A recent social concept discussed in feminist/womanist communities is involved around this notion of “taking up space”. This idea stems from centuries-old trends in female behavior: dieting, eating disorders, apologizing for asking questions, shrinking ourselves in public spaces. Now a senior at Wesleyan University, Lily Myers’ poetic approach earned her viral internet standing and acclamation from women and men alike:

The issue presented predominantly focuses on the context of male entitlement to public space, particularly in public transport. Blogs like Men Taking Up Too Much Space on the Train and Move the F*ck Over, Bro are getting buzz – highlighting that in a patriarchal society, men will assert their privilege (possibly subconsciously) by sprawling out in trains, buses, and metros.

According to Feminist critique, this is a power move enacted by men in our society to assert dominance. But do you think “man-spreading” is an issue on the over-crowded trains in Bangladesh or Japan?

 

The answer is no. We in the West are privileged to make it inside the train; As a society, we place high value on personal space that just will not be realistic as population numbers begin to rise. Japanese subways are infamous for uniformed personnel shoving people inside – ensuring that each car is packed, not if every seat is filled.

And no, we are not dismissing the feminist critique of men’s behavior in public spaces. Physical assertion of perceived dominance is rampant, and definitely something that should, and will be discussed. Women should never feel threatened by existing, so any measures to empower, we support.

If population continues to grow, we won’t have the luxury to complain about “man-spreading”. As always with today’s social issues, intersectionality is important in this issue, especially voices of foreign perspectives.

Every year, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22. What better time to initiate a recycling/compost plan, get involved in a community garden or attend a climate change awareness forum? The options are endless when it comes to environmental outreach, the hardest part is actually committing to it!

This year, the majority of local, regional, and national festivities will be held the weekend prior (17-19), so check your favorite newspaper, magazine, blog, or events site to make sure you can get in on all the mother-loving action!

In D.C., there will be a huge party to celebrate and raise awareness on climate crisis, overpopulation, and poverty. The Global Poverty Project and the Earth Day Network have joined forces to present an amazing concert on the Washington Monument Grounds. Big, household name artists (No Doubt, Fall Out Boy, Usher, Mary J. Blige) have signed on to headline this event.

Not all events will be that massive, though. Parades of all magnitudes are held across the nation: cities in Pennsylvania, New York, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Vermont, Georgia, etc. will commemorate the holiday en masse so if community is your thing, we ensure you’ll find a sponsored event in your area.

But then there are people who think of crowds and shudder. That’s ok! Participate and celebrate in your own way! Plant a tree, a flower, vegetables or herbs. Watch a documentary about the effects of climate change. Read a book in a park. Take a walk and enjoy the resources we have, while we have them.

Heck, even if you just sign a petition or pledge to conserve energy or educate others, our home and our 7 billion + neighbors will be all the better for it.

• Earth Day Network’s Climate Petition
• Browse the Environmental Category at Change.com
• Sierra Club Canada: Protect Communities from Contamination
• Protect Wisely’s Greenbelt in Guilford, England