Despite years of efforts by feminists to strengthen women's rights, one clear problem remains: women and men are still not equal.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women still make less than men. In fact, they earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, despite the fact that women hold just as many jobs as men.
The definition of the word "feminist" has been misinterpreted for years, holding a negative connotation that has caused many people - men and women alike - to run away from the feminist label rather than toward. But as a modern society, it is important to embrace feminism and to bring the misconceptions about it to an end.
In 2014, actress Emma Watson reinforced the idea behind changing the way we see the word in a speech to the UN supporting her campaign, HeForShe. Watson discussed the many misconceptions about feminism, such as the false belief that being a feminist means putting men down, being aggressive and being a dominant woman.
I'm going to call out a major misconception right now: women who claim to be feminists but then show negativity or hatred toward other women or men are simply NOT true feminists.
In reality, these ideas about feminism are simply not true. Rather than often shaming others for not being feminists, one should politely educate and inform others about the movement and its goals, then kindly extend an invitation to join.
The truth behind feminism is that men are encouraged to join women in the fight for equality.
Rather than some people oppressing feminists and putting them down, they should help women rise to equality, spreading awareness and promoting a better understanding of what it truly means to be a feminist.
Feminism is not just about "girl power;" rather, it's aimed toward equality and respect for both women and men. Many men have the misconception that feminists are trying to overthrow men and take over the world.
The truth is that women simply demand equal rights. They cannot, however, reach that goal without the help of men.
We need men to embrace the "F-word." The more men there are, who can proudly call themselves feminists, the more impact the feminist movement will have on creating equal rights for women.
Watson's HeForShe campaign is the perfect starting point in the push for seeing men and women on the same playing field.
So listen up, men: it's time to change the way you view feminists. Get on board, and join the movement because this is not about competition, this is about teamwork.
