Since the Women’s March on Washington, I felt the need to describe why I am a feminist. The term has completely been hijacked by people who have no idea what being a feminist actually entails. They’ve dirtied and stained the word to mean a woman who hates men and wants to put women above all other genders. And no, for the thousandth time, that’s not what we want.

All I want is to have the same opportunities as men; to have a seat at the table without being made to feel guilty for taking up space; I want to feel safe walking home if it’s past 5pm; I want to be treated fairly—no more no less. And I want inclusive and intersectional equality.

In other words, I understand my privilege and want to create an equal playing field for all people. I want to live in a time and place where all genders, sexual orientations, race and ethnicities, abilities, ages, and faiths are equal. And since I do not live in such a place, I fight for it, which makes me a feminist.

To the men and women who are ‘tired of feminists/feminism,’ I’m sorry you don’t understand the movement or are threatened by our determination to make real and lasting change. Change that will level the ground and allow more than one niche of America to succeed.

America is great, in part due to our immigrant past, present, and future, our diversity, our inclusivity of different religions, because of our pillars of acceptance—not divisiveness nor subjugation. Our nation’s worst offenses involved the segregation and maltreatment of the “others'” in society, but we quickly forget that unless you are a Native American, we too are immigrants.

I won’t apologize for thinking rights to my body are mine and don’t belong in Congress. I won’t compromise on my right as a human being to be payed the same for equal work as a man. And I won’t wait around for those rights be handed to me. That’s why I am a feminist.