On Saturday, January 21st, women from all over the world marched for the protection of their rights, safety, and families. It was also a push to protect human rights in general, such as LGBTQ rights, racial equality, and worker's rights, as well as for immigration reform, healthcare reform, and environmental protection. Many women attended for one other reason -- to protest the new President, Donald Trump. Many women carried signs to display exactly what they personally were marching for and what they wanted the world to understand.
The Women’s March is meant to be an all inclusive, safe march for everyone who wishes to attend. Unfortunately, it seems this wasn’t the truth. With protesters holding up signs saying, “Don’t forget: White Women Voted for Trump," and “Trust women more than men," the march was a bit more selective than it was meant to be. While the march was marketed as a place for all women to be comfortable and supported, it’s as if that is only true if you were a liberal woman of color. If you happened to be Caucasian, you were automatically branded by many as someone who was just there for Instagram pictures. If you happened to have voted for Trump, you were seen as someone who didn’t actually support woman’s rights.
I do not consider myself a feminist. In another time I would have been, but in modern society's feminism, it isn’t about equality of the sexes but rather for the rise of women and the fall of men. Feminism started as a movement for achieving equality for women, including having the same rights as men, i.e. pay, and privileges, and the right to vote. Modern feminism is more about putting men down and making women the more privileged sex. I do want women to achieve equality, but I do not, and never will want, men to feel as though they don’t belong in our society. With signs at the march reading, “The future is female," you may have gotten the sense that men weren’t exactly supported and some women believe men should be brought down. I am a conservative. I would have voted for Trump if I had been able (at the time I was 17, and my birthday is in December, therefore I was not eligible to vote). I am pro-life, although I have many friends that are pro-choice, and I do not look down on them for being as such. I would not have felt comfortable or supported at any of the Women’s Marches because I do not fit the "acceptable” mold of those who marched.
All of this isn’t to say that everyone who attended did not support Caucasians or conservatives. This is to say that a good few didn’t, which was a big flaw in the marches. This also isn’t to say that all feminists want to bring men down. This is to say that modern feminism has displayed the want to be better than men time and time again. These Women’s Marches were beautiful, and I would love to attend one in the future, but in the end, I know my beliefs would not be supported in such an environment. A large portion of the movement seems to believe that you must fit a mold to be a part of the group. It’s sad to see such selective inclusion in a group who's goal is fighting for equality for all.
