The pursuit of women's civil, social, political, and economic rights has been a prevalent aspect of American and global society for centuries. Far before the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, women all over the world have been effortlessly trying to reach equality with their male counterparts.
Even after they gained the very basic civil right to be able to vote due to the 19th amendment in 1920, women have constantly battled sexism and discrimination simply based on the sex they were born with. Shameless cat-calling, victim-blaming in rape cases, biases in employment, the assumption that women are illogical and overemotional, and lower wages than men are just a few examples of how difficult it can be to be a woman in modern society all over the world.
However, there are many misconceptions about what feminism actually is. A large portion of society tends to correlate the word “feminist" to a man-hating, hairy, masculine, and generally unattractive woman who is unappreciative of men's contributions to the world.
I talked to a Griffin Middle School (Frisco, TX) 7th grade student about this subject, who said one of the biggest misconceptions is that “a lot of people think feminism is the idea that women should OVERPOWER the male sex. It simply means that women should have a fair and equal chance to experience different opportunities that men easily have access to." (Note: the student's name will not be released due to her parents' wishes.)
In a society where women still don't get paid the same amount as their male counterparts for doing the exact same work, there is an increasing need for the characteristics of feminism to be taught to today's youth. While things continue to improve for females in terms of political and social rights, they are still not nearly as equal and fair as they can and should be.
Feminism, however, is typically considered to be a very controversial topic of discussion. It can lead to many disagreements and arguments between opposing political parties, religions, and general opinions. The subject of feminism is so taboo in today's society that it is often not taught at all before college, where it is only taught if students decide to take gender studies classes. The middle school student I spoke to emphasizes the importance of young people becoming educated on this topic, saying that “learning about feminism at my age allows both boys and girls to learn about respect and equality in all aspects of life."
We live in a society that prides itself in freedom, hard work, and success. All of these qualities are products of opportunity, which is something that is constantly denied or very reluctantly given to women. Teaching the basics of gender equality to the youth is an important factor for the progression of society for future generations, because it will incorporate a feeling of mutual respect and regard between men and women.
If a 12-year-old can fully understand the cruciality and necessity of feminism in today's society, so can people of every age, gender, and background.
