Recently, thousands of men and women participated in marches for women’s rights which have sparked mixed reactions from men, women, and teenagers across the country. Some view these marches are liberating, while others condemn the idea of feminism due to toxic feminists who believe that women are the superior gender.

Despite popular belief, “feminism” is not a term that millennials coined. The first wave of feminism began in the 1900s, when women were vehemently fighting for the right to vote and own property. From then on, feminists have been combatting issues such as misogyny, sexual assault, sexual harassment, the wage-gap, reproductive rights, and legal inequalities.

These are all important social and political issues that women have been facing for hundreds of years and continue to combat. These are the issues that feminists march for. Feminism is not about belittling or disrespecting men. Feminism is not about feeling comfortable going braless in public. Feminism is not about holding signs with clever puns about vaginas. If your idea of feminism is not equality, then you are not a feminist.

I am a feminist because I believe in equal rights for all people. I am a feminist because there are women in third world countries who are denied access to education. I am a feminist because women are still breaking the glass ceiling in professional environments. I am a feminist because many women, especially women of color, are stuck working jobs on the sticky floor. I am a feminist because I believe transgender women should have equal rights in the workplace.

I am not a feminist because I hate men or because I want to walk around braless. I am a feminist because I believe in equality.

I am proud to be a feminist.