Now that many strong and influential women like Emma Watson and Malala Yousafzai have raised their voices in favor of feminism, I feel this is the correct time to touch base on the true meaning of being a woman. For centuries, women have been an easy target in our society. For years, we have been considered to be the weaker sex. One example can be the denial to our right to vote back in the day, or the prohibition of our right to manage our own finances. Fortunately, things have changed in the past few decades, and now we see women breaking free of unscrupulous stereotypes. We see women speaking up and advertising themselves into a variety of workplaces.
When we think about women or we are asked to describe them, concepts like “emotional,” “delicate,” and “sensitive” are often used. Although I feel there is nothing wrong with these terms, I do believe they do indeed fall short of reflecting all the abilities and strengths that women possess. Women are not only a source of beauty and elegance, but we are also a reflection of power and strength. We don’t only serve as nurturing and providing beings, but we can also be successful professionals.
A clear example of female empowerment is Emma Watson. Although the media often publicizes her as a stunning and charismatic woman, she has also made it clear that she is more than just a sex symbol. She has taken a stand for women and has openly spoken about feminism and the fight for equality. She publicly said that "It is time that we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals.” She strongly believes that as a public figure, it is her duty and responsibility to inform and educate young women about feminism. Feminism does not mean hating men. Instead, it promotes the union of both sexes to make a more stable society where equality rules.
Women should learn to embrace their gender and embrace their strengths as a way of fighting all these illogical social ideas and perceptions of women. The idea of men being superior is illogical; women have shown to be as capable as men. We now see women in areas of society that were strictly formed for men, like the army, or sports, like the MMA.
Another example of female strength is Malala. She has gone beyond the imaginable to protect women. In a country where men are overwhelmingly dominating, and women are treated like “sh*t," violated, and humiliated, a young girl took a stand and challenged the norms by risking her own life. This is who Malala is; she is a living example of what the power of women will and can do. Malala challenged the Taliban and its violent regime to go to school. She is the example of what women are and the ways society should perceive them.
To conclude, I want girls to understand that being women should not be a synonym for weakness. It should be a reason to be proud of our accomplishments. We as women must understand that in order to be valued by society, we must value ourselves first, we must feel confident in our potential, but most importantly, we must be willing to show the world how great we are.
Remember, there is nothing with being a Feminist. Let’s make those women who speak for us proud!
