Being a feminist is more than having the right to choose whether or not you want birth control, or having the ability to have an abortion. To be a feminist is so much more than yourself, and I specifically mean intersectional feminism. Being a feminist means you decide what you want to do with your body, whether it's practicing celibacy, being sexually active, and or being committed to one person and waiting until you're married. Having that decision be respected, and being able to make it for yourself is a part of it. Deciding whether or not you want to have children, abstaining from becoming a mother, adopting for personal reasons, etc. These are all parts of feminism and they are just as important as being able to vote, receiving a fair education, and being paid for the same work is. If women do not stand together for issues like these, there is no hope for advancing the plight of women as a whole.
Often, I hear, "I'm not a feminist because I don't hate men", I don't see how being a feminist and hating men are related. I don't hate men, and I don't especially appreciate all feminist being grouped into a one dimensional archetype. There are feminists who are stay at home moms, career women, young and old alike. If you vote or drive a car, these are examples of rights won by feminists. You can not willfully be ignorant of these benefits you take for granted. Choosing to attend college is also a benefit, deciding how many kids you want, becoming a minister, pastor, or "learned" woman of any faith. Choosing who you'd like to date, wearing shorts, being allowed into certain professions, and owning property. My point is simply to educate yourself. Being a feminist means regardless of your gender you believe in the equality of the sexes through political, social, and economic means.
As a feminist and a college student, I like to go out with friends, I like listening to the radio, I love wearing heels until they start to hurt, as much as I love sneakers and I love fru-fru coffee drinks, as well as tall guys. Feminists are not always out right politically active, some are, some choose to be more subtle. Having that innate right to make your decisions, having equal opportunities, and having those decisions be respected on all levels is what feminism is truly about. Don’t allow your biases to blur your idea of something that's truly great, being a feminist.
