To you, the blossoming feminist,

Congratulations, you are taking the first step to becoming a person who refuses to accept hate, inequality, and silence. You are the future of our great nation and you are certainly off to a good start. I know you may be confused right now. You might not actually comprehend why your older sister cried when Trump was elected as president, you might not realize the importance of the Women’s March, or the huge impact Hillary Clinton made as a presidential candidate, but that’s okay, because despite this you do understand the fundamental concept that no one should be treated as if they are less of a human than someone else.

One day you will look back and see all of the history you were a part of, and once you understand all of it, you will discover that you were right all along. You were right for standing by your innocence and adopting love and acceptance, instead of hate and ignorance. You were able to recognize the need for equality and did not question your own ability to be whoever you want to be. Nevertheless, you are young and you still have a huge battle ahead of you – a battle you will be able to win like so many amazing feminists before you. With this in mind, I want you to recognize these women, I want you to embrace their minds, their eloquence, determination, take the fire they had and make it your own.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902)

Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)

Malala Yousafzai (1997-)

Hillary Clinton (1947-)

Emma Watson (1990-)

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

Gloria Steinem (1934-)

BONUS:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (1981-)

Never stop fighting. Never stop loving others, accepting others, and educating others. You are the future and you are worthy of greatness.