Feminism. It is a term that has been gathering unprecedented notoriety and attention in the past few years as more and more celebrities and prominent women bring it to the forefront. Take Beyonce’s performance of “Flawless” for instance, which included an important feminist statement, and more recently, Emma Watson’s address to the UN on the “HeForShe” campaign. Feminism is a loaded word that many women tend to shy away from; a word that many men believe targets them. Feminism, and those who believe in it, purports the equality of the sexes. It is a fight for women’s rights, for human rights and too often, has become one in the same with man-hating.
The tendency for many famous women (notably Katy Perry and Lady Gaga) or simply women in general, to avoid identifying with the term comes from a lack of information and education or from the belief that feminism is about hating men. These misconceptions need to stop, and the truth about what feminism is needs to be spread. By definition, a feminist is “someone who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.” It is as simple as that. Feminism is about equality. It is about allowing the female half of us to move forward and progress instead of being held back. It is a powerful movement that strives to implement equality of education, working conditions in everyday life and, ultimately, of respect. It has taken women too long to get to where we are today. It took us nearly 100 years to secure the right to vote. It should not take us another 100 to have the right to equal education, equal pay and equal respect.
Feminism should no longer be a term we, as women, shy away from. It should be a movement we are proud to be a part of. We should want to be feminists and fight for our right to equality; our rights to which we should be entitled to just by being human. Being a feminist does not mean you hate men. It means you believe that women are equal to men and that men are equal to women. It means that women can be leaders and speak their minds without being called “bossy.” It means that men should be able to stay home and take care of children without being considered a “housewife” or “un-masculine.” Be proud to be a woman, to be a feminist. Be proud to be a man, to be a feminist. Don’t shy away from your gender or what you believe in, fight for it.