I would like to pose a question; Why are so many individuals, of so many different backgrounds, afraid of, and uncomfortable, about the “f-word”? No, not that one…feminism. Feminism-”the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.”, so what exactly is the issue?
First of all, feminism is more often than not, associated with the dreaded, the only, the radical, liberal agenda. For those outside of the individuals who self-identify as liberal–pause. See what I did there? Self identify? Because everything that divides us is a social construct? Ok, moving on–the liberal agenda is viewed as a horrific welfare party where states-rights are nowhere to be found, and all the guns are flushed into the ocean. Therefore, if you’re not a liberal, why would you ever be a feminist? Well, the truth is, the association between feminism and the liberal political ideology, is unnecessary.
The two party system is one of the most dividing things that exists in our modern society in the U.S. This is because, we let it. We let politics and interest groups define us and divide us based on our opinions and beliefs on certain issues. We make judgements based on whether something is “liberal” or “conservative”. Depending on where you stand, anything associated with “the other” appears as evil, stupid, ignorant.
With an issue as serious, and relevant, as gender equality, feminism can not afford this stigma. The stigma that associates it with a political party or ideology. In reality, feminism benefits everyone and will not be confined to a singular group of people. No matter any of the things you let define you, let feminism be one of them. The social, political, and economical equality, of the sexes.
