With Equal Pay Day approaching on April 12th, now is a better time than ever to discuss feminism and how it impacts our generation. As millennials, we are entering adulthood with technological access to information on every injustice in the world. For the first time in history, we are able to truly engage in social issues and discuss them with like minds from across the globe. With this new knowledge has come an influx of conversations of various "-isms," and students are showing increased interest in the ways that feminism, sexism, etc. affect them and their futures. While this access has definitely fueled the gender equality movement, the bold presentation of such sensitive and complicated topics in the mainstream has its downfalls. Like many popular topics, feminism is often miscommunicated by the media and misinterpreted by the audience. A few basic facts about feminism can help avoid some confusion.
1. The goal of feminism is gender equality.
Feminism advocates for the political, social, and economical equality of all genders. Do you think that women should have the same rights as men? Do you believe that they should have access to the same opportunities, including equal pay for equal work? Congratulations, you believe in the basic tenets of feminism. This is a great start!
2. Feminism is not only a woman's issue.
A common misconception about feminism is that does not concern men. Many may even believe that it is not a man's place to be involved in feminism. This could not be further from the truth! Feminism is concerned with resolving problems in our male dominated society, several of which directly affect men. The concept that men are forbidden to cry or show emotion? That is exactly the type of toxic masculinity that feminists oppose. In addition to this, feminism also aims to include those of all gender identities, including those that do not identify as strictly a man or a woman. So, no matter what gender you are, feminism benefits you and can benefit from your support.
4. Feminism emphasizes intersectionality.
Feminism is a system of ideas that does not only take gender into account. It also recognizes the unique challenges that affect women of other minority groups. This includes people of color, those with disabilities, the poor, and the LGBT+ community. Feminism focuses of the ways that these identities intersect with sexism and encourages us to actively pursue ways to end all forms of discrimination. Again, feminism is about helping everyone achieve equality.
5. Feminists are everywhere and thriving.
Feminism is in no way too radical to jeopardize your career or dreams. Feminist issues have become a major topic of interest in popular culture, with many celebrities and politicians speaking on behalf of the movement. For example: Beyoncé, a vocal feminist, has produced several songs and videos advocating gender and racial equality, with this being the sole focus of her world famous tune, Formation. Bernie Sanders, a presidential candidate, has even made claims on behalf of feminism, emphasizing that we, as humans, should stand united on the issue. Feminists are everywhere. They are your professors, your doctors, and your classmates, and they could use your help in changing our world.
Feminism is not a new term, and it has been a concept present throughout history. It is vital to notice, though that this is history, and future generations will be speaking of the importance of today's words and actions. For this reason, I urge you to remember every news story and to advocate for the social ideals that you believe in. This may one day be stories in your grandchildren's textbooks. After all, imagine the expanse of minds that Susan B. Anthony could have reached if she would have had a blog.
