Feminist. Often a word used as an insult, a label with a negative connotation that makes women who believe in gender equality appear as women who think men are evil and sexist, and over dramatic. The assumptions that are often made of those who identify as feminists, or those who agree with principles of gender equality, are ridiculous and false. There is a stereotype as well on these individuals categorizing feminists with this image of braless, unshaven, tom-boy women, who are irrationally against the male gender. This image needs to be erased.

I am proud of my gender, I am proud that we have overcome obstacles such as gaining natural born rights that men obtained before us like voting. I am proud that the ideal of “women in the kitchen” has changed to some extent, and women are making advances socially, slowly being rid of the gender stereotypes. I want to be treated as an equal. I want to play sports and be active just as boys or men are. I can work as hard academically and succeed in the same professions that men can. I don’t want to be censored around. I don’t want to be treated as the “lady” at the table who men don’t want to curse in front of. As ridiculous as it sounds, I don’t want a man to change the way they act as they would around their other guy friends and not burp or some other supposedly masculine action.

Pink and Purple shouldn’t be "girl colors" and blue and green "boy colors". Crying shouldn’t make a boy or a man a wimp or rid him of any sort of masculinity. Being muscular as a female shouldn't be “manly.” House cleaning and laundry doesn’t have to fallon the wife and yardwork the husband. As much of a joke as it often becomes, no, I’m not just going to “find a rich husband” because why should they be the ones to finance a family? The Merriam Webster definition of Feminism is, “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” In no place is man hating, suggested. There is still a long way to go for gender equality, because it is nearly impossible to erase suggestions that have been engrained in generations from the beginning of time and still continue through media and countless other institutions.

Actress Emma Watson is an embassador for the UN women. In September of 2014, she made a speech launching the “He For She” campaign. Not only have I receited this speech, but it has liberated me in sharing a lot of the same beliefs as she does. "If we stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by what we are—we can all be freer and this is what HeForShe is about. It’s about freedom."