I'm proud to be able to call myself a woman.

I'm proud to be able to wake up in the morning, style my hair, and put on as much (or usually as little because effort) make-up that I want to.

I'm proud to be able to wear whatever I feel comfortable in on any given day, whether it's a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie, a penguin onesie, or a little black dress.

I'm proud to be able to walk around my campus and register for the same classes as my male peers.

I'm proud to be able to see the accomplishments of so many of my fellow women and aspire to live my own dreams through their inspiration.

I'm proud to be able to freely choose who and how I love and not be confined to arranged relationships.

I'm proud that I have access to comprehensive women's health coverage that doesn't carry the stigma of sex along with it.

I'm proud to be able to worship however I please and take active roles in religious ministry if I so choose.

I'm proud to be able to choose whichever career path appeals to me and be able to strive to reach the top of that field.

I'm proud to be able to demonstrate political efficacy and vote in our democratic republic.

I'm proud to be able to peacefully protest when any of these rights are threatened in any way, shape or form.

I'm NOT proud that the current leader of this nation does not see my concerns as legitimate, instead asking "why didn't you vote?" (I did).

I'm NOT proud that it's still acceptable in our culture to belittle other women and call them bitches for simply having a determined and assertive attitude.

I'm NOT proud that on any given day, I could be called a "chick", "babe", or even a "sex kitten" and let that term solidify my spot in a conversation not as a human being, but rather as a pretty sort of object.

I'm NOT proud that those who preach equality to the masses on our social media do not practice what they preach on a personal level with women because it would be inconvenient to them.

I'm NOT proud that I know that if I ever decide to have a child, I'm not guaranteed any sort of paid leave and could even lose my job because of it.

I'm NOT proud that my work is still only worth 80% of a man's in the same task.

I'm NOT proud that women represent a mere 20% of our congress.

I'm NOT proud that my knowledge in some areas is still qualified as good "for a girl".

I'm NOT proud that I still have to constantly question if I should call myself a feminist due to the down-putting of fellow women by other women who claim this label, when I should always be proud to show my passion for equality.

I'm proud that I had the opportunity to write this without censorship and to let the world *hear us roar*.