As much as my mother would hate to hear this, I tend to have a potty mouth. I’m sorry, Mom but it’s true, I dabble in the stuff! Sometimes it just feels good to throw a “f**k!!” out there, or maybe a “s**t!!!” if you’re really feeling crazy!! However, my absolute FAVORITE dirty word of them all is (Mom, I hope you’re not reading this)… FEMINIST. Oh, s**t I said it. There it is. What’s wrong with me?! Feminist?! That is just so so wrong!

Let’s clear some ish up, shall we? Because quite frankly, if one more person rolls their eyes when I drop this “f-bomb” I’m about to go OFF.

To every person who has called me a man-hater, this one’s for you.

First off- HAHAHAHAHAHA- that’s actually hilarious if you think just because I’m a feminist means I hate men. Like actually, I love men. I’ve yet to meet one because I’m currently swimming in a pool of college boys (zingggg!) but nonetheless I’m a huge fan of the male species!

That being said, as much as I’m ferda dudes, are you actually going to tell me that men need to fight for social, political, and economic equality in comparison to women? Hmm, last time I checked we’ve never had a female president, gained the right to vote not even a century ago, may face sexual harassment in some form on a daily basis, are paid ~80 cents for ever dollar a man makes (and that’s just for white women- minorities are paid even less). Unfortunately, the list goes on and on and on and on.

When I say I’m a feminist, or when I express my viewpoints on the topic, I am never directly BLAMING an individual man. It’s not like the second I came into this world I decided “hm, I’m feeling kinda oppressed because I have a vagina so I’m gonna blame every man who ever speaks to me.” Not how it works, sorry.

The inequality and oppression women face every day is so systemic and deeply ingrained in society that it wouldn’t be fair to blame any one person in particular. Sure, there are some people (not naming names) who make statements such as “grab her by the pussy” that only serve to feed this cycle of objectifying and degrading women, but obviously not EVERY male in the world behaves this way.

As a Women’s Studies major, I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times my discussions of a topic I am extremely passionate about have been met with condescending remarks and mockery. I was even once told to stop talking about “this stuff” before other guys came in the room so as not to upset them.

To those of you who have shut me down, news flash- you just fire me up even more! I will never apologize for standing up for myself and for every single other woman in this world who has ever been silenced.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I get that. But the next time you try to shut me up and call me a man-hater, maybe get educated, tone down the ignorance, and take a Women’s Studies class or two. And don’t even dare ask me why “Men’s Studies” isn’t a thing.

For the love of God, my guy, open a history book –– THERE’S your “Men’s Studies.” Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some men to go hate on.