A feminist is someone who believes
in equal rights for both genders. Who doesn't believe in that? Unfortunately, many people around the world. Many Americans
say that sexism is a problem in developing nations, but it is not an issue in the U.S. and the rest of the industrialized
world. This is not true! A country where women get paid less and men can't cry is hardly a nation free of sexism. Sexism is
a worldwide social disease. The feminist's duty is to increase awareness about sexism in pursuit of a more open-minded and
liberated world.
One major misconception about feminism is that it's
an ideology comprised of solely hairy, bra-burning, man-hating lesbians. Not true! Man or woman, gay or straight, prissy or
frumpy, smooth or stubbly -- achieving equality is the feminist's goal! Man-hating is certainly not part of the feminist agenda.
It's not possible to achieve equality by excluding an entire gender.
Just one more thing to clear up: The feminist's
goal is not for all women to "act like men." What does that mean anyway? Being a person isn't about being "like a man"
or being "like a woman." It's about being yourself! A male nurse is in no way inferior to the doctor. A stay-at-home
mom is not oppressed. Caretaking is necessary for a healthy psyche and society and should be valued as such, not considered
a fault assigned to the female species. Likewise, a working mother is no less a good parent, but a positive role model who
lets us know that women can be successful in the public as well as private spheres.
Now that you know a little about what feminism is and isn't, you can now put your new found interest in achieving gender
equity to good use. Join Marist's Gender Equality Club, where you can expand your minds, have fun, and make friends -- all
in the name of equality!
