People sometimes ask me if I’m a feminist. I always respond with a resounding yes. And when I do, some look at me with gleeful eyes, while some have seemingly mixed emotions blanketed on their faces.
I am proud to call myself a feminist. I do not recall a specific moment when I decided that I should become one because “feminist” is not a label I decided to give myself overnight. Feminism is not a bandwagon I jumped on. For me, it started off as a nameless mindset that was cultivated since childhood as I grew up hearing of the atrocities happening to what the world calls “the weaker sex” – women. Domestic violence, rape, genital mutilation, and honor killings are just some of the many heinous acts women have been forced to face throughout history. So my feminist identity comes from my belief that all women deserve to enjoy the same rights and freedom as I do for they are in no way lesser than I am.
But I do understand why some, especially men, frown upon hearing the word. They think feminists (or “feminazis”) are man-haters who are on a mission to overtake men and, as Beyoncé puts it, run the world. After all, feminism is not a tightly-defined term and is therefore open to interpretation. As a result, there are different types of feminists who advocate for different causes (which even other feminists may not necessarily agree with). And there are quite a number of them who believe the movement is solely about empowering women and go as far as rejecting the roles of men in the society. Although I admire their determination to improve the lives of women, I refuse to stand with them.
The word “feminism” itself sounds very gynocentric, but I believe the aim of the emphasis is to empower women so as to allow them to reach the heights of men and in doing so, create a state of equilibrium in the society where men and women are equals. In other words, feminism supports neither misandry, nor matriarchy. It is gender equality that has been the movement’s primary motive since the beginning, and that is the way it should be.
Feminism is just another word for equality.
CANVAS & QUILL 
Reblogged this on Equal Anarchy and commented:
Interesting piece. Well worth a read.
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Yes. So much yes. I can relate so much to this. I didn’t even know what feminism was as a child, but was all about female empowerment. I thought being a woman was a type of superpower. As an adult, I still agree with that mindset. 🙂
Loved this. Thanks for sharing! Xo
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Thank you! And yes, women are superheroes. We are far more capable of multi-tasking, handling adversities, and we’re stronger than what most people think. It’s just that we never get the credit we deserve.
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I completely agree! Let’s not also forget that we have a higher threshold for pain, and can grow humans. That’s all pretty heroic.
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Couldn’t agree with this more!
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Dropped by after you very kindly commented on my poem. As I mentioned in response to your comment, its sad that in this age we still need feminism as a concept, and yes it remains necessary, there there should be no barriers because of an accident of birth.
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That last senence is perfect.
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Reblogged this on welcome to the club.
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Lady, I am so on the same page as you. I’m so often mistook for a misandrist simply by being feminist and the MRAs have this black and white view on feminism=man-hater. I care about everyone, I don’t want men to suffer so I can succeed. I don’t want anybody to suffer. All I want is for women to be treated better and brought up to the level to which men are held.
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I completely agree! I came across a fellow blogger recently with the “feminists are man-haters” mindset and I tried to explain to him that is what not feminism stands for and he called me delusional. So there’s that!
But to be honest, I feel that conservative countries in the East, like Afghanistan and Bangladesh, are the ones who desperately need feminism. Their women are in much more devastating states and think of freedom as a privilege instead of a right. And worse, a worrying amount of sex crimes against women still happen in India despite the comparative broad-mindedness and feminist movements. I’m appalled by the prominence of back-minded societies now in 2016.
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Instead of reflagging either of you, I figured I would introduce you to Carla as I did not see her on your list. This is my (b) site but it has probably been found. Being you liked my short acrostic, I line them up, doubles, cascades and add Sentences to them. I just have not pulled any over and I have a ton of other pieces:)
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