Merriam-Webster defines “feminism" as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes," or “organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests." However, the very same word carries a negative connotation in everyday conversation, people often labeling feminists as radicals and assuming men can't support feminism.

This topic has been lingering in my mind in recent weeks, specifically so after coming across a TikTok audio asking people about their political opinions. One of the questions was regarding whether users considered themselves feminists, and I saw an overwhelming amount of people say things like “Oh, heck no," “Hell no," “No way."

Only in recent years have I become more informed on crucial topics of feminism like Planned Parenthood, wage gaps, mistreatment of women in the workplace, lack of women in STEM fields, rape culture; the list goes on. I grew up always hearing “feminist" used as an insult, something used to call leftist women crazy. I was told that Planned Parenthood “KiLlS bAbIeS," that the wage gap wasn't real and was a ploy Hillary Clinton used to try and win the 2008 presidential election, that women were treated just as men were at their jobs, and that girls just didn't get STEM jobs because God intended they stay home and take care of their families, that rapes didn't happen as often as women claimed because girls just regret it and then cry out later that they were raped.

I knew it didn't really make sense; I was sure men felt the very same about women like Susan B. Anthony, Alice Stone Blackwell, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Candy Stanton, and the many other brave women who fought for women's suffrage.

Feminism goes beyond the scope of the issues that politicians care to bring to light: abortion, rape allegations, wages. It affects every single woman in every moment of her life from the second she is born to the day she passes away.

Feminism is promising her that she'll be able to afford feminine care products when she finally starts puberty and protection when she decides to become sexually active — because for men, puberty is as little as learning to use deodorant, and birth control is as simple as a condom he can get for free from the health department.

Feminism is guaranteeing her safety in her workplace when the older man in the cubicle next to her doesn't know how to keep his hands to himself — and that doesn't mean just “boys will be boys," as he gets a slap on the wrist and she is still left seated next to him every day.

Feminism is knowing her voice will be heard when the coward one may call a “man" decides that for some reason, it's his right to touch the body of a woman who owes him nothing. He takes away her pride and hurts her beyond anything words can express — but all they can say is, “But what were you wearing?"

Feminism is letting the twelve-year-old girl whose uncle believed she was his for the taking know that the monster will never come around her or anyone like her again, and if a child is conceived, she doesn't have to spend her life looking into the eyes of a baby, hating it for what a disgusting pervert did to her — and guaranteeing he or no one else will have any right to tell her otherwise.

Feminism is being outraged that less than 20 percent of all surgeons in the US and approximately less than 20 percent of engineers in each state are women. It's letting black makeup artists know that they are valid in the beauty industry. It's reminding women that they have everything it takes to be a specialized physician, an engineer, a CEO, a researcher. It's making regular feminine check-ups available to women at an affordable price. It's hating society's outrageous standards of female beauty that cause so many women heartache.

So, yeah, call me a feminist. Knowing that you don't stand behind women only shows how little you know about what it takes to be one.