The dictionary definition of "feminism" is the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. While I support this goal, I do not support the "2016 definition of feminism," which is the belief that men are the culprit of many political, social, and economic difficulties women endure.
I want to make it very clear that I speak about feminism in regards to how it pertains to the United States. I recognize the disparities that exist between men and women around the world. I understand that women are not legally protected in many countries and that oppression is prevalent and powerful. I write this article only to share my unpopular opinion that women, in America, are equal to men and new-age feminism only strives to demean and vilify men.
Legally, women have every right that men do. We have had the ability to vote for nearly 100 years now, there are no laws restricting the type of work we can do, and we have an equal opportunity to gain a high education. The common complaint that women are proportionally underrepresented in the work force may be factually accurate, but it is not the fault of powerful, wealthy men. As shown by presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, women have the ability and the right to pursue any career they desire. The wage gap, while a real threat to the success of women in the work-force, has closed over 14 percentage points since the early 2000s. Some sources even estimate that within the next decade, the gap will decrease to less than five percentage points. I am a female college student studying criminal justice, yet I do not fear that my opportunities will be diminished because of my sex, even in a male dominant field.
Many feminists refuse to make a bed or cook dinner because traditionally, these are "women jobs" and to conform to these standards, even by their own desire, would only be the most regressive thing possible for the feminist movement. Newsflash: Making a man a sandwich won't diminish all the progress we've made as women; we'll even still be able to vote! Not every women who stays at home with her kids, cleans the house, and dotes on her husband when he returns from work does so against her own will.
Feminists have adopted a victims-mentality. Feminists want the same rights as men - well, only in some cases. Mothers receive custody of their children roughly 83 percent of the time during divorce disputes; it is difficult to fathom that the father is only more apt to care for his children in 17 percent of situations. Men are required to register for the draft upon entering adulthood, while women are not (the Senate is only just addressing this issue and whether a change will be made to the policy.) It is never appropriate for a man to lay a hand on a woman, yet women are allowed to slap men and even joke about it. If feminism is all about equality, then feminists must commence a movement promoting women to be required to register for the draft, stopping the violence that exists against men, and advocating for fathers retaining custody of their children.
In order for feminism to achieve equality, modern feminists must revert to the old principles of male and female equality by acknowledging not only the hardships we may experience, but also the advantages women have in some aspects of life.
