"I am not a feminist" is how an article sweeping my Facebook timeline this week started. I was curious what this young, intelligent author had to say. In most colleges and amongst most young women in America, feminism is an ideological truth highly revered. So why did this young woman vehemently refuse to identify as a feminist? Simply because she, like too many people in this country, does not know the definition of feminism.

Feminism is the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Feminism is not a middle finger to men. Feminism is not a call for all women to be a CEO. Feminism is not "white feminism." Feminism does not discriminate against sexual, religious, or any other orientations. Feminism is not being a "man hater." A true feminist is simply a person who advocates for equality, and all other versions of this ideal that do not promote equality for all women, despite their race, religion, goals, etc. are not feminism.

"Waves" of feminism do not change the definition of it -- these waves are a way to look at the issues surrounding feminism through a historical context. Fourth wave feminism has nothing to do with denying women the right to be homemakers. Rather, it focuses on how the Internet is developing the context of feminism, as the Political Studies Association article "Feminism: A Fourth Wave?" states, fourth wave feminism "facilitated the creation of a global community of feminists who use the internet both for discussion and activism."

The fight for equality does not change even when the waves do. Furthermore, this fight for equality is not unique to our generation. Women "acting out" by trying to "free the nipple" or making the choice not to shave may be new aspects the media focuses on that you do not agree with, but that does not mean you disagree with the core values of feminism. If you are a religious person, ask yourself this: do you observe every decree or believe every practice of your holy book? If you are a voter: when a politician who is a member of your party says something you fervently disagree with, do you no longer consider yourself a member of that party? An extreme liberal's views which you disagree with would hardly sway your self-identification with the Democratic Party. Being a different denomination of Christianity other than Methodist, for example, does not mean you do not identify as a Christian. Do not be scared to call yourself a feminist because you have a different idea of what your role in the world means to you than what it does to your neighbor. From the age of "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects" to Lena Dunham's "Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's Learned," feminism serves to drive the fight for gender equality.

If you take nothing else from this article, please note this: women should support other women in all endeavors, from their choice to stay at home, raise children, and care for their husbands to their choice to be the top of their business, hire a nanny for their children, and not marry at all. And feminists do! If we want the patriarchy to understand how serious we will fight for equality for women all around the world, we have to respect the educated, autonomous choices of our fellow women. A feminist can be a homemaker. A feminist can be a CEO. A feminist can be a nurse, director, lawyer, writer, professor, Mary Kay sales associate, a conservative Christian, or a radical, young rebel -- she can be whatever she chooses to be.

If you can manage to take two things from this article, please note this: feminism is about men, too! It not only keeps men accountable in the name of gender equality, it also pleas for equality for men. Feminism is just as important for your daughters as it is for your sons because it moves beyond binary gender roles to across-the-board equality. Male readers, feminism does not encroach on your masculinity – it is the fear of the word or the idea that makes your masculinity fragile. Men who identify as supporters of gender equality (i.e. feminism) are among the likes of Channing Tatum, Chris Pratt, and Ice-T.

The smart young lady who wrote the misinformed article opposing feminism is right, she is not a feminist. She attacks women who want the power men are assumed to have while defending her right to not want that power. She is not erred when she defends her right to believe in her God's plans and traditionalist values. Women and men deserve that right. Women also deserve the right to take on modern values that men are taking advantage of without being held back because of their gender. (Check out John Green's fun, factual video on modern issues like gender pay-gap.)

It is okay to have whatever personal beliefs you want, but it is not okay to impose these beliefs on others and restrict the value of their life, which is why it is not okay to not be a feminist. The context of our issues is different from women of the early to mid-twentieth century, as the author of the anti-feminist post cites, but our fight is still the same. Gender inequality is real, it is in the infrastructure of our society, and just because you want a traditional life does not mean you should support the tradition of systematic oppression.

The definition of feminism is simple: the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Your choices are yours alone, but fundamental rights to equality are for everyone - every race, religion, orientation, and gender - and the fight for human rights is always the right side of history.

So, you are not a feminist, but that is not okay.