On Saturday, January 20th, I attended the Women's march in Philadelphia with 20 or so of my friends.

We are in a large group message, and the moment we realized there was going to be a march, we made plans to go. I was very on the fence about going because I'd never gone to a march of any kind before, and I wasn't sure I'd fit in. I would consider myself a feminist in that I will fight against any number of sexist insults my way and make sure that I have just as many opportunities as my male counterparts.

I made the leap and decided to go. I made my sign as best as my art-challenged self could, and I was proud. It wasn't political. It wasn't offensive. It wasn't attacking anyone or anything. It was simply one of my favorite quotes from my favorite book, Pride and Prejudice. It said "Obstinate, Headstrong Girl". It's three simple words I've always identified with since reading because it's who I see myself as.

The day of I was excited but also very nervous. I'm pro-life, and I was worried that this fact wouldn't be well-received at the march. Hindsight is 20/20 as I realize that there was no way anyone would possibly know unless I told them, but that fact didn't occur to me. I was worried, despite multiple friends assuring me that there would be no judgment.

I stepped off the train and there were pink hats and signs everywhere (my favorite was "Without Hermione, Harry would have died in the first book,"). Our group separated into smaller sections, and we set off. There were so many people, young and old, male and female. It was such a group of support and love that I enjoyed talking to the people I was next to and hearing their stories (I even found someone who's son lives in my hometown!)

I'm not going to lie, there were some signs that were a bit much for me, and upset me. There were people who were aggressive, and, in my opinion, seemed to miss the point of the march. But there were SO many more people filled with laughter and joy just to be surrounded by other people with similar goals to themselves.

At the end of the day, I went to be the march because I'm proud to be a woman. I'm hopeful that someday I will be loving mother and wife, I hope to raise a daughter to know that saying to ____ like a girl shouldn't be an insult, I hope to live in a time when we live in a world where women aren't torn apart because of their physical shape. The future is just as bright for women as it is men, and that's what's important.

I can be pro-life, and that doesn't make me any more or any less supportive of women, because we really are all in this together, no matter our political beliefs or leanings, our race, our class, or our history.