"Although I personally am not a feminist, I can relate and understand why so many women are."

This is a direct quote from a girl in my class after a whole semester of learning about women being oppressed in my Women's and Gender Studies class. The dictionary definition of the word feminism is "the belief that women and men should have equal rights and opportunities". I think that's something that any woman should stand for. Some people have this horrible perception of the word feminism. They think that feminists are just angry women who hate men and want to tear them down. I can assure that this is not the way most feminists think. Some people are scared to say that they are a feminist because the term is viewed in such a negative light. If some women would educate themselves, they would most likely find that they are a feminist.

There are so many reasons we need feminism and everyone woman needs to support the movement.

The Gender Pay Gap is a real issue. White women make 77% of a white male's earnings according to a study done in 2017 and the pay rate is even worse for women of color, especially Hispanic women. Women are also underrepresented in government. Women make up 51 percent of the population yet as of 2019, only 23.4% of women make up the Senate and 25% make up the House of Representatives. Women are also a minority in the news media, on and off screen. Women are more likely to be victims of human trafficking and victims of rape/domestic violence. Despite Title IX, young women still experience inequality in high school sports. Are we really going to teach women at such a young age that they'll never live up to the expectations of men?

The representation of women and ending sexual/domestic violence against women is so important. I

f you are a woman, I genuinely do not understand why you wouldn't support the equal rights of men and women and want the same opportunities as them. Let's start being proud of calling ourselves feminists and end the negative connotations behind the word feminism.

I will never be ashamed to call myself a feminist.