Recently, female emancipation has grown immensely. Women always want to destroy the barriers built by the chauvinist society. More and more companies and big organizations are managing to put women at the same level as men. An example is the work that NASA is doing to land the first woman on the moon. It is an important step for women because such an important event would encourage young women to develop an ambitious dream and aspire to get important jobs in systems such as NASA. It would make them want to see themselves in that role and grow a new generation of more confident women. To date, only 12 men have walked on the moon. For this lunar mission, set for 2024, there are 12 women already available and another 5 who are taking the class that will wrap up astronaut training this year.

I interviewed 16 year old Giulia Bianchi, of Milan, Italy, who believes in feminism and the importance of this mission for the equality of gender.

Q: What did you think when NASA declared it was planning to send the first woman to the moon?

GB: I was really surprised because I didn’t think that such an organization was paying attention to women’s fight against machismo. I find their decision really interesting because only men landed on the moon and, in my personal opinion, it reflects what the society is used to thinking, which is wrong because it is important to integrate both men and women. What happened is wrong and people need to open minds and involve everyone in every area.

Q: How do you carry on your thinking?

GB: I always try to talk about feminism that is often considered as superiority for women and not for equality, which is just what we ask for. I collect information and share my thoughts through social medias so I can get to know people from all over the world who are fighting for the same reason.

Of course, I always try to make people understand that we have to break down all those preconceptions about physical and mental abilities, since men and women are different but we deserve the same opportunities.

Q: How could the situation change with the moon landing project?

GB: I am pretty sure that young women, seeing what is happening, will realize that there aren’t so many labels about jobs anymore and that they can manage even to go to the moon, which twenty years ago would have been unbelievable. There must not be jobs just for men or just for women: everybody must have the power to do what he or she wants, no matter the gender.

Q: Do you think that this could demoralize men?

GB: If you read it under a sexist point of view, probably. They could see it as a deprivation towards them. Under a feminist point of view, which is actually just the wish of equality, it is something right, that we deserve.

Q: What if they start choosing just women?

GB: It often happens, when people declare themselves feminist just for being popular, and I think it is awful, since they use a serious fight for their own purposes. Everyone must be chosen for his or her abilities, mare or female. Basing on someone’s gender, talking about work, is not efficient.

I also had the privilege of interviewing Rick Walker, who works at NASA.

Q: What is your role at NASA?

RW: I work in the field of technology, dealing with measurements and developments about aircraft and spacecraft. I usually work with weather, for example, studying the air and the clouds in the atmosphere.

Q: What is your role in the space mission to be done by a woman in 2024?

RW:  I’m the deputy of the operations center, dealing with the organization, and providing facilities and services to enable the NASA mission. In addition, my field is also the construction of test facilities, security services, logistic, and environmental rules.

Q: Do you help the research? 

RW: Not directly, but I help researches to realize missions to the moon and  mars.

Q: What about the cost of these missions?

RW:  Of course they’re really expensive, we’re talking about billions and billions of dollars from the government and from the other organizations all over the world. This is the reason why we have to avoid every mistake, because we would lose a lot of money that mostly comes from the government, which means taxes.