Feminism.
“Wow, what a dirty word.”
Feminism.
“Yeah, we get it. You’re being “treated unfairly.” You want to be better than men.”
Feminism.
“Ahh here we go with the extremists.”
Feminism.
“Don’t mention equal pay! We have feminists here.”
Feminism.
“GOD SHUT UP ALREADY.”
Feminism.
“STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.”
Feminism.
“LITERALLY SHUT UP WE ARE TIRED ABOUT HEARING ABOUT YOUR “STRUGGLES.”
Yeah, well, we’re tired of living them. We won’t shut up. We will not be silenced until we are heard by the entire world. You may try to shake our voice, but we stand on solid ground. We stand on the path that was trail blazed by the strong, powerful women that came before us. Try as you may, but you will never be able to silence us. Why not? Why with all of the name calling, criticism, rude comments and agendas to tear us down will you never get to us? I think it is because we have had enough inequality in our lives and no matter what, we will make sure that we see men and women as equals in our lifetime.
Why is feminism so important? Feminism impacts everyone. When I say everyone, no I do not mean the single white women that choose a career over marriage and having a family. When I say everyone, I mean everyone. Women: white, black, Hispanic, women of all ethnicities. Men of all ethnicities. Transgender people of all ethnicities. Most importantly, feminism impacts the lives of children as we are trying to create a better world for them. Believe it or not, feminism is for everyone! If you believe that men and women are both human, that they have 206 bones in their body, a generalized body plan, can stand and walk on two feet, have a brain in their head and a heart in the middle of their chest, then you can see the two are equal.
Feminism is for women. We are trying to close the wage gap and open up equal opportunities for jobs. It is for the woman who wants to lead a country, open up a personal business, or become CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Feminism is for the single white woman who is trying to better herself in her career so that she can earn just as much as a man, not 78% of his earnings, for the single black woman who is trying to better herself in her career so that she can earn just as much as a man, not 64% of his earnings, for the single Hispanic woman who is trying to better herself in her career so that she can earn just as much as a man, not 54% of his earnings. (According to 2013 statistics from the American Association of University Women).
[Also note that American Indian and Alaskan Native women make 59%, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 65%, and Asian American 90%]
Feminism is for men. Yes, feminism is for men. It has the power to smash gender roles that trap today’s society. Feminism is for that little boy who loves football with his entire heart, but also loves boys and feels like he has to choose between the two. Feminism is for the teenage boy who keeps his dance lessons a secret because when the other kids at his school found out that another boy took ballet, they called him a faggot because they thought he was gay. Feminism is for the boy who loves football and is straight, and for the ballet dancer who is gay. Feminism is for smashing gender roles. It is for empowering a man to wear a dress if he wants to wear a dress. Women can wear pants, which are more typical to men, so why can’t men wear dresses, which are more typical to women? Feminism works both ways. Feminism is for everyone.
Feminism is for the nurturing, loving woman, who devotes her time and love to being a stay at home mom. Feminism is working to better the world for her children so that they can be anything that they want to be, confidently. Feminism is for her so that when her daughter becomes CEO of a company, it is because she is seen as a leader when she speaks her mind and not labeled as “bossy.” Feminism is for her son, so that when he joins a professional ballet company as a principal dancer, people will see him for the wonderful human that he is, and not label him as “gay” for enjoying an art form that is typically labeled as one for girls. And feminism is for her other daughter, who will grow up with a family of her own as a stay at home mom, so that she can feel like a badass doing what she loves every day without being criticized for not “doing anything” with her life.
Stop making feminism a dirty word. Feminism is beautiful; it works for every single beautiful person on this planet.
Feminism.
I am a feminist.
Feminism.
I believe, if you do it right, it can change lives.
Feminism.
This is for everyone.
Feminism.
Thank you for opening doors for me professionally and personally.
Feminism.
Thank you for changing my life every day.
