I know that there is the argument out there that feminism is no longer needed because women are already seen as equals, but quite frankly, that is a load of bullshit. Here are just ten reasons, out of many thousands, of why we need feminism now more than ever before.
1. Condoms are handed out for free, but female sanitary items rarely are
If you walk into any college health center, there will probably be a basket of free condoms right at the entrance, but where are the free sanitary items for women? In a public women’s restroom, we have to pay $.50 just to get a pad in case of an emergency. Even when I started at college my freshman year, they handed out goody-bags with condoms in them. To me, this sends the message that sex is 100% more important than female health.
2. Women’s underwear is 3 for $30, but a package of five for men is $10
I went to the store the other day to buy some underwear. No, I don’t want to buy the packaged underwear, they’re less comfortable and don’t look good under leggings, but I thought it was kind of ridiculous that non-packaged underwear for women was so expensive. Men only have packaged underwear to choose from, but women have so many choices, and often the more expensive is the desired look for both men and women.
3. When I leave the house without makeup on, people ask me if I’m sick
I’ve gotten more into the habit of leaving the house without makeup. Whether it’s just me being lazy, or I’m subconsciously making a statement I’m not sure. Yet, it never fails that whenever I choose to leave the house without covering up all of my zits and dark circles, someone always comments on how I look. No, I’m not sick, I’m just sick of rubbing fake skin on my face for right now.
4. People still use the phrase “FemiNazi”
Nazis were people who followed Hitler and sought to extinguish an entire race of people through mass genocide. Feminists are not seeking to harm anyone, but instead want equality. If they seem angry or in your face, good, that means they’re passionate. That means they have been hurt and damaged by the current status of our society, so maybe you should listen to what they have to say for once.
5. Men have to compensate for masculinity everyday
Feminism isn’t only about women, it’s about the men too. Feminism fights for the right to be the person that you are, without the constraints of gender or sex. Equality between the sexes means that men can be free to do traditionally “girly” things, like paint their nails, or go to a Justin Bieber concert, without social ridicule.
6. I call my mom when walking back to my apartment at night
I live on a really tiny campus. When I mean tiny, I mean it takes about 10 minutes to walk across the entire campus. Yet, because I have learned to fear being a woman at night, I always call someone when walking back to my apartment, so that if something ever happens to me, someone will know and can help. I shouldn’t have to worry about being safe just because I’m a woman, though.
7. In my lifetime, I have personally known 5 women who have been raped
I am only 21 years old, and yet I know at least 5 women, maybe even more that I don’t know about, who have been raped, and none of them have been able to bring their attacker to justice. There was always a question of funds, what she was wearing, and how intoxicated she was.
8. I still get asked if I’m on my period
If I get even the least bit emotional, angry, or frustrated about anything, someone will always ask me if I’m on my period. Men aren’t the only offenders of this, many women do it to one another too, and this is not a healthy idea of what it means to be a woman. Women don’t make rash decisions on their period any more any another other day of the week.
9. I have professors who ignore my opinions
I have had a few professors in my day completely disregard my opinion or contribution to class discussions. Most of the time, the professors focused attention on the male students and disregarded female students entirely.
10. It is funny to be a woman
Even in today’s day and age female jokes are still a thing. If someone tells another person that he throws like a girl, that’s considered an insult. If a male has really long hair he is labeled as a “pansy”. There is never a right way to be a woman anymore.
