I am now and will always consider myself, a feminist. I believe that women should be paid the same as men, that women should have the right to choose whatever job they want and that a woman is not responsible for her own rape because of what she is wearing.
In recent years, however, the word "feminist" has come to have a negative connotation. To be a feminist means to refuse to shave your legs, blame men for everything wrong in the world and hope to overthrow the patriarchy and exchange it for an Amazonian-like society.
Although I call myself a feminist, I do not believe that women are inherently better than men. I believe in hard work, not that I deserve a promotion for being a woman. I believe that being called beautiful is a compliment to some women, and they shouldn't be judged if they don't hate it. I believe in equality, not matriarchy.
Unfortunately, this new form of feminism has led to backlash by women all over the country and these Women Against Feminism are not wrong.
Not one of these woman disagrees with equality -- instead, they disagree with what feminism has become.
Originally, feminism was "the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities." Now, the definition of feminism should read more like "the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, but women are entitled to more rights and opportunities."
After all, not all men are evil. Not all men are to blame for rapists. Not all men catcall or treat women unfairly.
The problem with modern day feminism is that women are expected to fit into a mold, and God help any woman who doesn't.
You want to be a stay-at-home mom? You're making a joke out of women's rights.
You enjoy cooking for your husband? How dare you.
You don't mind when a man holds the door open for you? Why don't you let the patriarchy oppress you more?
I call myself a feminist because I believe in equality. I do not believe that choosing to be a stay-at-home mom is making a joke of women's rights because it is that woman's choice. However, modern day feminism tells women that if they choose to do something that is stereotypically "female," then they are giving in to the patriarchy.
But what's wrong with being a stay-at-home mom or cooking for the man in your life if that's your choice? Doing so doesn't make you any less of a woman or any less of a supporter for equal rights.
What's wrong with having a man hold the door open for you? It's called being polite. I've held the door open for men and women, just because it's the polite thing to do. It has nothing to do with oppression or equality, only manners.
So, yes, I call myself a feminist, but the Women Against Feminism group is not wrong. The meaning of the word has changed and not for the better. Modern feminism is a joke and has led not only to a deep hatred of men, but to the oppression of women who choose to live outside of the "feminist" mold built for them.
Feminism used to be about choice and equality -- now it's about oppression. It's about time to change that.
