I think I would consider myself a feminist. For many people, this has a bad connotation that needs to be changed. To me, being a feminist is more about encouragement and empowerment in every woman, for them to go after what they want without roadblocks, for every woman to not be brought down by prejudices.

For example, booty calling has a bad stigma around it: a woman doesn’t respect herself enough if she is at the beck and call of a man just wanting sex.

Newsflash: girls can be the one to send the “You up?” text! Just because you don’t want an actual boyfriend — just sex — doesn’t mean you’re a whore.

If anything, feminists should encourage the independence this gives the female. They’re confident enough to go after what they want, societal views be damned.

You get to decide what you want out of a relationship, even if it’s just physical.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a steady relationship, that shouldn’t be shunned either. In the Millennial age, we are seeing less long-term relationships and more casual dating.

Nevertheless, it all depends on the person and what they want. I know people who have never been in a relationship and some who always have a boyfriend.

Just because they don’t want to be in an exclusive relationship doesn’t automatically infer a “lack of commitment.” There can be a disconnect between personalities or their views on life.

There are so many factors that could deter someone from entering a relationship not just because they’re “afraid of commitment.” There has to be a conversation between the people in the “relationship” about what they want and where they see it going. Sometimes, that’s nowhere.

Not just in relationships, but in general life, we should all have each other’s backs. Whether it’s wanting that new job, FWB, boyfriend, even asking for an opinion on how a sweater looks, there is no reason to tear each other down with snide remarks and backhanded compliments.

It is a new era, with new generations, and we’re ready to break down biases and lift each other up.