I often explain my feminist views and how hard my ancestors have worked to become all that we are as women. Yet, there are still people out there who feel that their destiny is nothing more than to become submissive to their husband. I have literally had friends ask me, "but can he take care of you." I have never been more offended, I replied with a snarky, "no why would I want a man to take care of me? I work for my own money, I pay my own bills, I have my own stuff." They responded, "but see men don't like that, they want to be dominant" I remember sitting there wondering if this is the reason I have always had trouble finding a boyfriend.
Being raised in a family with an overwhelming amount of successful women, it was easy to feel the pressure to be phenomenal. Let's start with my great grandmother Frieda Mac, she came to America from Russia as a little girl, sailed by herself with only $20 and 5 languages. She established herself here, got married, and had 7 children. One of which is my grandfather, who has the work ethic of a race horse. He is in his 80's and still working hard. His sister, my great Aunt Jean, was a role model for my mother. She lost her husband and did not re-marry. She learned to stand on her own two feet and tell it like it is to anyone who doesn't like it. Finally my mother, my mom has overcome battles that are unforeseeable to some. She has had to tackle most of it herself, and had to intimidate even the most masculine of men to get to the end result. My mother has no fear in standing up for what she believes in and is one of the strongest people I know. But, what does all of this have to do with feminism? I once read a piece in one of my philosophy classes.
"you are not born a woman you become one"
Simone de Beauvoir
She talks about interesting phenomenons such as, feeling like being born a woman is a burden to society. This makes me feel appalled and confused about why anyone would want to see the world that way. The ignorance about what it takes to make it in society as a woman, is growing everyday. Yes, being a woman is hard but I would not be standing here today writing this piece if it was not for these women above.
Counter arguing Simone de Beauvoir, I do believe I was born a feminist. I was born with the ideals that I have just as much chance as my brother, my father, and my future husband to succeed. Being born into a female dominant family only makes this more true to me. My mother always told me that I can do anything, and to leave behind anything that was hindering my success. I do not stand out at feminist rallies, I do not hate on men any chance that I get, and I do shave my body because I like to.
Feminism has gained this awful connotation that these women are ball busters, who will take over the world because we are angry. This theory holds little water. You know what angers me? Rape and sexual assault. You know what angers me? Cat calling when I am bundled up in a coat. You know what angers me? The fact that I am called a bitch if I stand up for myself because misogynistic men cannot handle a woman in charge.
"You know what angers me? Rape and sexual assault."
We need to continue this wave of feminism that we were given, we must not shrug it off as a nuisance. I was born to have this duty to continue what my ancestors started. I will not "give up" and listen to everything a man says. I want to continue the fight for equality and sexual freedom that has already been sparked.
One day we will become equal to men, and quite frankly we are already almost there. Our society is in trouble, we have girls and women getting raped and assaulted on college campuses. We have girls over seas that are getting mutilated. We have women in the middle east who are getting beaten for not wearing a full headscarf. Can't we see? Our fight isn't over, and it begins here. We need to learn to take that leap of faith that will spread all across the world. We need to come together, and stop tearing each other apart. When strong women work together, we can create something amazing.
