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It’s 2017, Why Are We Still Hesitant to Call Ourselves Feminists?

“I hate the kind of feminists that…”

“Ew, when feminists…”

Just stop. Let’s put a stop to using the umbrella term “feminism” to categorize all types of feminism, and yes, I’m talking about white feminism. White feminism is not exclusive to people who are white and feminists,  just to be clear. It’s a twisted take on the original idea of equality for all and makes feminism out to be something exclusively focused on first world problems and something that excludes the majority of the population that may need feminism it more than others. It’s occupied mainstream media as the picture perfect idea of what feminism is and news flash: it’s not.

As shocking as it is, Lena Dunham and Taylor Swift don’t represent the rest of the very normal, functioning human beings in the world.

Unfortunately, they’ve now created a certain stigma surrounding feminism since many celebrities have since coined the term as if they founded it. However, they did not. The first wave of feminism hit in the 19th century to provide a solid foundation for women that covered campaigning for women’s sexual, reproductive, and economic rights. It has broadened its horizons to equality for all intersections of life, therefore being inclusive of all. Feminism itself is equality for everyone.

So why do people still struggle to label themselves as feminists in 2017, an age of progression?

We all hear and see the opinions of those that claim things such as, “Well, I don’t mind feminism but I hate the ones that…” and brush away the term as something they would rather not associate themselves with due to misconceptions based on the mainstream media. Don’t let this stop you from supporting feminism, this incorrect idea of feminism, white feminism, is not what you stand for when you call yourself a feminist. Opening a book or article is your beginning into a freeing and mind-opening journey into becoming a more aware person. Just doing something as simple as calling yourself a feminist proudly shows that you support anyone out there who benefits from it, even if you may be in a position in life where you do not need it personally. What may seem like any other ordinary word that has run its course, can instill power in those without a voice that may not speak volumes such as yours.

We are advancing and progressing all the more in an era where new ideas are being more than tolerated; they are welcomed. Let’s put an end to finding excuses or allowing obtuseness to gain the upper hand from calling ourselves feminists. Let’s cease the overwhelming power white feminism has and grasp the idea of equality for all.

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