Feminism: Noun; The advocacy for women's rights on the grounds of social, political, economic equality to men.
In our society, many despise the F word — "feminism," that is. As with any progressive movement, there are extremists who frighten those the movement aims to persuade. They push for too much or too fast or in the wrong way, and, eventually, their views of what they are fighting for no longer resemble the original goal. To be clear, the feminism I believe in is not about handouts or extra privileges because of my gender, but equality. My parents raised me to be strong, independent, fierce, fearless. I painted rooms in our house, mowed the lawn, filed my portion of the taxes and helped with home improvement projects. I am working toward two degrees in college. I am employed back at home. I insist on splitting the check. And while I recognize that the empowerment of females has come a long way since 1800, 1900, even 1960, there is still work to be done.
I wait after night tests or ask friends to wait so that I don't have to walk home alone. Even on a campus where I feel safe nearly all the time, I (and other women I know) still have experienced enough here to know better than to risk walking home alone in the dark. In school, I once overheard a male teacher explain how surprised he was that his student was doing well in science; she was, after all, female. Walking back home in my very safe suburban town, I have men slow their cars or jeer out their window at me if I am alone. We still tell children struggling in sports that they are playing like a girl, as if the female gender is a synonym for weakness and inadequacy. The internet is flooded with videos similar to this #WomenNotObjects video. As a society, we have made immense progress, but we must continue to wake up each day and fight for better, demanding the best that we ourselves and our peers have to offer to the world.
Having said that, I recognize that women have distinct advantages. It is far easier for women to get out of speeding tickets than men. Ladies get into bars easier and many have the privilege of getting drinks free from admiring men. Courtesy still tells us that men should hold doors for women, (offer to) pay the bill when on dates, and never punch women. Meanwhile, boys are told every day that having emotions makes them weak and womanly. They feel the pressure to be the primary breadwinner and provide for their household. They have the burden of feeling as if they must support everyone else, even when they feel as if they are falling apart. Many men fear that if they apply for an opportunity and the other candidate is a woman, then the woman will hold an advantage simply for having ovaries. These, too, are valid perceptions.
The world I dream of sees no genders or races or religions but sees people. We deserve to be treated equally — as humans. It is easy to carry prejudices in our hearts when we are unfamiliar with others, but when that person eats at our table or shares an apartment with us, we recognize this one truth of humanity: We are all people. We all deserve everything the world has to offer us. For all of our differences, we as humans are not really very different at all.
