To the Men and Women of Today,
It’s no secret that lines about feminism bring a lot of controversy in our society, politics, music, and our everyday lives. I wish I could say that this wasn’t true and that our society is so evolved that the equal rights for men and women are a no-brainer. However, when studying feminism, you find out that there two sides to this coin. There is the side that says women are men’s equals, but we also have our group ignorants that claim that women are far more superior to men. In feminism you must find a balance, where you understand that your gender doesn’t make you inferior, nor does it make you superior, but also that your role in society is complementing the role of your opposite and the world around you. Let me paint you a clearer picture.
1. Jobs are for humans
There are so many times where we categorize jobs with gender, and we have built an incredible stereotype for men and women as to what they can and cannot do. A stay-at-home parent: women. A construction worker: man. An artist: woman. An executive: man. I can go on and on about the lines we have been conditioned to draw on what is acceptable for a man or a woman to do. If the person qualifies for the job, regardless of their gender, they should be allowed to do that job, no questions asked.
I read an article about an experiment done at an H and R office for a manager position, where they handed in two identical resumes, but the only difference was that one had a male name and the other had a female name. What surprised me was that the male name was given the job because “he was more qualified." You can see the absurdity in it all, but sometimes, as a woman; I catch myself doing the same thing with a man. But let’s be honest here, stay-at-home dads are ever present and a gift to humankind. Some of our most creative designers are men, and ladies, let’s not forget that we demand respect when doing these jobs, so we should give respect when men are working just as hard and just as good at it
2. A body is a temple, not an object.
I have no doubt that we have evolved in some ways on this subject, but there are still moments of objectifying each other that we have not surpassed. I am a true believer in looks affecting our perception, I think it’s a natural thing to express your opinion on what you find beautiful. If I see a gorgeous girl, you can bet I will walk up to her and say “excuse me, you’re gorgeous” and simply leave it at that, or I will definitely let my guy friends know that their outfit is #onpoint. It is also true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder; some people prefer blonde hair and some prefer red. No worries, I am not going to be offended by you finding me beautiful or not, but I will not tolerate you shaming me for being either.
Let me tell you something, girls like compliments just as much as guys do, and girls hate harassment just as much as guys do. There are boundaries you shouldn’t cross with any human being, especially when it comes to their body. Why? Because walking down the street shouldn’t be a worrisome factor I have to add to picking out my outfit for going to the store or going to work. Same goes for men; as a fashion lover, I have to say I can judge your outfit in less than 2.5 seconds; however, that won’t give me the cue to think that because you wear pants tighter than skin your intelligence has been tampered with. An outfit or a genetic make-up of a person is not an invitation to undermine their abilities, nor is it an invitation to harass them and make unnecessary comments. Humans deserve respect from fellow humans, it is our duty and our responsibility.
3. Equality is Unisex
Now, if you’re a 21st century young adult like me, you were probably raised with the "Harry Potter" series, learned to love the Hollywood classics like "Roman Holiday," "Breakfast at Tiffany’s," and "The Breakfast Club," and have been part of the Disney feminist movement. All those movies have become a staple in our culture as defining your identity and purpose, regardless of your gender. These movies have also launched actresses like Emma Watson and Audrey Hepburn to fight for equal rights and to look for the next step of evolution in our society. The movies "Brave" and "Frozen" have shown us that true love and power first lie within ourselves, and that we don't always need a man to come and save the day. Just like a man doesn't need a woman to cook for him or dress him or whatever. Gender never hinders ability nor capacity. Fighting for the rights to be human is a no-brainer.
You should be empowering the women in your life to be themselves to the fullest, and if what they want to do goes against our social norms, well, good for you. Love the women in your life, because this earth is all about relationships and teamwork, and women empower the men in your life; they have dreams and aspirations much like yours. When you complement each other and become a helping hand to either gender, you become one. Feminism is not saying men are inferior and women are superior, which would be sexism. Feminism is saying, regardless of your gender, that your dreams, goals, aspirations, and drive will not be hindered by our conditioned ideals, but rather we empower you to step into you life’s calling. Feminism is saying, your body is your body, your abilities and your strength are only reliant on your willpower and drive.
Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, reach for the heavens. Reach for the impossible, because sooner or later, we will get the stars thrown in, and these sexist boundaries that become our glass ceiling will soon shatter and equality will be our reward. Love the men and women in your life, empower, encourage, and never let society’s attempts to condition your thinking affect your incredible power to dream and do.
Lots of Love,
Gaby Rodo
