In the late 19th century, women's roles were defined as mother, wife, and of course having dinner ready for her husband and children when they got home.
Men were the bread winners, while women sat on the sidelines. Fast forward to 1920. Women, feminists, are fighting for the right to vote. Finally, they are granted this right. Victory, right? Wrong. Up until the 1960's, women still didn't work. Women were still seen as inferior to men, even though women had worked throughout WWII, while their husbands were at war. Finally, with the feminist movement of the 1960's and 70's, women began gaining more rights.
Fast forward to present day. Feminism is still ever present, much to the dismay of many. Many believe women are already equal, and believe feminists of today are fighting for female supremacy. But the people who believe this way remain uneducated on facts, as well as the reality of what feminism really is. Feminism is responsible for women possessing the right to vote, yet some still act as though the feminist movement is cancerous to sociiety.
Though many of the things today's feminism fights for may seem silly to some, us feminists don't view it that way.
As a feminist, I believe that women should not have to be afraid to walk to their cars in the dark.
As a feminist, I believe that fathers should have the same rights as mothers in cases of a child's custody.
AS a feminist, I believe men and women should both be paid the same.
As a feminist, I believe women deserve more maternity leave.
As a feminist, I believe that men deserve more paternity leave, instead of having to leave their newborn babies just days after birth because of money.
As a feminist, I believe a woman's body is her concern and her concern alone, and yes, that means abortion too.
As a feminist, I believe a mans body is his concern and his concern alone.
As a feminist, I stand for the rights of trans women and men. I stand for the rights of non binary, gender fluid, and cisgendered men and women.
As a feminist, I stand for equality of the gender.
Why do I stand for this?
Because why in the hell should someones gender decide whether or not they get paid enough, or if they get to see their child? Why in the hell should someones gender decide whether or not they are paid properly?
Feminism is a movement that was born of women being fed up of the repeatedly unequal treatment they received in every aspect of life. Feminism was born out of a need for equality, and a need to be treated as a human being. Feminist issues have evolved since the birth of the movement, but feminism itself has not. Women and men around the world are fighting to be treated equally. Someones gender should not determine their destiny, their pay, their ability to parent, their ability to work, or their body autonomy.
Feminism is one of the most important social justice movements of our generation, because it is a movement that should not be a movement. Gender equality should be something we have achieved as a society already, here in the 21st century. But because we haven't, feminism remains. And until we do, feminism will remain.
