I once watched an interview from Huffington Post with Sophia Bush about feminism and why the word is so controversial.
"It’s so not complicated... I watch everybody fight over whether it’s appropriate to be a feminist or not. And I sit here thinking, well, I’m a woman. I would like to be judged on the quality of my work, I would like to be compensated fairly for my work. I would like to have just as much access to healthcare as any man. Yeah, that’s pretty much it. I don’t know what the big fight is all about."
I remember feeling so strong in agreement after watching the video, it was almost overwhelming. I have felt this way my whole life.
I've always loved history. I remember being a young child and reading about the 60's when women were expected to stay home and have children, and cook and clean. I remember that specific time period was the one that bothered me the most. Even in my young 12-year-old mind, I knew that that picture was wrong, that it was not fair. I remember reading "The Help," one of my favorite books and feeling so sad for the women who felt trapped in their lives and were dying to get out. Later on, I watched the movie "Mona Lisa Smile," another favorite of mine and it changed things for me. These movies are the type that give you a glimpse of what it was like when women weren't even close to equality yet. They were housewives who were "incapable" of a career, "incapable" of independence. We have come a long way since then, but we still have a ways to go. I'm not writing this for the purpose of complaining. I'm writing this because I believe that the word feminism is often associated with a derogatory meaning.
The official definition of "feminism" (fem·i·nism,[ˈfeməˌnizəm], noun) is the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men.
And the official definition of "women's rights" (wom·en's rights) are rights that promote a position of legal and social equality of women with men.
These are the official definitions for these words and somehow they have been lost in translation. Some celebrities have given these words a different meaning, even unintentionally. I am a Christian and I am a feminist. I am not a bra-burning man-hater. I believe in a world where women should be paid as equally as men. I believe in a world where women are as well-protected as men and there is nothing wrong with that. The word sounds so extreme, so judgmental. But when we look at what it truly means, it is a beautiful thing. There is nothing wrong with believing that women should be treated equally. I'm tired of people fighting over who is truly a feminist. Like the definition says, if you believe in women's rights on the ground of political, social and economic equality, who's to say that you aren't a feminist? Who's to say that the true feminists are the women who protest, and hate men, and refuse to wear heels? I do not hate men. Men are so vital to our world. Men and women were created differently. It was supposed to be that way. Different doesn't mean better. It just means different.
Emma Watson said on behalf of feminism:
"Why has the word become such an uncomfortable one? I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that will affect my life. I think it is right that socially, I am afforded the same respect as men."
Why is that so hard for some people to grasp? We need more people (men included) to stand up for what's right—enough with stereotyping. I'm not afraid to defend what I believe in, and if you agree then you shouldn't be either. I'm not going to write off feminism because of the incorrect examples it has been defined by. I would consider it an injustice as a woman and a human to accept the way we are still treated to this day.
Genesis 2:24:
"While men and women differ physiologically, they are made for the purpose of completing each other in a unity." I am a Christian who identifies as a feminist purely because we were created to be equal and to be treated equal. I think many people in the Christian world shy away from this word because it has been twisted, and changed into meanings that we don't always agree with. It's understandable why some people are afraid to call themselves this in the Christian world because they are afraid of judgment. What I challenge you to do today is to research. Find a new perspective and don't be afraid. Above all, it's God's voice that I am lead by.
When you take a look at feminism through the ages, you find women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who among others spoke up for the rights of women in the early 1900's. Harriet Tubman (who is soon to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 dollar bill) was an activist who helped saved many people through the underground railroad. These women not only spoke up for women but partnered with men and created a voice for themselves. Because of their passion and bravery, they have set the foundation that we have today.
We have come a long way as women throughout the ages, but there is still much more to be done. The fight isn't over yet. All I ask is that after reading this, you would consider how you feel about feminism. Consider the possibility of a better, brighter future than you have now. With more people standing up for the cause, we can go places. We can change things.
