As I enter my 20th year of life as an American woman next month, I find it disheartening that I am surrounded by people, especially women, who still do not identify as feminists. Studies show that last year, while only 18 percent of Americans today consider themselves feminists, 85 percent believe in equality for women. Does this baffle anyone else? Is the Google definition of feminism not the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of political, social, and economic equality to men? With that said, shouldn’t at least 85 percent of Americans be identifying as feminists?
As a college student, I attend a school that is currently comprised of 52 percent women. Whether they choose to identify or not, every single one of them is a feminist. They are all making a decision to further their education. It does not matter what degree these young women are pursuing, or if they are ultimately here to find a husband that will be the eventual breadwinner; They are all supporting feminism. As 21st century feminists, they have all made the choice to take this path after graduating high school. They all subconsciously believe they are an equal gender that deserves this opportunity. We have entered a point in time where statistics currently present that women in America are more likely to have a bachelor's degree than men. We are changing the pattern of history and still not identifying as feminists.
A feminist today is anyone who believes that women should be given the opportunity to choose who she wants to marry, if she wants to spend her life in a career, and whether or not she wants to have children. Women and men need to overthrow the negative stigma and stereotype that all feminists are considered “feminazis." Unfortunately, feminazis are what turn people away from wanting to consider themselves a feminist. The radical movement that women should not be shaving their legs because it is done in an effort to attract men is not what being a feminist is. Wearing a bra and being a “stay at home mom” is not a symbol of oppression. Men are not stupid.
When I told my mom I was going to be writing this piece she told me, “That’s a choice, not all women have to be feminists.” Just right there, she proved my point. A woman choosing not to be a feminist is a woman making a choice. Being a feminist is all about choices. People wanting the choice not to call themselves a feminist, are expressing feminist values. There is a common misconception that a woman who wants to be a stereotypical housewife is an anti-feminist. There is absolutely nothing “anti-feminist” with this life path, as long as it is her decision. To be a feminist, you don’t have to swear off men, stop shaving, wear more modest clothing, or seek an intimidating, powerful career path to prove you believe in equal rights. All you have to do is what you are already doing, making the decisions you want to.
We should all be identifying as feminists because the truth is most of us already are. Everyone human being, no matter the gender, on this Earth deserves access to education, freedom, and equality. If you believe that, you are a feminist.
