“Ok, hey, I got something to say to you, man. I brake for birds. I rock a lot of polka dots. I have touched glitter in the last 24 hours. I spend my entire day talking to children and I find it fundamentally strange that you’re not a dessert person. And I’m sorry I don’t talk like Murphy Brown, and I hate your pant suit. I wish it had ribbons on it or something to make it just slightly cuter. And that doesn’t meant I’m not smart and tough and strong.”
These are the wise words of Zoe Deschanel from her hit show, New Girl, and I think almost every female I am currently sitting with (as we watch Downton Abbey) could not dispute them. Feminism – or at least I thought so – comes in all shapes and sizes. So, I am confused as to why a recent publication of The Green Apple has told its readers that subjects such as sex and clothes are something to laugh about and make fun of. It is true that Her Campus does not always address the historical and present grievances of women, but that doesn’t make its content something to poke fun of. The Green Apple is isolating a group of women who engage in these activities.
I refuse to feel guilty for enjoying cooking or talking about clothes or, to be blatant, enjoying sex. I do these things (even the sex!) to reach my full potential, and I’m sorry for anyone who thinks it is appropriate to label that counter feministic. I am doing my best to be independent and to defy the gender norms so often enforced on me, but I am still learning. Being made fun of for enjoying, for example, cooking makes me squeamish that I am doing something wrong.
I hope that women can inspire other women in a variety of ways, and I hope everyone can realize there is not one menu for being a feminist. I am sorry if anyone feels that Her Campus has excluded other subjects that may be of interest to women, and I hope we can explore those in the future by working concurrently.
If you’re interested in writing an editorial for Her Campus, please email hercmpus@hamilton.edu