As a new college student, it seems that I have broken into the world of adulthood. Engaging in that world meant a variety of things, one of which is coming to understand that I am a woman and that, because of it, I have been treated differently. This has lead me on a journey to understand feminism. I am not an expert and I am not a person whose opinion is of any particular importance. I am just a woman in her young adult life trying to understand a complex word and it's one that many people also seem to have a great deal of trouble understanding. For that reason I would like to open up a discussion on what we understand feminism to be.

A majority of people have encountered feminism in their lifetime. There are some good things like empowering young girls through movements such as Like a Girl, the rising number of women in STEM fields, and addressing victim-blaming in concern to sexual assault cases. Despite this, there are several issues with feminism as well. One problem pertains to how people define it. Young people see feminism as hysteria, a trend, or a notion to be played with in times of boredom. This, in turn, leads them to believe that women want feminism to be treated as a joke. I have also poked fun at it by saying that, “New wave feminism calls for having the door slammed in her face." This particular example came up during a conversation in regards to proper dating etiquette. This pseudo-feminism means that women can open the doors for themselves, pay the bills, and be treated roughly because they are "equal."

Another problem is having people misconstrue the definition for their own use. Feminism is not expecting a seat on the bus because you are a girl, it is not hating men, and it is most certainly not the advancement of women at the cost of others. So this leaves the question, what is feminism?

Feminism as defined by Merriam-Webster is:

noun: The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.

This is to be and has been interpreted differently by different people. To me, it is the understanding that, no matter the differences in sex, people should have equal opportunities in their life and rights appointed to them with the sole necessity that they are a person. It is about having a choice in how to live your life.

I have been afraid to call myself a feminist. It seemed to be a commitment to a movement that I had not really interacted with. Mainly, it seemed to be a brand that I was scared of. I did not want to be seen as pushy, anti-men, or superior to others. Having done research, I uncovered that I have been a feminist all along. I want equal opportunity and equal equity. Women are not better than men, nor are they worse. The sexes are equal and should be seen as such. I am the type of woman who fights for the check. That does not mean that I don’t appreciate it and smile when a guy holds the door open for me.

I hope that in your life you will embody some of these traits. I encourage you to reach out and explore what feminism means to you.

I leave you with this quote from Malala Yousafzai. “I decided there’s nothing wrong with calling yourself a feminist. I am a feminist, and we all should be feminists because feminism is another word for equality.”