Now that I've caught most people's attention, let me explain. Yes, I do believe in equal rights between all people; however, the direction that feminism has gone is not something that I can support. The term feminism does not mean what it once did and because of these changes in the movement, I can not say that I am a feminist.
This new wave of feminism is not something I would be proud to be apart of. It does not promote equality or peace of any kind. The extreme movements that are coming up and in fact, are embarrassing to women in my opinion. The idea of walking around naked or not wearing feminine products during menstruation is not proving a thing other than you are comfortable with your body. Don't get me wrong, being comfortable with your body is great, this just is NOT the way to show it.
Being a woman means to be courageous and kind, loving and gentle, tough and successful. It does not mean you have a free pass to complain about every little thing that doesn't go your way. If you want something to work out in your favor, then you need to go work your butt off for it!
I know, I know, a woman makes about thirty cents less than a man and the pink tax is a real thing ( the pink tax is where women's hygiene products are more expensive just because they are made just for women, even though men's razors work just as well). Yes, as an "old school" feminist I do believe that we as women should get paid the same amount as a man does for completing the same task at the same level; however, beating down men is NOT going to solve that. As women we must show our worth by being the best we can be!
And another thing that lays heavy on my heart. Women need to support one another in a time when we are still battling for equality. If I want to be a stay at home mom, I shouldn't be told I'm not doing anything for society or that I'm not using my full potential. Instead I should be supported by my fellow women, I should be told that this is my choice and my choice matters. Besides, I believe those women who do stay at home, are contributing greatly, they are raising the next generation. They are teaching our future sons that they should respect a woman but always be kind to her and they are teaching our future daughters that they should be respectful of themselves but know that they can do anything they set their minds to.
I can't get on board with modern feminism because it does not support the concept of feminism. It does not hope for women and men to be equal one day, it teaches our young girls that they can show everything they have and be disrespectful to themselves and others, it teaches them that they are better than men. There are specific things that men can do that women cannot, and similarly, there are things women can do that men cannot. It is just how we are built. Does this mean that women should not have the chance to try? No, but it also doesn't mean that women should be disrespecting themselves and being unsanitary just to try and one up the male population. I am a feminist, but not a new wave feminist. I support respect, kindness, love and understand, I support the idea that men and women deserve equal and that they are both valuable. However, I cannot support movements in which the protests mentally, emotionally, or physically hurt any other human being.
