If you're reading this, you saw the header photo. I am a proud feminist, and I'm not afraid to admit that. I believe in equal rights for men and women, but also equal rights for everyone else because usually "men and women" leaves people of color out of the conversation. I take pride in being a feminist because I know that I am helping the world to be a better place one step at a time. As a white woman, I know that I am doing my best to take the steps needed to include all marginalized people in a conversation of equal rights.
But as any true feminist knows, there is a stigma that comes with identifying this way. If you consider yourself a feminist, you've probably experienced being mocked or made fun of at some point in your life. And while we can all agree that this is only one small disadvantage to wearing such a title, it's certainly frustrating. Very few people appreciate a person who is willing to call them out on small sexist/racist/homophobic/etc. comments. I've found that many people mock me as a defense mechanism, rather than simply apologizing, correcting themselves, and moving on.
The way I see it, there are two approaches you can take in this world when it comes to feminism or social activism in general (I wish it wasn't so divided but it is, just like everything else in the United States). You can either educate yourself about the plethora of social issues that occur in this country (and other countries for that matter) and choose whether or not to do something about it, or you can sit idly by and mock the people who have educated themselves, and continue to help uphold oppressive systems that exist within our society. It's pretty obvious which option is easiest, but it's also obvious which option is morally right. Technically there is a third approach, indifference, but actively choosing not to take action is still pretty ugly.
So, why do people mock feminists, social activists, environmentalists, etc.? Because it's easier than being one of them. Being a feminist, or any of the previous roles mentioned is hard work. It's exhausting to simply acknowledge all of the corruption, inequality, and systematic oppression that takes place in our world. It's frustrating to try and create positive change and see no progress. People laugh at us because it's easier to let a system oppress you than it is to fight it.
I see this more when it comes to women and it disheartens me. While men are usually the ones to mock me for what I say, I am always surprised to have women do the same from time to time. I questioned this for a long time before I realized that it's simply easier to side with the very people who contribute to your oppression (men) than it is to side with a woman who is fighting against that oppression. What's even worse is when I notice a woman mocking someone for the approval of men.
If you find yourself siding with the very people who uphold systematic inequality, you may want to rethink your approach to life. What kind of person are you if you choose to be passive in the world we exist in today? What kind of person are you if you mock the very people who are fighting for equality, or for the planet, or for your rights?
It's easy to say "That's stupid," or "I just don't care." I get it, I used to be that person who just sat idly by. But one day I woke up and realized that saying being passive is not the solution to our problems, it's the problem.
