According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, feminism is defined as “the theory of political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” Feminism does not mean that women should be better than men nor does it claim that women are superior to men, it challenges the gender inequality that has been inherent since the conception of civilization.

A common rejection of feminism stems from the perception that the word itself appears divisive with many asking “so if it is advocating for gender equality, then why isn’t it called egalitarianism?” That’s because feminism and egalitarianism are two different theories. It would not make sense to call it egalitarianism because, while the theory itself sounds similar to feminism as it is “a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is too broad. It does claim that humans are fundamentally equal, but it does not determine how that equality should be brought about it. Feminism is definitely influenced by egalitarianism, but it takes the theory further, focusing on achieving the same rights for women that men already have.

Feminism and egalitarianism are similar but they are not the same.

Movements that strive for equality such as feminism, the LGBTQ+ community and Black Lives Matter have names that bring attention to the group in the inferior position. It should definitely be noted that any time notions of equality were brought into the narrative in society, it was extremely easy for minorities, women and different religions to be excluded or victimized. Movements are created out of necessity. When a problem persists without being changed or addressed, it is only natural that those with the short end of the stick unite and fight for their betterment.

Enlightenment thinkers preached about the equality of man while many continued to subjugate women and sat passively aside while Trans Atlantic slave trade persisted. The Renaissance revived art and thinking but pushed women to the side, keeping them and their contributions out of the public sphere simply because they were not deemed worthy or valuable to society by their male counterparts. Even in the United States, the Declaration of Independence proclaimed that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” while only applying this logic to white, landowning men. Abigail Adams famously asked her husband to “remember the ladies,” but he and his colleagues failed to think that the ladies were even of the slightest importance.

Equality has not been achieved in modern society, and it will not be achieved in the near future. However, as society expands and barriers to progress are dismantled, more diverse thought encourages those on the sidelines to move forward, speak their truth, and demand a place in the society that deemed them unworthy. Feminism is still necessary because not only does it advocate for gender equality, its principles have expanded to intersectionality because women do not experience the repercussions of inequality in the same way. The experience of a Black woman is not the same as that of a Muslim Hispanic woman. The two may have to deal with gender inequality but they experience it differently because they each have to deal with the impact of their race, and in the Hispanic woman’s case, the addition of religious discrimination as well.

To be a feminist means being intersectional. It means recognizing how race, religion, sexuality, culture and society all influence the way that oppression is experienced in marginalized groups. Being a feminist also means fighting to break gender stereotypes such as working to normalize male emotion and feminine strength. It means fighting for equality in all spectrums and fighting for the freedom of the individual.

So, to the Girl who would rather raise a family than a Feminist Protest Sign, I hate to break it to you, but the fight is not over. Just because you see women in positions of power in your environment and you see women entering male-dominated fields, it does not mean that equality has been achieved. That’s like saying global warming does not exist because it’s been so cold lately. Additionally, there is a problem with the examples you used. First off, while it may seem like there are more female managers, that does not change the fact that most of the world’s wealth is concentrated to a male majority (and to a few individuals and corporations but that’s another story). Secondly, you overlook the struggles that women entering STEM programs and jobs face and the limited representation within those fields.

Moreover, feminism is not about girl bosses running the world and does not force women to fight for positions of power to shift power into the hands of women, it is about creating a world where everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, sexuality and any other social distinction could have the same opportunity to thrive and become who they are. It is completely okay for you to find your power through raising a family. The Feminist movement is fighting for you to have the freedom to do that. What feminists don’t want is a world in which women are relegated to the domestic sphere and forced into taking on this role.

When you say that the fight is over, you disregard the oppression of millions of women around the world and domestically. Child brides, genital mutilation, police brutality, colorism, limited or restricted access to education are only a few of the problems that still persist and still need to be fought against.

Raise your family, have that white picket fence and bake your cookies but do not forget that the movement that advocates for your freedom to do that is still fighting for the freedom of millions and even billions of other women.

***Please note that the issues regarding inequality are very complex and are often systemic. This is a simplified explanation of a very complicated issue and there are so many directions and more in depth answers that could be given to the responses given in this article, so if there is anything that peaks your interest, I personally encourage you to do some research and really look into the issues at hand. There are so many of them and education is the best defense against ignorance.