Rebel Ink Collective Manifesto

Throughout the quarter at The University of Washington Bothell, Dr. Shayne’s class read and discussed a variety of feminist manifestos from Feminist Manifestos: A Global Documentary Reader. One day, to better process the material, us students wrote our own vision. The following is the result, edited slightly for grammar and clarity.

We the Rebel Ink Collective stand united, bound by a vision which transcends mere ambition—a vision of a world reshaped for equity, compassion, and unfettered access to essential, fundamental rights for all womxn, girls, and enbies. Our collective, woven from diverse threads of experience and expertise, declares the following non-negotiable demands to foster a society which cherishes and nurtures all its members equally, regardless of gender, race, class, sexual identity, ability, or circumstance, challenging the subordinate status as manifested by institutionalized ideologies of power. Our manifesto is a call to action, a blueprint for the future we are committed to creating. Together, we strive for a world where justice is not merely an ideal but is a reality for everyone. Let this document serve as our commitment to tirelessly work towards these goals, advocating for change, and inspiring others to join us in this critical journey.

1. Healthcare – Access to affordable, reliable, non-discriminatory, equal health care services. This includes:

• • Universal Health Care – Regular, preventative, and specialized services.

  • Universal access to birth control options and abortion services, including the guaranteed funding for Planned Parenthood. This would include the implementation of funding for Planned Parenthood into mandatory government spending budgets.

  • Better support for survivors of gender violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault, and creating more spaces where survivors have the ability to receive support.

  • Implementing additional services for the prevention of domestic violence and support for survivors. Some steps include more funding for healthcare-based and social safety net programs which support womxn who are survivors of gender violence, domestic abuse and sexual assault.

2. Education – Education is a fundamental right that must be thorough, equitable, and reflective of a diverse society. We advocate for international education curriculums built on a foundation of feminist knowledge, embracing multiple viewpoints and eradicating bias. This includes:

• • Womxn and girls deserve equal opportunity in education and more support for whatever it is that they want to pursue in life, especially in STEM-related fields.

  • Additional support that breaks down the gender division of labor in the paid workforce. For example, providing scholarships and support systems, which propel womxn into male dominated fields.

3. Equity in the Workplace – The principle of equal pay for equal work must be implemented. We demand that men and womxn receive equal salaries, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. This includes:

• • Equal base pay, supplemental pay, and bonus eligibility pay. This incorporates implementing a law stating salaries must be equal for all genders, who have equal qualifications. Any discrepancies between differing salaries per gender must file for an exemption with probable reasoning. This law is applicable to promotion pay increases as well, per gender with the same qualifications.

  • Eliminating hiring biases, including hiring pay discrepancies between men and womxn with the same qualifications.

  • Equitable benefits for men and womxn, including adequate family leave times and pay.

4. Political and Policy Changes – We call for an overhaul in political engagement and representation. This encompasses the equal right to vote, more equal opportunities for political and governmental positions, as well as more opportunities to get involved, and womxn have their voice heard through legislative power and voting rights. This includes:

• • The ability to easily start political campaigns.

  • The ability for individuals to easily vote in free and fair elections for candidates they choose.

  • Campaigns which adequately spread awareness about the easy steps needed for registering to vote and casting one’s vote.

  • International policy reparations and new implementations, with respect to each individual cultures, communities, groups of people, states and nation’s needs.

  • Implementing a mandatory baseline that requires congresses globally to be 75% of womxn.

  • Ensuring politicians can be deemed qualified by both political and lived experiences, as compared to needing solely traditional “political” workforce experience.

5. Individual Right to Exercise Autonomy – Each individual must have the undeniable right to exercise personal autonomy. This includes:

• • The fundamental right to practice one’s own ideology: religion, lifestyle, and right to express one’s religion(s).

  • The ability for womxn to marry whomever they choose, or not choose regardless of gender identity.

  • Ensuring individuals the fundamental right to establish relationships with whomever they want regardless of partner(s) gender and relationship type.

  • Making child marriage illegal.

  • Ensuring marriage along with other romantic relationships and partnerships are legally mandated to be consensual.

  • Ensuring no womxn is forced to stay in a relationship out of fear or for any other reason.