There a lot of misconceptions about feminism. I read posts all the time from women who proclaim they are not feminists for various reasons. (One woman, the author of an Odyssey article you can read here, declared she was not a feminist because she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.)

The truth is, if you enjoy being treated as an equal to your male counterpart, then you are a feminist. Feminists are not all the same. They are depicted in the media (often by men) as hairy, vocal, aggressive women who burn bras and shame the patriarchy in their free time. For example, I consider myself a feminist, but I expect my husband to be the breadwinner. I shave my body hair because I want to. I have never once protested. I always wear a bra. Feminism is not a one size fits all. Feminism comes in many shapes and sizes, but it all boils down to equal rights for women and the freedom to choose what type of life we want to live.

So for all of you women, and men, who don't quite understand what feminism has done for women in America, I'm here to help.

You might be a feminist if you like having control over your own body.

Women have not always gotten to choose who to marry, when to marry, or who to sleep with. We have the choice to get our tubes tied, purchase birth control, or have an abortion. This is something we take for granted in the 21st century. I am grateful that the progression of feminism has given me the freedom to choose.

You might be a feminist if you have your driver's license.

Women are notoriously stereotyped as bad drivers, but at least we can drive. Back in the day, only men could get behind the wheel. If you have your license and enjoy using it, thank feminism.

You might be a feminist if you have access to an education and you use it.

Let's be real: You, right now, the person reading this, have been blessed to have received an education that allows you to be literate. In many parts of the world, women are still not given access to an education. Women furthering their education--whether it's a GED or a doctorate--were unheard of until a few decades ago.

You might be a feminist if you have a job and plan to keep it that way.

Even if you don't have a job and choose to be a stay-at-home mom, you are blessed to be given that choice. Women haven't always been able to choose; imagine how stifling it would be to be forced to have children and stay at home with them all of the time. This is what some women want, but not all of us. Other women want to travel the world, become CEOs, or start their own business. How cool is it that we get to pick what to do with our professional lives?

You might be a feminist if you cast your vote in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Yup, just another thing that women couldn't do a few decades ago. Whether you voted for Trump, Hillary, or someone else, you have your ancestors to thank for fighting for the right to mark that piece of paper.

You might be a feminist if you want to continue to do whatever you damn well please.

Freedom for women has been hard-fought. The 21st century has blinded us to what it took to get us here. Women have come a long way in the last couple of decades, and we're not done yet. I will continue to support the feminist movement because I support the freedom of choice and the equal rights my male counterparts were born into.

Now, I want you to ask yourself: Are you a feminist? Because you should be.