There are days when I want to be liked more than I want to change the world.
And as a female, it can be difficult to admit that there is a sense of hesitation when someone mentions the word feminism. Until recently, I did not realize my injustice to my own gender, pulling out my beliefs as a feminist when it is convenient. Whether this is some sort of confession, observation or just a bunch of honest words labeled as an article, I'm not entirely sure. But what I do know, is that rape culture is real, and women are objectified on a daily basis. Yet as I openly acknowledge these issues, and realize that they are wrong, I'm left feeling as if I have not treated these issues with the respect and dignity they deserve.
After recently watching Blythe Baird perform her poem "Pocket-Sized Feminism," I was introduced to the harsh reality of why it is not easy to openly share one's beliefs as a feminist. Her words were powerful, yet honest enough to have spoken to me on a personal level. Although I am fully aware that feminism is not synopsis for man-hating; those words never follow too far after any conversation regarding it. And as a teenage girl, not having experienced enough to define myself as a "strong woman," there is a sense of responsibility I must take, among others, for not having enough confidence in both myself and my gender to deny these allegations. Sure, it can be easy to openly discuss the hardships that women face among other women. Yet what I've realized, is that that exact conversation needs to be spoken with the same validity, no matter who the audience may be. Whether it be a room full of middle-aged men, or one filled with 12-year-old girls who do not understand the power of their own voice, it does not change the issue. This issue, although I feel it to be obvious, is the separation of the two genders. Whether it be equal pay, fair treatment, or telling a young teenager that she "throws like a girl," each of these problems falls under the ideals supported by feminism.
Yet society does not allow these problems to be voiced in a positive manner. And because of this, I have nothing but utter respect to the women who can openly voice their feelings, without the fear of judgement. Although Baird's poem spoke volumes to me, I still am here, using a laptop and a keyboard as an excuse to share how I feel. This, too, is an injustice. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all have added to this issue, both male and female equally. While some judge others for believing in what they feel is right, others, such as myself, are objectifying ourselves to this judgement, by making ourselves into the victims. In a perfect world, these issues could be resolved with the advice that our kindergarten teachers taught us: simply be nice to one another. However, as many of us are fully aware, if you turn on channel 7 you will learn that this is nowhere near a perfect world. Whether or not I have the power to change someone's perspective on this issue is questionable, but collectively the voice of women as a whole is strong. With this, we should not carry shame attached to the word feminism, and simply pull it out of our pocket when convenient, but use it to empower the people around us, regardless of their gender.
