A Little Update, A Lot Feminism

Hello! It's been a while! You know, taking 18 credits and working 20 hours a week makes it so blogging doesn't happen as often as it should.

Life is good. School is good. Work is good. Family is good. My cat died, which is no good. But it's Thanksgiving! I was thinking to myself, and wondering what I was grateful for this year. And then I realized:

I'm grateful for FEMINISM.

*gasp* What a scary word!

I am here to declare it to the world. I AM A FEMINIST! I believe in gender equality. I know, I'm probably making most of the conservative "I read Matt Walsh more than I read the Bible" people I know have an aneurysm. But I don't care. I am a feminist. I need feminism. You need feminism. Let me explain.

One of the most common misconceptions is that feminism is man-hating. NO! Emma Watson recently addressed this issue in her speech to the UN. Feminism, in it's true form, is not about hating or resenting men. Granted, I think there are some women out there who do feel this way, but they are not the majority. Of all the feminists I know, not one of them hates or resents the male species. In fact, they all love and respect both sexes for who they are.

So what is feminism? Well first, it's not some organization that you sign up for and three weeks later you get a badge and a framed certificate with bold letters stating "WELCOME TO FEMINISM. NOW GO BURN YOUR BRA." It is a state of mind. If you believe that men and women are equal (notice my wording here, I said equal, not identical) then you are a feminist. If you think the still widespread attitudes about rape and rape victims are despicable, then you are a feminist. If you think that using sex as a way to sell products is disgusting, then you are a feminist.

I want to talk about the word "equal" quickly. The biggest argument I hear against gender equality is this: "But men and women aren't equal. They are different for a reason." Wait. I think what you meant to say was that men and women aren't identical. I agree. But should/do those differences in sexual organs and hormones affect the way men and women are treated in the workplace? In social settings? In the home? Because I am not identical to my male colleagues and friends, I have to deal with cat-calling? I have to accept that the largest provider of scholarships for women in the United States is essentially a swimsuit competition? Because the sexes are not identical, men are discouraged from showing any "girly" emotion, and the men who have been sexually assaulted are not comforted and treated in the correct way because any sexual encounter should be considered a "triumph?" And both sexes have to deal with impossible body standards? Sounds a little ridiculous to me.

Now, another thing I hear from many people is that because I am a feminist, I am pro-abortion. Let me correct you. I believe that a person has the right to do what they will with their body. But, as soon as those actions affect another person, without their consent, that right stops. That's why I am against things like rape, murder, physical and emotional abuse, and yes, abortion. I have a strong belief that a baby is a human being from conception. Therefore, abortion is an action affecting that of another person without their consent. Thus, anti-abortion for me.

Here is another phrase I often hear uttered by my anti-feminist associates: "I want to be a stay-at-home mom. If I am feminist, I can't do that." FALSE. FALSE FALSE FALSE FALSE FALSE! I want to be a stay-at-home mom! I would love to stay home with my kids, and watch them grow and learn. And I have that choice. I can go to work, I can stay at home. I can travel around the world in 80 days. My options are open, because of feminism. Men need those choices too. If a man wants to be a stay-at-home dad, let him. If he wants to be a super successful career man, let him. If he wants to travel around the world in 80 days, let him. Are you getting my point? Feminism is about choices. About letting human beings choose what they want their life to be. If you want to sit around on the beach wearing nothing but a bikini, go for it. That is your choice. If you want to dress modestly, go for it. If you want to have reckless sex (with both parties consenting, and hopefully understanding the possible consequences), have at it. People who choose abstinence? Yeah, you too. Please.

*side note. Every time I typed the word "choices" I accidentally typed "choir." Can you tell what my passion is?

Here's the thing. We all need feminism. Because the backdrop for feminism is respect. If we all treat each other with respect, we wouldn't have all the gender issues that we do. That's why I'm grateful for this movement. Why wouldn't I be grateful for something that perpetuates equality and respect. Isn't that what we are all looking for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Signing out,

Mandie