Recently, there has been a lot of controversy over feminism and what it really is. There's been a lot of name-callings and blaming. It's kind of hard to believe that in the 21st century we are still so far behind and having this debate over women's rights, so I'm here to set the record straight:

Feminism, as defined by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose TEDx talk is sampled in Beyoncé's "***Flawless," is the belief of "social, economic and political equality of the sexes." That's it: equality for men and women. Feminism is not hating men, wanting to be superior to men or wanting all men dead (yes that is really what some people think feminism is).

Feminism has such a bad rep now that people are afraid to call themselves feminists. I used to be one of those people; I never came out as a feminist until after I graduated high school. I knew that I believed in equality and women being able to do what they want, but I didn't think of myself as one. I thought feminists were those women who hated men and thought that men solely existed to oppress women (later, I learned that that group of people are called radical feminists, a very small subgroup in feminism). I held my tongue and didn't want anyone to think that I was one of those "awful feminists" for speaking out about the unfair things that affected me and a lot of others.

So, now that we all know what feminism is and what we believe in, here are some of the many real-life examples of things that might make you a feminist:

1. Believing that women, and especially women of color, should make the same amount of money that men do in the same job fields.

2. Respecting people's right to their own bodies and not trying to police them into doing things that they don't want to.

3. Believing that women shouldn't have to be afraid for their lives when walking alone at night, going to a party and just living life.

4. Recognizing that people of color have different experiences and that everyone should listen and not try to silence others.

5. Letting transgendered people express themselves without having to make them go through a whole process to be who they are. (Ex: not letting transgendered people change their legal name or sex on their birth certificate without having a surgery.)

6. Not supporting the dress code rules on girls in middle and high school, which can send girls home or keep them out of class for long periods of time for not wearing something "appropriate" or being too "distracting for the boys."

7. Being against the regulations that are put on black women's hair at the workplace, which is highly in support of European styles of hair.

8. Being against the idea that men cannot show their feelings in fear of being called a girl.

9. Advocating for changing the way the social justice system handles cases of sexual assault and rape.

10. Supporting longer paid family and medical leave.

11. Ending the stigma that STEM fields are for men and girls shouldn't play sports.

Don't let the wrong idea of feminism prevent you from being speaking up.

Share to educate others and be heard!