Feminism still inspires and enrages many
As a feminist, I am proud to stand beside the millions who have fought for my rights and the rights of every other woman. I hope to teach the true meaning of the word and explain how it has been constantly woven throughout the fabric of our society.
Feminism is, by definition, “the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes,” and In the U.S., it has been categorized into four waves. The first began with the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 and resulted in the 19th Amendment. The second, lasting till the 1980s, marked dissatisfaction with social inequalities, primarily the Cult of Domesticity. The third wave in the 1990s encouraged women to express their individuality and sexuality. The current fourth wave emphasizes body and sex-positivity.
As a young girl, I immersed myself in feminism’s long history. Women like Mary Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were my idols. I admired them for their dedication and sacrifice. I never saw their actions as anything less than heroic. I never thought of them as villains, but others do and have misinterpreted feminism as something horrible that wholly disregards everything for which women have fought.
The idea that anyone could be offended by or misconceive feminism’s purpose is unfathomable to me. Yet, it has happened and continues to.
One misconception is that feminism is “no longer necessary” simply because on a surface level, women have equal opportunities. This is not true. We do not live in a perfect world, and although it may be less blatant, hidden within the foundation of our society, sexism still exists. Denying it invalidates women participating in movements such as #MeToo and the efforts to end the gender wage gap.
Another common miscomprehension is that feminists hate traditional roles. What feminists hate is when women are forced down that path. If a woman chooses to be a stay-at-home mother, then who is anyone to judge her? I think that is one of the hardest jobs in the world. If that is her dream, more power to her.
Many also believe feminists think women are superior to men, which is definitionally incorrect. Feminism’s sole goal is to ensure legal, financial and cultural equality for women. It does not mean that men should lose their rights. It does not mean that feminists hate men or want to turn the world into a matriarchy. Therefore men’s fear of feminism is irrational and at its root, sexist. If you are not feminist, then you are sexist. Anyone who disagrees should only look at “feminism’s” meaning and hope for equality. If you do not believe that women should be equal to men, then you are preaching the core belief of sexism.
I know I am privileged. I thank my lucky stars to be living today, where I can have my voice heard. However, even as a teenage girl, I have seen sexism. I have felt the effects of being considered “lesser than” because I was born a girl. I know why feminism is needed, that all humans should be considered equal and that feminism is perceived as something it is not. My heart aches for the women who fought for female equality, only for the movement to be twisted into something hateful. They would be heartbroken.
