Everyone and everything gets labeled. We categorize our lives into separate entities based on things that make them different. However, there is one label that some people still struggle with using: feminist. I, personally, have been struggling with this label for a long time wondering if I even fit in that category. However, I have looked at facts and done some research and my discoveries were intriguing.

Feminism, by definition, is the belief that there should be equal rights and opportunities for men and women alike. It is an issue of equality. Some people hear the word "feminism" and automatically assume it means that women should be treated better than men.

Feminists want to make men feel weaker and less valuable. This belief could not be farther from the truth. Instead, feminists simply want to be on an even playing field with men. This way, when men achieve things, they know that they won a fair fight, and they were not simply given something because of their gender.

Some women are even scared to use the word feminist on themselves. They think that being a feminist means you believe all women should be out in the workforce and choosing a typical "woman" lifestyle makes them unfit for that movement. Again, this is not what feminism is. Feminism is about equal opportunity, not all women being in the workforce. In the past, women did not even have that option.

Feminists today are working to make it normal for women to decide to work, not make it necessary for women to work. If a woman chooses to stay at home, that is a valid choice. If a woman is forced to stay at home by a man or even other women, that is not a valid choice

Deciding to stand behind a movement does not make you a bad person. Actually, standing up with others for something you believe in makes you one of the strongest people out there. Using your voice is imperative to creating the world you want to live in. If you don't speak up, no one will recognize that there are problems to be fixed.

I am proud to say that I am a feminist. I believe that all people should have equal opportunities to achieve their goals. I believe that women have just as much potential to change the world as men, and if the two forces can join together, they can create something great. Feminism is a word of empowerment, not a term used to belittle other people. If the principles of feminism align with what you believe in, then use the label with pride. You deserve to be proud of your beliefs and being a part of a revolution to make this world a better place for all people.