So the other day, I was teasing one of my friends by purposely misinterpreting something he had said, when he made the comment that "feminists are so annoying sometimes". This surprised me, because we had previously talked about feminists and I knew he identified as one, so I told him lightheartedly, "oh stop, you're a feminist too", to which he replied, "I'm not a super feminist who hates men." Okay. Stop right there. There's so much wrong with that sentence that I don’t even know where to start. In any case, it inspired me to write this post to clear up a couple things.
First of all let me define Feminism. Look at my shirt; it’s not that complicated.
But some people might be wondering why we need feminism, why we can’t all just be egalitarians? Well, egalitarianism and feminism are not mutually exclusive; certainly, egalitarianism encompasses a part of feminism. However, egalitarianism alone is ineffective because it does not distinguish sexism and discrimination from other social issues and inequalities. Egalitarianism is an idealist view that the world can be made perfect by treating everyone exactly the same. It fails to take into account that each social injustice in the world requires a different way to make it right. Feminism exists to create equality between the sexes in a world where women have historically received the shorter end of the stick.
Take this analogy for example. You have a scale and the scale is tipped toward one side. Egalitarianism would be to give both sides equal treatment by adding the same amount of weight to both sides, because egalitarianism assumes that both sides of the scale were always equal. The problem with that is that both sides never have been equal and never will be equal. The reason feminism exists is because women have been seen as inferior to men for centuries, and therefore feminism exists for the sole purpose of evening out the scales for all the sexes.
So without further ado, here are some of the many reasons why I’m a feminist and I’m proud of it.
1. Because Feminism is a movement to ensure the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. This means everyone. Regardless of your gender by birth or what you identify as. This is where so much of the misinterpretation comes from. Feminism isn’t here to subject the entirety of the world to a matriarchy and treat men like slaves. Feminism is here to ensure that we all have the same rights that we deserve as human beings, regardless of what combination of chromosomes and reproductive organs we were born with.
2. Because men need it too. Gender roles don’t benefit anyone. Why should every man be forced into the same mold of being macho, aggressive, and “masculine”? Why is it frowned upon when men show their emotions? Why is it considered weak or feminine to cry? Why is the biggest insult a man can receive to be called a “pussy”, a “bitch” or a “sissy”? Contrary to popular misconception, feminism is not the practice of hating men and forcing them into subservience; it’s the practice of helping all human beings get on the same level, including men. This means defying gender stereotypes and the idea that women have to be subservient, sensitive and weak whereas men need to be aggressive, macho and emotionless.
3. Because rape is a thing. Women get raped, men get raped; however, women are 6 times more likely to be the victim of an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime as compared to their male counterparts. 17,342 pregnancies occurred as a result of rape in 2012. And why is that? Because “men just want sex all the time” and “boys will be boys” and “she was probably wearing something revealing”? No. Because society objectifies women. To prevent rapes, society teaches women how to protect themselves by limiting their freedom of expression through what they wear, rather than preventing rapes by teaching men that women are not passive objects whose sole purpose is to satisfy their sexual desires.
4. Because women on average earn 77% of what their male counterparts earn for the same jobs. Why? Am I 77% of a human being? I mean I know I’m short, but really? I might make it sound lighthearted but the fact remains that women are consistently being marginalized and are not being treated the way they deserve to be. Recently there have been arguments that the wage gap does not exist because it does not take into account the differences in occupations between the genders. Well fine, let’s talk about employment. Women represent 50% of the population, yet only 17% of the Congress, 25% of STEM careers, 6% of TV stations, 5% of executive positions in the media. By the time they’ve reached the age to retire, women will have earned $450,000 less than a male in the exact same position.
