Head's Up: Feminism Needs You!

Have you ever wondered why women are called “victims” of rape? Or why rape education seems to be targeted more toward women than men? Why is blue a stereotypically masculine color and pink, feminine? How can colors have genders? Why women are paid 77 cents while a man is paid a dollar for the same job? Why men are praised for their “sexual encounters” and women are shamed for theirs? Why is “like a girl” used as an insult?

I have, and it angers me. Not because I’m a whiner, not because I’m extreme. It’s because I am “one of those.” Someone who embodies and embraces the F-word. That’s right; I am a feminist.

Feminist. When most people hear the word, they cringe and think of hairy, ugly women spewing hatred towards men. But, if they took the time to educate themselves, they would know that misandry is the term that is used to describe the thought of women as superior to men, while feminism is just the equality of the sexes. How did feminism get such a stigma then if it simply means equality? Because, people mistake misandry for feminism.

For as long as history remembers, most societies have been patriarchal, strongly enforcing gender specialized roles. However, over time, many societies have evolved into more gender equal environments thanks to women’s suffrage and feminists. Although they have accomplished much for women around the world, we still need to fight for socioeconomic equality between men and women.

As famous author, journalist, and co-founder of Ms. Foundation for Women, Letty Cottin Pogrebin put it, “When men are oppressed it’s a tragedy. When women are oppressed its tradition.” Just because patriarchy was an ancestral way of life, it doesn’t make it right. One major problem of the patriarchy we live in is the objectification of the female gender – and, as scary as it sounds, at all ages. It is part of the concept that a woman exists simply for the pleasure of man and for growing his legacy of prowess. Women always have to be perfect, hairless, have flawless skin, not too fat but not too skinny, shimmering hair, makeup on 24/7 because women are things of beauty, right? Except that women are people, not things.

Even though it seems harmless, dress codes are a fairly large contributor to this harmful societal notion. The solution of the sexualization of girls is making them cover up so they don’t distract boys instead of simply teaching boys to respect girls as people and not as sexual objects. Treating girls like this instills a huge negative impact on their self-esteem as well as their self-confidence. And as adults, if you are sexualizing teenage girls in any way such as this, you are part of this horrific problem.

The root cause stays the same: the patriarchal society we live in oppresses the female gender. This is not meant to place blame specifically on our brothers, husbands, sons, or uncles, but rather the societal structures which reinforce patriarchal preferences. For example, a woman is expected to take her husband’s last name, but it’s considered “weird” for a man to take his wife’s last name.

We need to change the traditional, oppressive views of our elders and educate our youth to know better. Most people say they believe in equality, yet few actually show it. Author Tony Porter’s words, “If it would destroy [a 12-year-old boy] to be called a girl, what are we then teaching him about girls?” My gender being an insult is not okay with me, and it shouldn’t be okay with you.

Although it may seem like feminism deals with issues relating only to women, feminism also fights for some negative male issues enabled by the patriarchy, such as masculinity. Masculinity in and of itself isn’t bad, but certain types are. The idea that being manly only requires physical strength, courage, and to be aggressive and immune to sensitive issues for those of the male gender. The idea that guys can’t like anything that girls like. The idea that obtaining sexual relations with multiple women is what makes them a man. All of these thoughts are harmful to men and women. In conclusion, feminism is a good thing. It is a concept of equality for men and women that we need to fight harder for.

Whether you know it or not, you need feminism, and feminism needs you.