When I tell people I am a feminist, I hear everything from, “Are you just one of those crazy women that don’t shave their legs?” “Women are already equal.” “Women should just be in the kitchen anyhow.” This is where my frustration lies. Women in the past had much more of a struggle where they didn’t have the opportunity for the same education, they hardly had jobs, not able to vote, etc. Now we all have these rights, which is absolutely outstanding! However, as far as we have got, we are still not there yet. Women still struggle with the Pink Tax, sexual violence, and stereotyping.
So when people deny the need of feminism, one topic to bring up is the Pink Tax. Women pay an average of $1,351 more on extra costs and fees (from hygiene supplies, clothing, toys for children, etc.). We are paying more for the same exact products and brands like Levi's jeans, Schick, Alberto V05, and many more.
On top of the insane expenses from these items that are taxed more, we are paying for menstrual cycle products as well. On products used for women’s menstrual cycle they’re paying an average of $18,171 dollars more in a lifetime. This includes spending money on tampons, pads, new underwear, heating pads, Midol, birth control, etc. I’m a feminist because I believe women should not be paying an astronomical more amount to live.
In America every 109 seconds someone is being sexual assaulted. RAINN states that college women are twice as likely to be sexually assaulted than robbed. There is a problem with men experiencing sexual violence as well, but there is a larger amount of women. I believe that women are more likely to experience sexual violence because of a multitude of things.
One of those being how much women are sexualized in movies, music, and in the media. Women in movies rarely have a strong female lead. They are normally women who long for love, then participate in sexual acts, and hope for the best. In all sorts of music women are sexualized to extents we don’t even realize.
You know that catchy song, "Blurred Lines?" That song is about a women unsure about saying "yes" to participate in sexual acts, but the man is going for it anyhow. Then, in the media, women are told how we are supposed to look (with low cut shirts, something that shows curves, etc.). I am a feminist because no matter what the women is wearing, the state she is in, and how women are portrayed, she does not deserve any form of sexual assault.
“You belong in the kitchen!” “You don’t belong in the workplace.” “Babymaker!” This is just skimming the surface of the many stereotypes women endure. An incredible woman, who is in the gender stereotyping barriers, is Jennifer Welters. She is the coach for the Arizona Cardinals which presumably could be thought of a man’s position.
Another example would be Hillary Clinton running for president. She is the first women to make it this far in an American election. According to catalyst.org women occupy only 25% of male dominated occupations. Women might fear going into careers like engineering, sport management, technicians, and many more just because of the stereotype that women don’t belong in these fields. I am a feminist because I believe that men and women should not be stereotyped and everyone is capable of having the same opportunities.
There are a plethora more reasons why I believe feminism is so crucial like equal pay, the dress codes endured, reproductive justices, and much more. Webster's dictionary describes feminism as the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. That definition is exactly what every feminist is fighting for-- equality. Feminists are not power hungry women that want to be in charge. They are women who want to have the same chances as a man would. Feminists have a huge misconception, although I encourage you to seek equality for women and join the fight to have equal rights.
