **Collective Action:** Leverage new media and collective effort to challenge status quo narratives. - **Shifting Model:** The goal is a definitive shift "from a domination to a partnership model." - **Focus Area:** Need for more female storytellers to document reality and generate counter-narratives. ## Implications & Consequences - Continued adherence to old narratives keeps systems of oppression functioning by legitimizing current structures. - Failure to act means continuing to live in a state of "half of the population is trained to oppress the other half." - The transformation is described as a "spiritual one," aiming for a "new archetype" built on mutual recognition of shared humanity. ## Open Questions - How to manage the inherent tension between authentic, personal truth-telling and the visibility required by trending, digitally mediated activism. ## Verbatim Moments - *"I might just be cashing in on a very juicy and buzz trend."* - *"Being a feminist in 2017 is walking a very thin line."* - *"If you would've asked little Aurélie what she wanted the most as a gift, she would've said, 'Peace.' 'Peace and balance.'"* - *"The symptoms might be different, but the disease is the same."* - *"We live in a world of fear and domination."* - *"If we would stop spending on military for only eight days, we could provide and pay for the education of each child on the planet for 12 years."* - *"Words are magical. Words are powerful. Words are free; they're available to anyone."* - *"What is your true story? Honestly, truly, without an overinflated sense of self-esteem or underestimated."* - *"It's more fun, it's faster, it's accessible to anyone."* - *"If you want to change the world, you have to change the stories."* - *"To pass from the blade to the chalice, from Darth Vader to Luke and Leia Skywalker."* - *"At the beginning, they ignore you; after, they laugh at you; after, they fight you; and after, you win."*