5. Because we don’t all fit into the typical cookie-cutter mold of a “perfect” male or female stereotype. Not all men are going to be tall and muscular with wavy hair and blue eyes; similarly, not all women are going to be thin with luscious flowing locks of hair and big breasts and wide hips and a tiny waist and full lips. Not everyone is heterosexual, but not every girl with short hair is lesbian, and not every guy who wears tight jeans is gay. People just don’t conform, and why should they? Isn’t Freedom of Expression a right? I should be allowed to express myself the way I choose, just as anyone else. I should be allowed to wear what I want and look the way I want, not be told I need to be a Barbie doll to be attractive. I’m tired of people wondering if I cut my hair because I’m secretly a lesbian. Am I less beautiful as a person now that I don’t conform to a typical beauty standard? Does it change who I am on the inside? And even if I was lesbian, why should it matter? Does it make me any less of a human being? Does it mean I should be forbidden to express myself the way I want and to love whoever I do?
6. Because children are sexually exploited all over the world, some as young as six years old. EVERYONE deserves the right to choose what happens to their bodies, but children are forced into subjugation every day. If they refuse, they face beatings, imprisonments and murder. An estimated 293,000 children in the US alone are at risk of being exploited and trafficked for sex, and 40% of human trafficking cases between 2008 and 2010 were for sexual trafficking of a child. It is less risky and more lucrative to sell a girl than it is to sell crack or meth, but the US government spends 300 times more money fighting drug trafficking than it does to fight human trafficking.
7. Because issues like infanticide, honor killings, domestic violence and disfiguration are still common practice all over the world. Because of infanticide, there are now some 35 million fewer women than men in India, because girls are seen as extra mouths to feed whereas boys are seen as helping hands. Over 5000 girls are murdered each year because they were thought to have “dishonored their families” by not living up to their traditional roles. In addition, 3 million American men are victims of physical assault each year, along with 4 million American women. More than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes and are more likely to have severe health problems and depression. Is this the kind of culture we’re proud to establish for our world’s future generations?
8. Because, despite my best efforts and intentions, some people will react to this opinion piece by associating feminism with man-hating, lesbianism and aggressiveness. People will continue to see feminism as an isolating, discriminatory, unattractive and misandrist behavior. Doesn’t it seem a little counter-intuitive to associate something like the desire for equality with something like discrimination or misandry? Well, despite my best efforts, there will be a stigma associated with the word feminism and, unless we start talking about it, feminism will remain a controversial and misunderstood notion.
First of all let me define Feminism. Look at my shirt; it’s not that complicated.
But some people might be wondering why we need feminism, why we can’t all just be egalitarians? Well, egalitarianism and feminism are not mutually exclusive; certainly, egalitarianism encompasses a part of feminism. However, egalitarianism alone is ineffective because it does not distinguish sexism and discrimination from other social issues and inequalities. Egalitarianism is an idealist view that the world can be made perfect by treating everyone exactly the same. It fails to take into account that each social injustice in the world requires a different way to make it right. Feminism exists to create equality between the sexes in a world where women have historically received the shorter end of the stick.
Take this analogy for example. You have a scale and the scale is tipped toward one side. Egalitarianism would be to give both sides equal treatment by adding the same amount of weight to both sides, because egalitarianism assumes that both sides of the scale were always equal. The problem with that is that both sides never have been equal and never will be equal. The reason feminism exists is because women have been seen as inferior to men for centuries, and therefore feminism exists for the sole purpose of evening out the scales for all the sexes.
So without further ado, here are some of the many reasons why I’m a feminist and I’m proud of it.
1. Because Feminism is a movement to ensure the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. This means everyone. Regardless of your gender by birth or what you identify as. This is where so much of the misinterpretation comes from. Feminism isn’t here to subject the entirety of the world to a matriarchy and treat men like slaves. Feminism is here to ensure that we all have the same rights that we deserve as human beings, regardless of what combination of chromosomes and reproductive organs we were born with.
