I get it being a feminist isn’t for everyone, but why not? I am a feminist, my boyfriend is a feminist, you could be a feminist too. I have seen a number of articles, like this one I Am A Female And I Am So Over Feminists, and have had a number of conversations dealing with feminism. It isn’t a bad thing. Honestly, I think the issue is with everything going on right now the definition of feminism has been kind of blurred.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the #1 definition of feminism is “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes”. That’s it. Equality. Not female superiority, not putting down men, not women as supreme leaders of the world who take men as hollow minded servants, and believe everyone else is a lesser being.

That’s just… no. Equality.

Men are amazing. They are strong. They are smart and kind. Men can be anything they want to be. A man can be president, or he can be a stay at home dad. He has the world at his fingertips. Why can’t I?

Because I am a woman? Because my gender, that I had no control over, tells the world that I can’t be anything I want? Wrong. I can, and I will.

Women have worked so hard to be where we are now. I am so proud of all the women who have come before me and accomplished so much. All of you who say “I am a female who is not feminist” or “I am a male who is not feminists”, because men can be feminists too, think about where we would be if there weren’t feminists.

Think about it. Can women vote? Can women work? Can women hold office? Yes, we can, because of feminists who were strong enough to stand.

Now I understand men and women are not the same. We are different, but we can still be equal. There is nothing to say that these two things can’t coexist. I am not a man, but that doesn’t mean I don’t deserve to do what a man can. Yes, men are typically stronger than women. That’s genetics, but does that mean that because women are not as strong that we shouldn’t be able to do with our strength what a man can do with his?

I’m going to flip this for a second because after all, this is about equality. Men are allowed to show emotion, but the world says they are weak if they do.

This is so wrong.

Show emotion, cry, get upset. Women can so let’s accept that men can too. Enjoy shopping. I love shopping. You know who else can love shopping? Men. Men can also hate shopping, but guess what. So can women. It depends on the person, not the gender.

Now, let’s talk about this whole idea that feminist get mad when a man tries to be chivalrous. What even guys. If we are being honest we all love for someone to open a door for us, or buy dinner. Did you read that right? Read it again, go ahead. It says “we ALL”.

All of us.

Men included. I’m sure men would love for someone to open their door, or buy them dinner. Take turns if you want. Be equal. Treat each other right. Be chivalrous.

We as women, as feminists have accomplished so much, but we aren’t done yet. There is still so much we can do for gender equality. Be a feminist, or don’t, but before you hate on feminists remember that we want equality. That’s it. Don’t mistake feminists for radical feminists. We aren’t all radical.

There are radical groups of every kind out there, but that doesn’t make the group as a whole radical. Don't make us the bad guys for wanting good for all of us.