The Women's Marches that occurred across America, and their badass signs, made me prouder than ever before to not only be a woman but to be a feminist. Media platforms have been filled with loving messages from supporters, but with almost as many messages of hatred. This piece was originally written in response to the article, “I Am A Female, And I Am So Over Feminists;” however, as I began to search, I found many articles that focused on anti-feminist ideals with fallacy-filled argumentation on this platform alone. So this is in response to all of the women that believe they do not need feminism in their lives, and in hopes that you realize how selfish and near-sighted that is.
She Woman Man Hater’s Club
It seems as if anti-feminists imagine feminists sitting in a Little Rascals-like shed talking about our shared hatred of men. If you truly believe that feminists blame men for all our problems or hate all men, then you have not even taken the time to simply Google "feminism." It is not a pillar of feminism to bring men down or claim that they are unnecessary to human society. The point of feminism is not to rise above other genders, but to create a society that focuses on equity regardless of personal identities, such as race and gender.
The Victimization of a Gender
We do not believe that we are victims of men, patriarchy or the system as a whole. First off, there is an inherent problem with demonizing victims in this way. Anti-feminist ideologies claim that they are not "victims" as if being a victim can be controlled or prevented which, for many survivors, is insulting. Aside from this, feminists do not claim to be helpless victims; in fact, I have never met a weak feminist. We are fighters. Just because we believe that women have been oppressed and given unfair treatment does not mean that we feel we are owed more than men or that we feel sorry for ourselves.
“I am not a feminist -- I am a humanitarian.”
This is not okay. Feminism is not called "humanism" or "egalitarianism" for the same reasons as the Black Lives Matter movement is not called All Lives Matter. It is the purpose of the name to showcase the oppressed sector. Feminism does not solely fight for women, but its purpose is to highlight the less-privileged and fight for equality throughout all genders.
We Don’t Just Fight for White Women
As a heterosexual white woman, it is difficult for me to fully understand what it is like to be a minority of race or sex and of gender. The newest wave of feminism is centered on intersectionality and inclusivity. This inclusivity, while nowhere near perfect, is evolving and improving our fight.
“Women in America have it better than in any other country.”
You say that we should quit whining because American women have it easy compared to the rest of the world, but, again, less than two minutes of research would have unveiled that the United States is not even in the top 40 most gender-equal countries in the world. Even so, feminism does not only fight for American women and feminism as a whole span worldwide.
Imagine the world without feminists. Anti-feminists may be picturing a world without angry lesbians running around topless and burning their bras. Let me fix that for you. A woman’s life in America without feminism would be far worse than the Mad Men stay-at-home mother lifestyle. A world without feminism is one without choice. Feminism is about equality, but I believe that the word ‘choice’ is integral in understanding what it truly means. It means that no one can decide FOR you. Feminism fights to erase images such as President Trump, surrounded by white men, deciding on abortion rights. Feminism does not tell you to go work; it does not tell you that you must be independent or dislike men. There are no rules or strings attached. Feminism fights so that you can decide. It does not mean you must take birth-control or dress in a certain manner. But it allows women the right to be whatever they want to be. These articles defending anti-feminist ideals are filled with white privilege and Americentrism. Just because you do not feel oppressed does not mean that those who do across our country, and across the globe, are invalid. And with this new administration, it is more important than ever to understand that this feminism that you hate is working to protect and extend every right you have.
