"Feminism? It's Complicated"
— Michela Thomas
Being a 19-year-old girl, I constantly hear the word "feminist." I recently wrote a report for my college writing class over the debate of the funding vs defunding of Planned Parenthood . I realized that, as a woman, I am still not equal in the way I would like to be. As women, we are threatened when declining dates. We are catcalled on the streets. We cannot breastfeed our children without being scoffed at. Little girls are developing eating disorders from seeing photographs of photo-shopped women on magazine covers, and we suffer once a month with Satan chewing at our uterus for seven days straight. But what brings in the most mockery and debate onto a female is the word feminist.
Feminism is defined as the "advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men." I have a complicated relationship with the word feminist. I want to fight for my rights and be seen as a woman. I no longer want to be seen simply as an object.
Feminist groups are often split. There are feminists who strictly advocate for women's rights, feminists who fight for both men and women's rights, feminists who focus on one specific subject and "feminists" who focus on the popular statement rather than the actual cause itself. The whole concept of feminism actually isn't difficult. It is the personal relationship a woman or man has with the cause. There is a lot of backlash from those who don't understand what we are fighting for. I follow several social media pages for different groups of united women/united feminists. I read comments from both women and men who call feminists, "Bitches who just want to complain about more." Comments from people calling us names and telling us that we're taking away men's masculinity. Comments telling us we are weak and sensitive. But in reality, we're just trying to make sure women will be safe in a world that doesn't see eye-to-eye with us.
Recently, I had been having nightmares about a few of my previous relationships. I remember somberly walking to class that same morning and picking up a copy of the student newspaper. The newspaper is published every Friday during the semester. In a large bold font, the word feminism caught my eye. I sat at my desk and read. The article was written by a fellow student named Rachel. Her article inspired me. She mentioned that she was feminist for numerous reasons. She notes that feminism wasn't just for her sake. She wasn't torn down in life simply because she was a female. She was a feminist because she wanted to support little girls and women internationally. Education, marriage and menstrual cycles are things women deal with on a daily basis, but not in the way others do. Women are being slaughtered. Little girls are forced to be married. There is sex-trafficking spreading in different nations and other women are shunned to specific spots for having a menstrual cycle. We in the United States fight for equal pay, we fight for reproductive rights and talk about the need for safety shelters for those who face domestic violence, sexual abuse and more. We need our voices to be heard. Rachel's article gave me insight that day. I started to understand what women were fighting for, and now that I am nearly twenty, women's rights are important for my well-being, too. I realized I was a feminist. I wanted to help. I wanted to fight for not only myself but for others.
Going back to my earlier point, I know when it comes to reproductive rights, women everywhere are not always protected with healthcare. During this political cycle, Planned Parenthood's funding has been threatened multiple times. Moreover, Planned Parenthood clinics in my home state of Ohio have been targeted. Ohio will soon become the ninth state in the United States that will have no Planned Parenthood clinics if Gov. John Kasich’s bill passes. Other states that have already defunded the clinics include: Kansas, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Texas, North Carolina and Utah. In 2016, this counted as the eighth time Planned Parenthood Clinics were in the limelight. A specific clinic in Texas was under investigation after an anti-abortion group produced a fake video of Planned Parenthood employees selling parts of the fetal bodies. It later came to light that the video was fabricated, and Planned Parenthood was cleared of any wrongdoing.
I know my fair share of women who have used Planned Parenthood for low-cost birth control as well as family planning. I still do my research regarding my reproductive rights. I never know how to feel when the topic of abortion comes up, but it is up to each woman to make her own decision. I am for keeping the Ohio Planned Parenthood clinic open. I know the clinic is there for more than just abortions. It is there for STI and STD checks. It is there for cervical cancer checks. It is there for family planning and pregnancy help at low costs, depending on your insurance. I still continue to fume over the fact that the government has a say over what a woman can do to her body. I realized millions of women depended on this program, and we may no longer be protected.
In my relationship with feminism, I would prefer to have equal pay with a man. I would also like to fight for women in other countries. I would like to have a support system for both female and male rape victims. Feminism is not building an all female empire. It is building equality for those little girls who will soon become women all over the world. Feminism is for the men who are told to be manly and told to ignore their emotions. I want to be a feminist because I know that basic human rights are a necessity. Safety is a necessity.
It took a while to come out and say that I was a feminist, in fear of that of the same old backlash, but it turns out I wasn't alone. I can only hope people continue to listen to our voices.
