To the author of this article, who claimed it's okay that she isn't a feminist: You are a feminist. You just don't realize it.
Recently, you claimed that you are not a feminist because you want to be a good wife, a nurturing mother, and simply don't want the same things as other feminists (except equal pay). You say people always try to convince you that you don't understand feminism when they find this out. You have been told that you don't understand what the majority of women in America are fighting for.
They're completely right!
You have no idea what feminism means. And your ignorance has many other girls around America just as confused as you. Not all of us don't want to take our future husband's surname, but it is absolutely okay if you don't. Feminism may be in its fourth wave, but that doesn't negate its importance to society.
First of all, let me tell you what feminism is not.
Feminism is not telling women that they are lesser women for being the mothering, nurturing, and caring type.
Feminism is not judging the women who want to be the surgeon, lawyer, or CEO that your parents wanted you to marry.
Feminism is not telling women they have to be stronger than men.
Feminism is not hating men.
Feminism is definitely not telling women that they cannot be married or submit to their partner if they so wish.
Now that you know, everything you wrote about is exactly what feminism is not, let me tell you what feminism is.
As you know, feminism means fighting for equal pay. I'm glad you agree with us on that. Feminism is so much more than that, though.
Feminism is giving women full control over their own lives.
Feminism is about fighting to be seen as a strong person who can take care of herself.
Feminism is allowing women to choose the path they want to take in life; whether that is being a submitting housewife and mother, like you and many others intend to be, or being a CEO, doctor, or lawyer, like I and many other intend to be.
Feminism is about not being seen as a dependent, a damsel in distress, or repressed no matter what you choose to do.
Feminism is giving a woman the choice to take back her body, mind, and life; without a man being able to diminish that in any way.
This may not change your views on not being a feminist and whether or not that is okay, but I thought I would clear up some misconceptions you seem to have. Feminism is about women standing together and being seen as equals. Feminism is about no longer accepting the crap that men have put on women for many years, such as: rape, unequal pay, cat calling, and generally, being seen as lesser humans.
We, as American women, may not have to face the severity other women in many other cultures do.
However, it is still a prevalent issue even in our first world country. That is why women need to stand up and fight. We are being mistreated around the world; from the Middle East to America, women are devalued and no one seems to care but the feminists.
So, yes, I'm a feminist, I stand for something, and that's more than okay.
