feminism

ˈfeməˌnizəm

Noun: the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

Notice the key words rights and equality.

Feminism is not about hating men.

Feminism is not about wanting superiority.

Feminism is not telling men not to be nice to women, or telling women not to acknowledge men.

Feminism is not a dirty word.

So why is it such an uncomfortable topic?

Feminism is the idea that men and women are equal, and that women should be treated as such. People tend to make feminism about females demanding superiority, which leads to the common misconception that feminists think that they’re better than men. Superiority is not the goal- equality is. Feminism is simply promoting equality between both genders. Women should be treated the same as men in as many, if not all, aspects as possible.

The word feminism has gained such a bad connotation from people misusing it and trying to make it about something it’s not to the point where the word just sounds aggressive. Feminism isn’t supposed to be threatening. It’s thrown around as an insult and commonly used to make women seem like a threat, and it has to stop.

The fact that it’s 2016 and women still experience oppression politically, socially, and in the workforce is why feminism needs to be supported. Women have just as much to contribute as men in any field of work or study, and feminism exists to promote that idea. We deserve to be treated as equal, because when it comes down to it, we are.

You don’t have to be a woman to be a feminist either. There’s this notion that feminists are only women that hate men, and we have to get this idea out of people’s heads. If you believe in equality, then congratulations, you’re a feminist.

So let’s talk about it. Stop using feminist as an insult. Get rid of the idea that women are demanding superiority. Equality shouldn’t be a request, it should be a given, and that’s why we’re fighting. Feminism is not a dirty word- it needs to be heard.