“Men – Gender equality is your issue, too. We don’t talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes, but I can see that they are. And that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence.” –Emma Watson
Each day, women are objectified through the view of what it means to be a feminist. In most opinions, to be a feminist or to support feminism is viewed in a very negative context. Most people believe, because of society, that feminism is about a bunch of angry women who want to burn their bras and hate men. But that’s not true… feminism is about equal rights for everyone no matter the gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or lifestyle. Feminists fight for equality amongst both women and men. The problem doesn’t lay with just women… it lies with men as well.
Society, as a whole, decides to put people into boxes – categories.
Did you check the box for feminist?
Most people would not call themselves a “feminist” but agree on equal rights for all. Hate to break it to ya, but if you believe in equal rights, you are a feminist. The boxes above can be checked off by just about anyone of any gender who identify as either male or female. Feminism has taken such a negative effect on women that we fail to see the consequences that male supporters face.
One negative effect that men deal with when supporting feminism is that they are looked down upon as sissy or not masculine because people believe that feminism is strictly a circle for women to be in. So when men are supporters of this movement, they are instantly compared to women activists.
I asked two of my friends to explain why they need feminism:
“I need feminism because people are still asking why it’s important. It’s a concept that’s still looked at as taboo by so many people who are afraid to say they believe in it because they don’t understand that it means ‘equal rights for everyone.’ I need it so that not only I can have a chance, but so my younger nieces and nephews don’t have to be subjected to the same norms and values that we have. No one should have to live up to unrealistic expectations that are only going to make them feel bad about themselves in the long run.” – Mandie Lavery, 19, Female
“I need feminism so that the women of my family are given all the same respects from society as the men in their hearts.” – Giavoni Riley, 21, Male
Many people base their beliefs off of tradition; it is traditional that we conform to gender roles. Unfortunately, however, sexism is still an issue. Feminist movements are trying to stray away from the violence of sexism, yet men, especially in media, are almost forced to convey a specific type of image when they are around women and vice versa. Men are supposed to act dominant, powerful, and assertive; whereas women are supposed to be housewives, fragile, and timid. Now flip those roles and men are looked down upon as being a pussy, sissy, or even gay. But when women are dominant, powerful, and assertive they are looked at as being a bitch. So where does the line get drawn for equality? Where is the balance between men and women?
In today’s time, roles within the household have changed. Women are allowed to have jobs and men are allowed to do housework. But how often do you hear about stay at home dads? Or single dads who are doing really well? Or men who are breaking the gender norms depicted by society and are headlining the news in a positive way? Men are constantly downgraded in subtle ways, especially through society’s view of what masculinity looks like. But what does it look like to have a man and a woman be perfectly balanced with one another in a way that disrupts the gender norms that each gender has been placed into?
Feminism is about equal rights, and the sooner people come to that realization, the sooner society can look at gender as a balance and not an imbalance of hormones and categories.
