"You only think you're a feminist."
"You don't actually believe in feminism."
"Narissa, you don't need to label yourself as a feminist."
"Oh my God, Narissa. Don't start with your feminist bullshit."
These are things that have been said to me in the past year or so when feminism or my opinions on issues (that relate back to feminist ideas) are brought up. And I'm sure that every other feminist gets these comments almost daily. So here are my responses to those statements.
First off, let me define feminism. Feminism is not believing that women should be superior to men, because, after all, men have been superior to women throughout all of history. Feminism is the social, political, and economic equality for all the sexes; regardless of sexuality, race, class, or anything in between. Essentially, no one person should be held at a higher value than anyone else. It is ethically and morally incorrect. I want my brother and I to have the same opportunities as one another. I want a newly immigrated citizen and a third generation American to have the same rights. An equal playing field for all, no conditions whatsoever.
I do not think I am a feminist, I know deep down in my heart of hearts, that I am a feminist. And, clearly, I believe in feminism. I have a passion for it.
I do need to label myself as a feminist. The more that we spread the idea of feminism, the faster our ideology will become the norm. People need feminism in their lives. It doesn't make sense why a person should be looked down upon, just because she is a woman. It doesn't make sense why a person should be afraid to walk anywhere because she's a woman. It doesn't make sense why a cry for help should be silenced solely because that cry is coming from a woman.
Women are the ones who brought us into this world, raised us, and helped build up our hopes in dreams and helped them be placed into action. This idea is beautifully illustrated in my favorite poem, "My Heroines" by Marge Piercy.
"When I think of women heroes
it's not Joan of Arc or Molly Pitcher
but mothers who quietly say
to their daughters, you can.
Who stand behind attempts
to open doors long bolted shut
to teams or clubs or professions.
I think of women who dress
'respectably' and march and march
and march again, for the ability
to choose, for peace, for rights
their own or others. Who form
phone banks, who stuff envelopes
who do the invisible political work.
They do not get their faces on
magazine covers. They don't get fan
mail or receive awards. But without
them, no woman or liberal man
would ever be elected, no law
would be passed or changed. We
would be stuck in sexist mud.
It's the receptionist in the clinic,
the escorts to frightened women,
the volunteers at no kill shelters,
women sorting bottles at the dump,
women holding signs in the rain,
women who take calls of the abused,
of rape victims, night after night.
It's the woman at her computer
or desk, when the family's asleep
writing letters, organizing friends.
Big change turns on small pushes.
Heroes and heroines climb into
history books, but it's such women
who actually write our future."
Women make up more than 50% of the world's population, yet we are treated like minorities.
We need feminism. We need feminism because too many women do not report rape cases. We need feminism because the women who do report are not taken seriously. We need feminism because the women who do report and are taken seriously end up in situations like Brock Turner's case and things go in favor of the rapist. We need feminism because Donald Trump thinks that he can go around kissing and groping and peeping on whoever he desires. We need feminism because my M-R-S will have more value than my P-H-D. We need feminism because too many women are defined by their relationship to a man (daughter, sister, wife, etc.). We need feminism because it'll give a sense of humanity that we are lacking.
Feminism is not bullshit. It is not man hating lesbians trying to destroy the male race. It is ensuring that everyone gets an equal opportunity at life.
