fem·i·nism

ˈfeməˌnizəm/

noun

1. the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

   synonyms:

   the women's movement, the feminist movement, women's liberation, female emancipation, women's rights; informal women's lib "a longtime advocate of feminism"

I get emails from Her Campus with a bunch of linked articles. I'm not sure when exactly I signed up for this, mostly because I don't actually remember doing it in the first place but I enjoy some of what they put out from time to time so I don't question it. However, I was a little frustrated with what one writer said about feminism.

Right off the bat, the subject line of the email irritated me: If you're not a feminist, you're part of the problem. The problem with that subject line is that it's exclusionary. It says "If you're not with us, you're against us" and that's not the solution to the problem at all. It only pushes people further away from even wanting to understand and be open-minded. That's not to say the site doesn't publish good articles on feminism but they have as wide a variety in writers as any site with a reach like theirs. My focus is on this one article, knowing there are others with similar mindsets.

I don't have to be a feminist to believe in gender equality because it's possible to agree with parts of an argument or point without accepting the entire speech. Feminism is about equality but the loudest supporters today bash men on a regular basis, vilifying all men and further separating men and women. So much of todays version of feminism focuses on specific "women's rights issues," like rape or abortion, when those are only a part of the whole movement. They are not any less important or valid but they are not the sole focus of the feminist movement. Modern feminism has continued to increase the social and professional divide between genders.

If you look up the word "feminism" on Pinterest most of the pins you see first are about how men say women shouldn't be in power because we're too emotional but in rape cases the defense is "Well look at her clothes, how could he control himself?" or that girls don't complain about the friend zone because we understand what "no" means. That's a problem. The closest thing I found as being a good, inspiring feminist post was a quote by Mia Hamm saying, "My coach said I run like a girl. I said if he ran faster he could too." There should be more things like that in the world.

By definition, feminism is about equality with men. It is not strictly about one issue, like rape or abortion. Should the evil people (note: people, not just men. Guys get raped too) who sexuality assault another human being go to prison for several years at a minimum? Absolutely. However, that is not what feminism should be reduced to.

It should be about men viewing women as equals and treating them as such. However, this is not an excuse in romantic settings to no longer woo and treat women well. Guys, you don't get a free pass to not pay for a date on occasion just because she's an "independent woman who doesn't need a man." I dated a boy who had that opinion and it takes away the feeling of being important to that person. She may not need you, but she does want you because she sees something worth having. Treat her the same way.

Equality with men is about opinions being just as valid and respected, it's about not being passed over for jobs or promotions for fear of maternity leave later, and it's about being as respected as any male leader. Biologically, females will never measure up to men. It just won't happen so to expect to be equal in all things is a stretch. Sometimes one gender is better at something simply because of body or brain structure and there's nothing wrong with that. Men and women compete each other by filling in the gaps in what the other cannot do. We should celebrate that and use that to our advantage, not push against it. That's what feminism is about.

Feminism is not about rape. It is not about birth control or abortions. The article I read held up women such as Margaret Sanger as examples of powerful historic feminists. Margaret Sanger established birth control clinics to keep the black population down because she viewed them as lesser. She viewed the black population as "human weeds." How often can those clinics be found in middle to upper class communities? It had nothing to do with women or women's rights so it is a very narrow view to place her, or anyone like her, on a pedestal for feminism.

As it is right now by the loudest supporters in the media, I will not support modern feminism. I will, however, support the actual definition of feminism and support equal opportunity.