As a supporter of women, I was 100% behind the Women's Marches that took global occupancy last week. However, my support has grown dire after reading one post in particular. I can understand where some women stand when they do not identify as feminists. It hurts, but I do. I understand that you believe in tradition and do not believe in abortion. Those are morals you hold, and even though I believe that feminism is purely equality for all women in this world, I support and understand your concerns in our changing future. Your vote matters just as much mine does. But this article is not about convincing you to become a feminist. This piece is purely to tell you that us feminists are not here to embarrass you or hurt you. We want equality for all women. One Facebook post alarmed me to your thinking and I would like to address that.
The post reads: "Can you imagine how the women in these other countries must feel? Watching us parade ourselves around in the nations capital, wearing vagina costumes with our nice, clean clothes underneath, drinking our clean, bottled water, with a stomach full of food, while protesting how horrible our lives are. Meanwhile they've had their babies ripped from them, while we are screaming for the right to kill ours. They can't even feel parts of their body because it's been mutilated to keep them from feeling sexual pleasure, while we're screaming about our 'sexual health' being threatened. We're walking up and down the streets screaming profanities towards men, when they would be executed on the spot for simply trying to speak in the presence of a man, or make their voices heard, what an embarrassment we've become."
For those of you who feel embarrassed by feminism, like this person, I sincerely apologize. Not for our actions, but for your thinking. That what we have done is embarrassing due to the status of women's rights in other, less privileged countries. Let me tell you, that I, as well as all participants of these marches have checked their privileges. That privilege is the exact reason that we are able to fight for what we believe is right. We have checked our status and our blessings for what they are. We are blessed to have shelter, food, and clean clothes. Those are things, I assure you we have already said thanks for. But are we blessed to have total choice over our bodies or free from rape culture? No.
What we are asking for is not to be seen as embarrassing noise, but rather a voice that is fearful, concerned, brave, and not to be reckoned with. As long as women are still preyed on by a majority of men sexually, intellectually, and biologically, we will be fighting. As long as I, a young woman, walks alone at night and has to hold her keys in between her fingers in case of an attack, I will support these marches. As long as I, a young woman, gets called a slut because I wear certain clothing, I will protest. As long as, I, a young woman, will be ripped off by a man who will turn around and give a deal to another man, I will fight. And more importantly, as long as I, a young woman, am not given the choice to do as I wish with my own body, I will be right here, using my voice.
That post was a passive attack on feminists. Guilt tripping us for flaunting our privilege while other women around the world do not have that opportunity is a loaded accusation. I say this because I am proud of my privilege. I am proud to be in a position that allows me to fight for what I believe in, because what I believe in might very well save those women who are not so blessed.
One of the very reasons this march happened was to support women all around the world. We may be chanting to obtain more basic human rights, but that is not all we are standing for. We stand for the women who have no voice, as we support the lives of all women. We stand for the women who have fallen victim to evil men in power, who everyday take away another part of these women. We fight because they cannot. Our protests will let them know that we are on their side, rather than quietly accepting our own fate. The protests were for all women, not just the privileged ones. Staying mute on these issues will seal all women's futures. Telling us to hold back because other women are condemned to a life of little power, little voice, and little decision, is condemning us in the same way. If we do not stand up, no one else will and these women will stay the lesser for even longer.
If you really want to help these women you are so concerned for, you should also be fighting. The closer the world is to full equality, the closer those women in less privileged countries are to a past of genital mutilation, rape, and condemnation, rather than a present and a future of this torture.
I apologize that you believe these marches are an embarrassment. But do not waste our sister's time by staying quiet. They need your help, which you obviously think so by the words of that post I am responding to. But you are little to no help by criticizing what a majority of women are doing by marching in protest to increase women's rights. Women have a special biological difference than men, and we are given an abundance of gifts that make us beautiful creatures. But that does not mean we are protected by our government and are not daily targets of this world. I will stand by these women and these marches as long as there is inequality in all parts of this world.
I really hope you will too.
