Charlotte Bunch

"As a human rights issue, the effort to end violence against women becomes a government's obligation, not just a good idea." (Charlotte Bunch). Charlotte Bunch fights for women's rights because she knows how it feels to be marginalized. When she realizes that the government only sees feminism as a good idea or change, she knows she has to fight for what women around the world deserve. Bunch was born in North Carolina, 1944. As she grew up, her parents work influenced her to become involved in social activism. She went to college, pursued a job, and found a husband. However, after getting involved with the Institute for Policy Studies around 1966, she noticed the lack of recognition when she spoke. This lead her to research more into women's rights. When she returned to the Institute of Policy Studies in 1970, she felt different and uncertain. As a result, she divorced her husband and came out as a lesbian. From then on, she became a feminist who combines activism, writing, and education to fight for women's rights. Charlotte Bunch is my hero because she is passionate in her work, is a problem-solver, and is inspirational to women.

When it comes to fighting for anything, one has to be passionate. Bunch expresses her passion in many ways such as writing books, teaching, and becoming a collaborator with others who do the same. In the beginning Bunch was living in the social norms, she had a husband, went to college, and pursued a job. However, after divorcing and coming out as a lesbian, she realized what it felt to be marginalized. In the article it says, "Bunch lived by the new principles she espoused. She founded a New York company, Interfem Consultants, which provided services to an international group of clients that included the United Nations, the Centro de la Mujer Peruana (Center for Peruvian Women), the Women and Development Unit of the University of the West Indies." (Encyclopedia of World Biography). Instead of disagreeing with her change in sexuality, she embraced a newly found aspect of herself and did something with it. She became passionate about women's rights and is willing to do what it takes to fight for something important. Another way that Bunch is passionate is the fact that she is fighting internationally. She believes that she shouldn't just inspire a change of perspective in just the United States, but everywhere. As said in the biography,"Whether speaking before groups around the world, mobilizing women through such books as Passionate Politics: Feminist Theory in Action (1987), or serving an instrumental role in one of the many feminist organizations to which she has devoted her time, Bunch has dedicated her adult life to promoting a gender-based perception of human rights on both a national and international level." (Feminist Writers). Bunch is so passionate that she has dedicated her life to fighting for women's and LGBT rights. It's one thing to fight on a national level but an entirely different thing to fight globally. She is a hero because she doesn't care about the difficulties she will face or what reaction she will get. As long as she is making a change or proving a point, she will fight for those who need it most.

Charlotte Bunch is a problem-solver, she knows how to deal with difficult situations and work within them. When she sees a problem like sex-trafficking or abuse, she will stand up to it and fight in a way that doesn't cause a riot. As mentioned in the article, it says "Much of Bunch's work in academic settings has been devoted to promoting women's rights internationally...Bunch organized conferences and coordinated agencies working to combat transnational phenomena leading to the abuse of women, such as the international trafficking of sex workers."(Encyclopedia of World Biography). This shows that Bunch is a problem-solver because she is acknowledging the problem and setting action to fix it. By showing that she is willing to take a stand against something big, she is giving others hope and belief that they can accomplish something. Another way that Bunch is a problem solver is that she is avoiding mistakes others make to solve a problem. An example from the biography says, "The Center for Women's Global Leadership. As the organization's founder, Bunch has been a major force in bringing world attention to bear on the human rights of women. As well, she has awakened women to the understanding that they need to demand from their respective governments a political and social equality on par with men." (Feminist Writers).  She can see that women themselves don't realize that the purpose of standing up for themselves to become equals to men. This shows that Bunch is a hero because she is capable of solving problems in a peaceful way, Overall, Bunch's problem solving skills show that she is a hero because she is peacefully allowing others to realize the mistakes made.

Bunch is an inspiration because of the attitude and strength she shows the world. In moments of tense emotions, she shows respect in her ways to fix the tension. As said in the biography, "'Often called into some of the power struggles and debates that sporadically rend communities,' observed Karla Dobinski in a 1983 Feminist Connection article, 'Charlotte consistently emerges as a respected peacemaker and problem-solver, able to foster honest inquiry into the conflicts that arise.'" During the 1970s, differences between homosexual and heterosexual feminists, or separatist and non-separatist feminism, created a furor within the movement." (Contemporary Authors Online). Bunch acting as a respected peacemaker and problem-solver allows others to see that their ways of speaking out to the world are misguided. Instead of forcefully pushing their ideas on each other they should be comprising and solving problems. This shows that she is inspirational because of the way she comes back to the reason why they are fighting. Other than Bunch's peacemaking skills, she is also an inspirational because of the dedication and passion she has for women's and lesbian rights. Bunch has dedicated her life to fighting for what's right by doing many things. As said in the biography, "...she became involved in established governmental and educational institutions as a teacher, writer, conference organizer, board member, and organization executive. In the second part of her career, Bunch has campaigned in favor of bringing gender and sexual-orientation issues to the forefront of international discussions about human rights and institutionalized violence." (Encyclopedia of World Biography). Bunch has done many things for human rights and controversy of sexual-orientation. This being a teacher, writer, board member, and more. She is an inspiration because her passion for this doesn't stop. She keeps going because this is her rights she is fighting for. She knows what women and LGBT deserve and will not stop. Overall, Bunch is an inspirational feminist and activist who fights on a grand scale and does not stop despite the obstacles she could face.