Feminism. Maybe you’re familiar with the word, or maybe it’s foreign to you. It’s been everywhere lately — Beyoncé’s VMA performance and Emma Watson’s UN speech. But what exactly is feminism? The dictionary definition says that feminism is “the belief that all people are entitled to the same civil rights and liberties and can be intellectual equals regardless of gender.” That’s it. Feminism is about equality, despite what others may believe. There are many people out there who believe some ridiculous things about feminism, but at its root, feminism is about equal opportunities for all genders. Let’s debunk some of the misconceptions about feminism.
The Myths
1. Feminists hate men and want to oppress all males The most common belief about feminists is that they hate all men. That’s not the case at all! Feminism is about equality, not oppression. What has to be recognized is that gender isn’t a polarity — opposing forces that want to destroy the other — but merely a spectrum. Things are not entirely masculine nor are they entirely feminine. It’s deeply instituted in our culture that men must behave a certain way and women must behave a certain way. Feminism wants to change that. It’s sad that while it’s socially acceptable for little girls to be tomboys, young boys are put down if they show any interest in “girly” things. The phrases “Man up!” and “Don’t be such a girl!” are proof that society views femininity as a weakness. That, of course, is not the case. Feminism wants to erase this view.
2. Feminists hate women who conform to traditional gender roles Another common myth about feminists involves the notion that feminists think traditional feminine roles are weak. I’m quite happy to report that this is false. Feminists want to support all the decisions women make when it comes to expression of gender roles. There is a stigma attached to a woman’s choice. If she chooses to work, society says she is neglecting her family. If she decides to stay at home with her children, society says she is weak. Feminism is about respecting a woman’s decision to choose what she wants to do, whether it’s a high-powered career, a large family or both. There’s nothing weak about any aspect of femininity, whether it be represented in career, lifestyle or physical appearance decisions.
3. Feminists don’t shave their legs or armpits This is more of a silly myth than anything, but it’s a prevailing one nonetheless. There seems to be this stereotype of a non-shaving, bra-burning extremism. But truth be told, if feminism has anything to say about leg shaving, it would be something along the lines of “Do what makes you happy.” It’s a common trend in the media to insist that women should appear a certain way in order to please others. But feminism argues women should look the way that they want to. If a woman wants to let her leg hair grow because she doesn’t like to shave, then that’s good for her. If a woman likes the feeling of smooth legs and decides to shave every day, then that’s equally as good for her.
The Message Even in the 21st century, men still have many advantages that women do not. They have an overwhelming majority in the media and in government positions and a more lenient expectation of sexuality. They have more opportunities in the workforce and receive higher pay. Men have no fear of accusations of “deserving to get raped,” and male privilege is still prevalent. To quote writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in Beyoncé’s “Flawless”: “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls: ‘You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise you will threaten the man.’ Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage, I am expected to make my life choices always keeping in my mind that marriage is the most important. Now, marriage can be a source of joy and love and mutual support, but why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don’t teach boys the same? We raise girls to see each other as competitors, not for jobs or for accomplishments … but for the attention of men. We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way boys are. Feminist: a person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.”
This is why I’m a feminist and why, if you agree with these statements and these beliefs, you should join me in support of gender equality.
Photo credit:www.huffingtonpost.com