I come from a line of very strong women. My mother was a lawyer, my Aunt ran her own PR firm, and my sister is currently dominating medical school. Never once was I ever told that I wouldn’t be able to chase my dreams because I am a woman. In fact, this concept was completely foreign to me until the middle of my sophomore year of high school. I had no idea what a glass ceiling was, what the wage gap was, or even what feminism was. In fact, I thought feminists were crazy. I always associated negative stereotypes with that title, therefore abstaining from ever calling myself one, or doing any further research. Thinking back on this former part of myself leaves me nothing less than embarrassed for the way I used to think.

To me now, feminism is more than just a title; it’s a state of mind. As a woman who is proud to call herself a feminist, I feel as though I hold myself to a higher standard. One in which I reach for the stars, and constantly try my hardest to make a lasting impression on society. I am not afraid to tell others that I am a feminist, because I truly believe in what I stand for. Feminism, by definition, is striving for the political, social, and economic equality of the sexes. This definition often gets lost in translation in today’s society, leaving people with a bad taste in their mouth when talking about feminism.

Feminism comes in all shapes and sizes. Just because you are a feminist, does not mean you have to agree with every other feminists’ agenda. Feminism should be a promise to constantly try your hardest to break through barriers, socially, economically, and politically; not a punishment in which you devalue your own opinions and ideals to conform to others. Everybody should be feminists, not just women. They just need to decide what feminism means to them. Whether it means leaving a good example for your daughter, or achieving something no one ever thought to be possible, finding your cause in feminism, and constantly supporting the women around you who do the same, is what being a feminist is all about.

Women have come a long way from what our role in society used to be, but there is still so much room for improvement. Let’s leave this society a better place than we started with for the next wave of

independent, intelligent, young ladies. Be a feminist, and be a strong minded person who isn’t afraid of change. Be a feminist, and be someone who stands up for what they believe in, despite what the popular opinion is. Be a feminist, and strive to accomplish things you’ve only ever dreamed of. Be a feminist, and don’t be afraid to reach out of your comfort zone. Feminism isn’t a title, it’s a state of mind, and let me tell you: it fu**ing rocks.