I don’t call myself a feminist. One reason for this is because people have many different ideas about what feminism is, and there are too many ideas stuffed under the “feminist” label for it to have any real, distinct meaning. Another reason is that feminism has become politicized and I would prefer to stay away from politics and agendas. The point is, I’m feminist by nature; I don’t need a label to be myself.

If I’m being completely honest, I get pretty annoyed when people point at a woman and complain about her not having feminist values. I even heard people telling women they were anti-feminist if they don’t support Hillary Clinton. Let me just set this straight: if you support Hillary Clinton solely on the fact that she is a woman, then you are actually not supporting your definition of feminism at all. Yes, it’s important that women hold power, including in the government, but what we really need is the person most capable of doing the job right, regardless of gender.

Being a feminist isn’t about women’s empowerment. It’s about individual empowerment. Being a woman is a unique experience that no one person shares. Sure, there are many things women deal with because they are women and there’s a collectivity to that, but there’s also individuality and what it means to be a woman is much different than we once thought.

I know who I am, and being a woman is only a fraction of my identity. I know my favorite songs, my favorite food, what I’m good at and what needs work. Being a woman doesn’t play a part in every aspect of my identity. I’m not a feminist; I am simply myself.If you believe in equal pay and equal opportunity, a world where rape and sexual assault are taken seriously and that all people are unique and beautiful, you are not a feminist -- you’re a decent human being. Feminism doesn’t mean anything, but being yourself does.