Feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. Prominent women in today's society, such as Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Watson, have been avidly vying for equal opportunities for women. From lack of pay, respect, and confidence among women in the workforce, the feminist movement has had an increase in attention and power. As a college woman that will be shortly entering the workforce, I would love the assurance that I would be judged on my skills rather than on my gender. However, although this movement is fantastic on paper, it is completely useless in real life. How can we expect men to treat us as equals when we women don't do the same for each other?

It’s easy for all of us women to come together over the social injustices we face in our daily lives for being females; however, we never speak about the social injustices we endure from the hands of other women. We call each other “bitches” and “whores” as insults that are so easily thrown to describe any other woman we don’t like. We tend to feel better about ourselves by putting other women down that haven’t done a damn thing to us. In all actuality, it sucks that we can’t even go to other women for support in fear that we will be criticized, mocked, or trash-talked later on. This is so shameful. How dare we ask men to respect us when we don’t have the same respect for fellow women.

But is it really our fault? Culture today encourages the "women vs. women" mentality and often relies on the profits made from televised girl fights and confrontation. Instead of showcasing what should be exemplary behavior towards each other, we get sucked into the epidemic that is gossip and rumors. But why is this? I mean, we are all very similar whether we would like to acknowledge it or not. Why is it that we will always support our men but we will never support each other? Hell, nobody else is really needed in bringing down the feminist movement when we stampede it every day through our actions.

Regardless of why we are how we are, we mustdo better. We have to be aware of what we say and do in order to make meaningful changes. As women, we should be building each other up, not tearing each other down. By no means am I saying we have to like every woman that walks the earth because that’s just phony. However, we don’t know what other women go through on a daily basis. Take into account that they may be struggling just as you are. Remember, ladies, there is always another woman out there that will need your kind words, a hug, or something as simple as a smile. Be that woman! Once we finally have respect for each other, we can finally demand it from our male counterparts.