Feminism is a hate movement. It is a movement that hates inequality. Feminism hates rules that say, "You can't be funny because you are a girl" or "You can't cry because you are a boy." It's a movement that strays away from gender stereotypes. It's a movement that hates every step backward we go toward repeating history.
Hi everyone, I'm Danielle and I'm a feminist.
BUT WAIT!
You've already read this far, so before you roll your eyes, click the "back" button or hit the "X" on the right top corner of your screen, let me educate you on a few things before you go. Feminism is not a group of crazed women who hate men, anything that has to do with men, hate women who do not identify as feminists, etc.
Feminism is the belief in equal rights and equal treatment for all human beings.
(Definition of all: referring to the entire quantity of something.)
(Definition of human beings: belonging to the species of Homo sapiens.)
Any Beyonce fan will recognize this segment of a Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie quote (which is featured in her song Flawless): “We teach girls to shrink themselves…We say to girls, ‘You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful; otherwise, you will threaten the man.’ Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage...Now marriage can be a source of joy and love and mutual support, but why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don’t teach boys the same? Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.
Feminism is not women claiming to be better than men. Feminists are not crazed women obsessed with pulling men down. Feminism is just as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says. It is the equality of all sexes. I find it odd when people reject the idea of feminism. I understand and respect that it is someone’s choice whether or not they choose to be a feminist, but how can you not support something that is simply treating everyone the same? A lot of the time, people are afraid to define themselves as feminists because of the stigma that comes with it.
But not me. At least not anymore.
From kindergarten through high school (and even my first year of college), I grew up with nearly all guy friends and an occasional gal pal. I always found myself getting defensive saying that I was "different from other girls.” What was I implying? That being a girl was bad?
I first heard the words "feminist theory" in college. I was sitting in class and, at first, I rolled my eyes and expected it to be all about stereotypical girl power. In a way I guess it was, but the delivery of the subject completely changed my perspective. I learned about empowering my sisters and that we we were worth more than people told us. I learned that women have a voice. Feminism allowed women to join the workforce decades ago to help the economy and production of materials. I learned that feminism allowed women to be able to vote, to be able to divorce, to have birth control and to have control over our bodies.
In my opinion, feminism is a must in today's society. Feminism is not only about women, though. Feminism is telling men that they can be a stay at home dad, there is no stigma. Feminism has broadened the definition of a hate crimes to include LGBTQ and disabled people. Feminism says men can be raped, it's not only a crime against women. Why wouldn't you want to support this movement to promotes equal treatment to everyone?
I'm Danielle and I'm a feminist.
