I'm not going to frame this in terms that make you comfortable. I'm not going to tell you that you need feminism because you were born of a woman, or because you have a sister, a grandma, a best friend. I'm not going to tell you that you need feminism because of all of the different ways you've benefited from the accomplishments of women. And I'm not even going to tell you that you need feminism because it's my opinion.
You need feminism because everyone deserves to be treated like a human being.
Before you chime in with "feminists are men-haters, that's not treating everyone like a human being!", stop yourself. It's simply untrue. Here's why. Feminism is not about hating men. In fact, feminism, as defined by the Huffington Post, paints an entirely different picture of the idea.
Feminism is not the belief that one gender should be raised in power above another. The very definition of feminism shows a complete opposition to this belief.
If you encounter someone who calls themselves a feminist, but comes off as "hating men," please know that this person is incorrectly labeling themselves a feminist, and those who genuinely uphold the beliefs of feminism are tired of being told that the things they stand for are purely focused on harboring a hatred of men. (P.S. Isn't it a little sad that men have still managed to convince you that feminism is still all about men?) If you encounter someone who believes that men are inherently inferior to women or possesses a hatred of men, they are a misandrist. If you encounter someone who believes women are inherently inferior to men or harbors a hate for women, they are a misogynist. Feminism aims to, ultimately, eradicate both schools of belief.
Another goal of feminism is to combat the patriarchal ideals and corresponding gender roles that dominate and control mainstream society. This doesn't equate to hating men. This equates to feminists rejoicing when the large corporation Target made sure that little kids everywhere could choose the toys they wanted to have, not the toys they thought they were supposed to have.
I am a proud feminist because I believe my gender-fluid counterpart, my male counterpart, my female counterpart, and my transgender counterpart should all be paid the same rate for doing the same job with the same skill set. Because I believe that people shouldn't be targeted or attacked because of their gender identity and that gender-based violence is something that most frequently happens to women. Because I believe that men should be allowed to express a healthy range of emotion without that being a bad thing. Because the word effeminate is still used as an insult. Because I still have to explain to you that my plight as a woman, as someone who believes in fundamental human rights, surprisingly, isn't all about men.
There are different branches of feminism and much like with any institution, they're not all perfect. (See: white feminism.) But this doesn't mean that all feminism is bad. Then again, if you feel like you're in such a position of privilege that you've never or will never need feminism, I commend you for being such a willing participant in your own ignorance. Truly, with so many resources available to educate oneself on society as it is today, it takes a certain kind of willful ignorance and a certain level of skill to remain blissfully unaware of what life is really like for certain groups of people. I also commend you for being so comfortable in your little bubble of ignorance that you're content to never come out. I suppose it is easier to denounce feminism as a whole than actually educate yourself on what it means to be a feminist. But I hope, for your sake, that you one day decide to take your head out of the sand.
