According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, feminism is "the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities." Even though the definition is clear enough, there are lots of misconceptions about what feminism really is. In a way, that is understandable. When feminism first started in the 1900s, the goal was to give women the same right to vote that men had. As years progressed, feminism evolved and its goals changed. So what is feminism today?

Feminism is no longer just about the right to vote and bra burning. Today when thinking about feminism, most people think it is about equal pay wages between men and women, but it is about so much more than that. Today, feminism is starting to move in a direction towards ending rape culture in our country. It is about fighting stereotypes that affect al genders. It is about desexualizing men and women in our media and our culture, and ending sexual violence. Feminism is about giving women the right to an education (this is a bigger issue in other countries). Feminism is about equal rights in all sorts of different aspect and manners.

Feminism is for women and men. There is sexism for every gender. Statistically, women are more affected by sexism, whether its sexual objectification in the media, rape culture, unequal wages, etc. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, 1 in 6 women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape. That does not mean that men do not experience sexism. Men are also victims of rape, 1 in 33 actually also according to RAINN, whether it is by another man or by a woman. Men also have to live up to unrealistic body expectations, are expected to be "tough" and "masculine," and when they don't meet these expectations they're considered "wimpy" or "girly." That is sexist towards both genders. Although men never will experience sexism in the same way that women do, men do experience it. And feminism supports men in the same way it supports women.

Feminism is also for other genders and sexualities too. People who are transexual and non-binary also experience sexism and bullying, too. They are also discriminated against. People who are also homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, etc. also often fall victim to that same discrimination. Feminism today is not just about the sexes anymore, feminism also defends people of different sexual orientations too.

Feminism is all about choices. If a woman wants to be a man, or vice versa, that is fine. If a woman wants to stay home and be a housewife while her husband brings home the dough, that is fine. If a man wants to be a stay-at-home dad, that is fine. If a woman never wants to marry or have kids, that is fine. If a man wants to marry another man, that is fine. If a person does not identify as a specific gender, fine. If a couple wants to live in the 1950s gender roles, that is fine. Feminism is about giving every individual the choice as to how they live with their sexual identity, no matter what others feel or how they identify. Feminism is about respecting an individual's sexual and gender identity.

I am sorry to say it but there are some things that each gender does better than the other. It has been proven that men are physically stronger than women, that is just how their bodies work. But that does not mean that women are not strong, and that does not mean that women cannot do the physical work that men can do. It has been proven that women have a more nurturing personality than men. That does not mean that men are not nurturing people, and a male could be a better parent than a female. Genetically, each gender is better at certain things than the other, but that does not mean that it is true for each person. Feminism is about giving men and women an equal chance to try things, whether it be jobs, parenting, etc. Maybe a male would be better fit for a job with heavy lifting, but that does not mean that women can't try it. And both genders deserve equal pay for equal work. Come on now.

This type of feminism is very different than the type of feminism that existed a hundred years ago. But that does not make it a bad thing; as our world, our politics, and people change, a movement like feminism needs to change too. In my opinion, that means that we should maybe consider calling feminism something else (equalism maybe? or is that cliche?). By giving feminism a new name, that could eliminate some of the stigma that is unfortunately associated with it, and it also shows that feminism is not just for females. Feminism is not a big, scary thing for psycho women. Feminism is for everyone of all genders, and as our world changes, feminism will, too.