Disclaimer: this article contains the F word.

A dirty word in our society, this term is associated with radical, man-hating, bra-burning, hairy lesbians. Yet here I am, a peaceful, man-loving, bra-wearing, clean-shaven female, fully in support of the feminist movement. That's right, I said it. Feminist. Defined as "the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities," it is beyond me why someone should choose not to support this movement. But I do, because I need it.

I need feminism because I am among the 83 percent of teen girls in the US who have experienced sexual harassment in a public high school.

I need feminism, because I once had a coworker who stood by and laughed when a customer threaten to spank me. Despite sexual harassment being prohibited in the work place, it is still a very real concern.

I need feminism because my appearance does not invalidate the fact that I have something important to say.

I need feminism because when people point out my cleavage, my first instinct is to apologize.

I need feminism because corporations such as Hobby Lobby were granted the right to deny female employees certain contraceptives through their health insurance.

I need feminism, because women's bodies are so sexualized that many women are shamed for breastfeeding their child in public.

I need feminism because it is 2016 and women make up 51 percent of the population, but still only 20 percent of congress.

I need feminism because comparing someone's actions to that of a girl is considered an insult.

I need feminism because it is the ideals of our current environment that shames men for having the courage to show emotion. "We begin the damaging process of turning boys into men long before boyhood ends."

I need feminism because victims of rape are still asked what they were wearing.

I need feminism because when I assert my opinion, I get asked if I'm on my period.

I need feminism because the average American woman makes 78 cents for every dollar that a man makes, and I don't want my future partner to have the financial burden of compensating for this disparity in our household.

I need feminism because when I developed a severe eating disorder, my first psychiatrist dismissed it as normal teenage behavior. I will not stand by while self loathing is not only accepted but expected of teen girls.

I need feminism because our current society invalidates and makes light of the experiences of men who are victims of rape and domestic violence.

I need feminism because it is my hope to have the opportunity to stay home with my young children some day, but it is not my role in life.

I need feminism because in the past, not only did this movement stimulate the economy by encouraging women to enter the work force, but without these women and their inventions and contributions—without feminism—our world would not be what it is today.

I need feminism because in the four minutes that you might spend reading this, nearly 100 American women were abused, two women worldwide died giving birth, eight little girls were trafficked for sexual exploitation, and 6,781,920 people looked at naked women online.

The equality of the oppressed is not solely the business of the oppressed. Men, these women are your mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. But do not fight for them because they are someone to you. Fight for them because they are someone. This is your fight too. It is the feminist movement that is pushing for the right to paternity leave and preventing sexual assault in prisons and the military. This is not solely the fight of women. Nor is it solely the responsibility of men. It should be the goal of every single man and women in our country and even our world to strive for equality between genders. Because feminism is nothing more than the radical idea that maybe, just maybe, women are human too.