Why?
The recent election season brought up women’s issues and consequently fiery controversial debates. Many felt that the need to voice political opinions was more crucial than ever. While witnessing heated arguments, protests, passionate debates and some personal relationships crumble, it hit me that many of these issues have been persistent throughout my entire life without my full attention or awareness.
I have heard countless times, “girls are so mean,” “I get along with guys better, girls are too much drama,” “I honestly hate being a girl,” “are you PMSing right now?”, “feminists need to calm down.” I have even endorsed this harsh generalization and discrimination of my own gender. I realized that I was completely against my own benefit. I was playing into misogynistic social speech patterns that kept me feeling inferior to my male peers.
Having this realization at a younger age greatly benefitted me. However, so many of the women I have met seem to still play into the idea that feminism is an angst fueled movement with the sole desire to make women superior.
This is far from reality. In fact, the harsh reality is that due to systematic oppression, sexist policies, and social patterns, women still have many ways to go to reach gender equality. In 2014, women made 79 cents for every dollar earned by a man. For every dollar made by a father with children under the age of 18, mothers earn 74.7 cents. One in four women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. Worldwide, the statistics are even more shocking. Over 63 million girls are denied an education all over the world. In 2015, only 21 women held head of state positions worldwide. The inequality is undeniable so why do some women still protest?
The fact is that feminism gets a bad reputation from misunderstanding. The definition of feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men. The theory of equality of the sexes is one that surely most of us can agree on. But it seems that women especially protest to this. The usual explanations lie within sentences such as, “but I like guys,” “I like to do girly things and shave so, not for me,” “I don’t know, I feel pretty equal to guys,” or “I like the idea of chivalry.” All of these statements could not be further from what this movement has tried to promote from the beginning.
Most disapprovers quickly conjure up third-wave feminism, as if that debunk, destructive movement represents what the majority of feminists believe. I would hate feminism too if third wave ideals were actually what is encouraging progress for equality. The people behind the majority of the feminist movement respect every lifestyle choice, their only refute is for hate and injustice based on gender. I’m just going throw out there that Beyoncé stands with this movement…Do what you please with that information.
I have seen some girls admit that they don’t identify as a feminist because they fear it won’t be attractive to boys. Which just further proves the need for the movement, honestly. As a survivor of assault, a sister of a sorority that encourages empowerment for women, a daughter of a strong woman, an older sister, a person, I will fight for the rest of my life to ensure that my gender is equally regarded in society.
We must fight until we are paid the same for equal work, no longer addressed as only objects of desire, no longer afraid of being the one in four women assaulted, until our anatomy and menstruation are no longer taboo, until fighting like a girl actually represents the strength, courage, and fortitude that women possess. I challenge girls who are, as I like to call, “closet feminists” to break the stigma. Spread love and compassion not just for women but people of all races, ethnicities, backgrounds, genders, orientations, ages, etc. The fact is that equality has not yet been reached (as if this election wasn’t enough of a wake up call). The girl-on-girl hate just perpetuates this vicious trend of oppression. I choose believe in the future of our world and especially in the power of women. Seriously, we have birthed every human on this planet; please just give us equal treatment.