"I believe in equality, but I am not a feminist." This sentence is a contradiction all on its own. If you were to ask someone whether or not they believe in equality between men and women, chances are that they would most likely answer yes. However, if you were to ask someone if they are a feminist, they would most likely say no. Why is that? Why is it that someone who believes in the core value of feminism, does not identify as a feminist? Let's explore that idea a little bit.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, a period of first-wave feminism was spreading throughout the entire world. These first-wave feminists focused on legal issues such married women being allowed to execute wills, coeducation, and more notably the right to vote (also known as women's suffrage). Since then, there have been many "waves" of feminism with focuses on different issues and topics pertaining to women's rights and equality. Some might say that we are in a period of "fourth-wave" feminism at this present time. Not only are current feminists focusing on continuing legal issues, but they are also fighting for reproductive rights, social equality, wage equality, and even the portrayal of women in the media. As time passed and the feminist movement quickly began to gain traction, the core values of feminism slowly began to become twisted by a few, and it soon spread.
This is where the image of a "feminazi" comes into play. Feminazis are the radical feminists that believe that women should be positioned above men and that all men just drag women down. To put it simply, feminazis believe that all men are pigs. This idea of the "feminazi" is confused with actual feminists all the time. This is because feminazis are portrayed in the media as the actual image of a feminist, instead of a feminist being portrayed as what she/he is; a believer in equal rights for both cisgender and transgender people. Feminazis are sexists, simple as that.
Feminazis are also the main reason why many people are not identifying themselves with the feminist movement. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if someone said to me, "Well, you don't look like a feminist." What they mean to say is I don't look like a feminazi who refuses to shave their legs or wear a bra because I have given into the pressure to look attractive to males. Well here is my response to that, I wear a bra because I need the support. I shave my legs because I really don't like the feel of coarse leg hair. I wear makeup because I like the way it makes me look. Everything I do in my personal grooming routine has nothing to do with whether or not I want to look attractive to impress someone of the opposite sex. Everything I do has to do with the fact that I want to make myself feel good about myself.
So why is saying, "I believe in equality, but I am not a feminist," a contradiction? It's because you are proclaiming that you are a strong believer in the what feminism stands for. Real feminists are not sexists that believe that they should be on a pedestal above all men. Feminists believe that everyone, cisgender and transgender alike, should be equal among all social and legal areas of life. Most feminists are even willing to work with men in the areas where men are disadvantaged. A feminist is not sexist, they never have and never will be.
So, the next time someone asks you whether or not you are a feminist, ask yourself these questions: Do you believe in equality between men, women, and transgender people? Do you feel like there are areas where a certain gender is at a disadvantage? Do you think that we as society have work to do in order to make everyone feel equal and included? If you answer yes to all of these questions, you are indeed a feminist.
