I typically don't share or post a lot of feminist material on Facebook because, as we all know, Facebook is a hotbed for those who love to comment on "controversial" things they disagree with. I save most of my feminist, and otherwise political, posting for Twitter and it took me a long time to even be comfortable doing that. I didn't begin embracing the label of "feminist" until just before I graduated high school. I always knew that I was a feminist, but I also knew that I didn't (and don't) particularly like labels. Labels, though intended to make it easier to define who you are or what something stands for, complicate things. I didn't want to embrace the word because the word carried with it a multitude of negativities; its often off-putting, intimidating, misunderstood, equated with man-hating, hairy legs, and anger, and almost always causes the person in front of you to question who they thought you were. At least, it does where I'm from.

In the deep south, feminism isn't spoken of very often and "feminists" don't exist. We have strong and independent women, sure, but they're referred to as "spit-fires" and "headstrong," or "outspoken" and "stubborn." I've been called all of these things many, many times in my life. None of these words offend me, as I know I am all of them, but recently I have begun to ponder why the words "feminist" and "feminism" scare some people to the bone.

In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, feminism is defined in two ways. One: "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes." Two: "organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests." The two definitions are about as straightforward as you can get, yet still there is a misconception about what feminism means and what feminism really is.

The biggest argument I have gotten in response to my feminism is that it is all propaganda. "Cat calling isn't harassment, it's a compliment." "Boys will be boys." "You're just being dramatic." "But women do have equality in the workplace. There are a ton of women CEOs and firefighters and stuff." "Oh, please. Women don't have to worry about danger 24/7. Walking with your key as protection isn't necessary." "You just don't want to shave your legs." "Makeup is false advertising."

That last one is my personal favorite, by the way. No, makeup is not false advertisement, as women are not a product for consumption. But, you know, pish posh.

Feminism is not propaganda. Feminism is not something to be feared. Feminism is equality, plain and simple.

Another big counter argument often brought up in the face of my feminism is the fact that I am pro-life. My pro-life stance comes partially from religious reasons and partially from my own personal love of children. I do continue to support Planned Parenthood, however, because -- spoiler alert -- less then five percent of the services provided are abortions. Less than five percent. The rest of their services include birth control, pregnancy tests, prenatal care, cervical cancer screenings, breast exams, and STD treatments and screenings. Planned Parenthood helps over 2 million women, and men, in the U.S. alone get affordable and necessary heath care each year.

Some have said to me, "You have to draw a line somewhere. You can't be a part of something that supports something you fundamentally disagree with." Some who associate themselves with feminism would tell me that I am not a true feminist because of my stance on the issue, but I say they're both wrong. Feminism is for everyone. It isn't only for pro-choice people, it isn't only for white women, and it isn't only for just women. It is for everybody. Feminism, at its core, is fighting for everyone to be considered equal. Its very simple.

Feminism fights for men, too, although it is often overlooked. Masculinity is an increasingly fragile concept. "Boys don't cry." "Real mean don't wear pink." "That's gay." "You're whipped." "Stop being a little bitch." "You throw like a girl." Boys are raised to be tough, to be like a brick wall, to shut off their emotions, to not be "mama's boys," to be afraid to hug their guy friends. Society is deadening an entire gender to their feelings and their humanity, and feminism, real feminism, wants that to stop.

As a former softball player and someone who can currently throw a mean 40-yard-spiral, throwing "like a girl" is something to be proud of.

For me, feminism means being a spit-fire. It means being outspoken, and fearless, and strong. It means fighting for what you believe in and it means fighting for the people that cannot fight for themselves. In America, women have made undeniable progress over the last two hundred years. There is still work to be done, but we have made progress. We can vote; we can run for office; we can own companies; we can run television shows; we can be president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences; we don't have to wear skirts anymore. And at some point, hopefully in my lifetime, we won't have to only be relegated to First Lady.

In America we have made all of these advances but in some countries, women still don't have all of the same legal and moral rights that we do. Feminism fights for those women, just as it fights for women within our own country. It is worldwide, and it is fierce, and it is worth being a part of.

I still shave my legs, I still wear makeup (most of the time), I still wear bras and I still want a boyfriend. I still want children someday, I still want to get married, and I still want a career. I still wear pink and I still wear dresses sometimes. I still play sports when I can and I am still very, very stubborn. I am still a feminist.

I have always been one to respect authority, but I have also always been willing to question it. Where would be as a people had authority never been questioned or refuted or taken away from those who didn't deserve it? What would society look like had Adolf Hitler never been opposed? What would the world look like if we, as a people, decided to only live for ourselves and not our fellow human being? What would this country look like had women never been given the right to vote? What would this world look like if women had just stopped fighting?

I want to see the end of slut-shaming. I want to see the end of the wage gap. I want to see an end to campus rapes and date-rape drugs. I want to see domestic violence cases and rape cases prosecuted more harshly. I want to see an end to the phrase, "She was asking for it." I want to see all women all over the world be unashamed to call themselves feminists.

Someone once asked me, "Why would you want to be associated with a group that has so much negativity surrounding it?" I didn't respond. I sort of left it alone because I didn't want to argue. What I should have said is this: I associate myself with feminists because I am one, because the negativity attached to the word is misinformed and wrong. I choose to embrace the label because yes, the word is often misconstrued and misused, and I want to be a part of the movement of women that changes that. I want to be a part of the group that uses feminism the right way, the group that supports and fights for everyone because, from the beginning and in the end, that is what feminism is.

I grew up surrounded by feminist icons. Buffy Summers, Olivia Benson, The Golden Girls, Rory and Lorelai Gilmore, Velma and Daphne (the movie version, not the cartoon), and Cristina Yang -- to name a few. And, though they'll never call themselves feminists, you can add my Mom and Grandma to that list. I watched strong women and I was raised by strong women; I support strong women and I advocate for strong women; I admire strong women and I want to be a strong woman. So of course I'm a feminist. There's nothing scary about it.