Because, only “…26% of people employed in computer and mathematical occupations are women.”
And the list goes on and on.
I cannot even begin to count how many times I have heard, “oh my gosh you’re a feminist?” The word feminist sometimes seems like more of a negative label than racist, homophobic, or even sexist. Women are so terrified of being accused of being man hating, bra burning, sensitive, or radical that the term feminist is only used around the people that share our ideals. If we say it in front of men and women that do not believe in feminism, we will be attacked or belittled, so it really isn’t even worth mentioning despite how strongly we feel.
When we say we are feminist we get told why we do not really need to be feminists and why the inequalities we face everyday are not actually there, especially by men. Until you know what it is like to fear walking home as early as 9:00 p.m. because it is dark outside, you do not know the inequalities we face. Until you know what it is like explaining something just to get it re-explained by a man and him get credit for it, you do not know the inequalities we face. Until you know what it is like to not speak up in class in fear of a man criticizing you and resorting to attacking your appearance to belittle you and make you feel wrong, you do not know the inequalities we face. Until you know what it is like to go to a college party and fear that you may be a target for sexual assault for what you are wearing, you do not know the inequalities we have faced. Until you have worked the same position as a man, but earned less than him, you do not know the inequalities we have faced.
Just because you have not experienced the inequalities that women have, does not mean that you must ignore this statistical evidence in order to protect men. I am a feminist, but that does not mean that I hate men or want to have more rights than men. In fact, I want to fight for issues specific to men as well. Like the situations that negatively affect you due to the patriarchy. Or the fact that you are taught to never show emotion or to be hyper masculine. Feminists just want to be equal, and have the oppression that we socially and systematically face to be recognized, as well as fight against the oppression that is specific to males. I constantly think of the phrase, “don’t judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes.” I do not know what it is like to be an African-American man in America, but I can recognize that they experience things that I will never have to worry about. I am privileged in those regards and I can use that to help others. So please, if you experience certain privileges that others do not, actively oppose people and structures that continue to oppress them. Too often Americans think that a movement focused on the oppression of groups of people means anti-man or anti-white. When instead, we just want the playing field to be equal and acknowledged.