A movement born out of the understanding that Attention does not equal Change.

Awareness only reveals the scope of the mountain that we must climb. 

 

We are thrilled about the unity of the #MeToo movement and the attention the world is giving to the staggering number of us who have come forward on social media. Many women across the country are also taking comfort witnessing a degree of justice being served to some perpetrators in Hollywood and in our government that has been long overdue.  The power of this moment has truly opened a door for us to effect substantial change on the path to real female equality.  Our hope feels well founded, indeed!

 

Nonetheless, we at La Femme Nouvelle, know in our hearts this chance to create a new world will be fleeting and soon lost, if we do not find a way to undo and unlearn the thought systems and behaviors that brought us all to this point.  We could burn down an entire city, but if the same humans are there, with the same ideas and same tools, we know they will build the city back up again the same way.  They may shine it up or hide it better underground, but the structure is still the same. We have seen this before.  We cannot use the old ideas to create something new.  

The new developments in the shaming of male sexual offenders has given us hope that "locker room talk" and culture may change, but we don't really have the final say in that area.  We can continue to support each other speaking out, standing up for ourselves, holding the line for men. We can also try to raise our sons with respect for others, integrity with their words and allow them safely to have a full spectrum of emotions aiding in development of empathy. 

 

BUT there IS something else we DO have total control over.  Something that has caused lifetimes of shame, anxiety and heartache.  Something that can change the lives of all the women you know.  Something we don't need a single man in order to change at all!  We can do it on our own!

We can change the way we, as women, treat each other.

This is a call for all of us to begin to learn how to truly be respectful, loving and supportive of each other.  To come together for the greater good.  To be safe places for one another.

 

We think it is clear the occasion calls for us, females of every age, ethnicity, background and lifestyle to UNITE. If we stand together in the service of equality, we may progress further than ever before. Our differences are vast.  It’s true.  But as a marginalized group, our fragmentation has always been the most powerfully prohibiting force upending our progress.  From a very young age, many of us were taught to judge, hate and not trust each other.  We must unlearn the fallacy that we are in competition with other women, and instead begin to see each other as resources.  La Femme Nouvelle suggests that instead of dividing us, our different experiences and opinions give immeasurable value to our community, forever teaching and awakening us, expanding our understanding and raising our consciousness.

It seems clear now that equality will be forged by us when WE collectively change. Then the rest of the world will have no choice but to adjust and follow suit. To be explicitly clear, this is not and never will be an indictment of women.  It is just an additional effort, alongside the existing great work being done, to make sure we are on our own team.  The more we stand together, the more powerful our voice becomes.  And more important than ever is how we use our collective voice.

 

La Femme Nouvelle is a movement for female unity and internal freedom.  With uniting, we must also do the individual work to remove old suns out of our solar system.  To discard the prejudices and fears that separate us from each other.  To self govern in a way that grows our ability to experience peace and love, no matter the external circumstance.  To acknowledge and learn more extensively about our differences, to value them, to honor individuality, and simultaneously to create a larger sisterhood. 

The New Woman is her own master.  She is not a slave to any person, any idea, any emotion, culture, history or upbringing.  The New Woman is internally free and therefore commander of her own authentic life.  She sees her self worth, enjoys the ripple effects of its solidity and in turn, respects the inherent worth and value of every other human being. 

 

Our center will offer courses, workshops and events solely geared toward aiding the development of true spiritual, psychological and emotional freedom.  

 

The New Woman can create a New World.