2. Because men need it too. Gender roles don’t benefit anyone. Why should every man be forced into the same mold of being macho, aggressive, and “masculine”? Why is it frowned upon when men show their emotions? Why is it considered weak or feminine to cry? Why is the biggest insult a man can receive to be called a “pussy”, a “bitch” or a “sissy”? Contrary to popular misconception, feminism is not the practice of hating men and forcing them into subservience; it’s the practice of helping all human beings get on the same level, including men. This means defying gender stereotypes and the idea that women have to be subservient, sensitive and weak whereas men need to be aggressive, macho and emotionless.
3. Because rape is a thing. Women get raped, men get raped; however, women are 6 times more likely to be the victim of an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime as compared to their male counterparts. 17,342 pregnancies occurred as a result of rape in 2012. And why is that? Because “men just want sex all the time” and “boys will be boys” and “she was probably wearing something revealing”? No. Because society objectifies women. To prevent rapes, society teaches women how to protect themselves by limiting their freedom of expression through what they wear, rather than preventing rapes by teaching men that women are not passive objects whose sole purpose is to satisfy their sexual desires.
4. Because women on average earn 77% of what their male counterparts earn for the same jobs. Why? Am I 77% of a human being? I mean I know I’m short, but really? I might make it sound lighthearted but the fact remains that women are consistently being marginalized and are not being treated the way they deserve to be. Recently there have been arguments that the wage gap does not exist because it does not take into account the differences in occupations between the genders. Well fine, let’s talk about employment. Women represent 50% of the population, yet only 17% of the Congress, 25% of STEM careers, 6% of TV stations, 5% of executive positions in the media. By the time they’ve reached the age to retire, women will have earned $450,000 less than a male in the exact same position.
5. Because we don’t all fit into the typical cookie-cutter mold of a “perfect” male or female stereotype. Not all men are going to be tall and muscular with wavy hair and blue eyes; similarly, not all women are going to be thin with luscious flowing locks of hair and big breasts and wide hips and a tiny waist and full lips. Not everyone is heterosexual, but not every girl with short hair is lesbian, and not every guy who wears tight jeans is gay. People just don’t conform, and why should they? Isn’t Freedom of Expression a right? I should be allowed to express myself the way I choose, just as anyone else. I should be allowed to wear what I want and look the way I want, not be told I need to be a Barbie doll to be attractive. I’m tired of people wondering if I cut my hair because I’m secretly a lesbian. Am I less beautiful as a person now that I don’t conform to a typical beauty standard? Does it change who I am on the inside? And even if I was lesbian, why should it matter? Does it make me any less of a human being? Does it mean I should be forbidden to express myself the way I want and to love whoever I do?
6. Because children are sexually exploited all over the world, some as young as six years old. EVERYONE deserves the right to choose what happens to their bodies, but children are forced into subjugation every day. If they refuse, they face beatings, imprisonments and murder. An estimated 293,000 children in the US alone are at risk of being exploited and trafficked for sex, and 40% of human trafficking cases between 2008 and 2010 were for sexual trafficking of a child. It is less risky and more lucrative to sell a girl than it is to sell crack or meth, but the US government spends 300 times more money fighting drug trafficking than it does to fight human trafficking.
7. Because issues like infanticide, honor killings, domestic violence and disfiguration are still common practice all over the world. Because of infanticide, there are now some 35 million fewer women than men in India, because girls are seen as extra mouths to feed whereas boys are seen as helping hands. Over 5000 girls are murdered each year because they were thought to have “dishonored their families” by not living up to their traditional roles. In addition, 3 million American men are victims of physical assault each year, along with 4 million American women. More than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes and are more likely to have severe health problems and depression. Is this the kind of culture we’re proud to establish for our world’s future generations?
8. Because, despite my best efforts and intentions, some people will react to this opinion piece by associating feminism with man-hating, lesbianism and aggressiveness. People will continue to see feminism as an isolating, discriminatory, unattractive and misandrist behavior. Doesn’t it seem a little counter-intuitive to associate something like the desire for equality with something like discrimination or misandry? Well, despite my best efforts, there will be a stigma associated with the word feminism and, unless we start talking about it, feminism will remain a controversial and misunderstood notion.