The word “feminist” is one that many people misunderstand. Years of misuse and misconception of the term have led to a significant amount of judgment and anger surrounding it. By definition, a feminist has a political perspective that advocates for economic, political, and social equality for everyone. This perspective is void of sex or gender, as it does not matter how you identify.
Throughout my life, I have encountered people, on more than one occasion, who think feminists are only radical and irritating man-haters. Misandrists. The term misandrist means to be a hater of men. It is a common misconception that the terms feminist and misandrist are interchangeable. While women have had to, and still must, fight to be considered equal to men, this does not mean that all feminists despise men. Feminists do not wish to ruin men’s lives or to make them suffer. They want a society that is not based on men. Unfortunately, the patriarchal cultures present in so many places today largely favor men. Feminists yearn for a community that sees, hears, and provides opportunities to members of all genders.
The confusion about the term “feminist” essentially comes from people’s perspectives regarding the first feminists. Many were radical and influential women fighting intensely for women’s rights. The first feminist movement began at the Seneca Falls Convention in July of 1848. This convention led to the “Declaration of Sentiments” which stated, “that all men and women are created equal” (Women’s Rights Movement, 1848-1917). The statement echoes the claim made in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal” but this declaration emphasized the inclusion of women as well. From the very beginning of the feminist movement, the intention was to advocate for the equality of men and women. People at the time felt threatened by the proposed changes, as though feminists would take things away and change everything to work only in their favor. Feminists do not wish ill will upon men. They wish for the same fair opportunities as men.
Feminists strive and advocate for equality for everyone. A society where no limitations are set based on how one identifies. However, societal expectations of gender roles and traits make this challenging to achieve. Our culture still sees women as the caretakers who must stay home, accept less pay than their male counterparts because they may have babies at some point, and miss leadership positions because they are not considered intelligent enough. Men are the ones who must adhere to toxic masculinity, suppress their feelings, and take an interest in “manly” activities. These gender norms are dated, harmful, socially constructed concepts.
The societal expectations that feminists are consistently fighting against are rooted in many aspects of culture. One major aspect that asserts the patriarchal structure of society is religion. “Almost all organized religions propagate the idea of male superiority” (Amber). Religion is a cultural universal, an aspect that can be found in almost every culture. In most religions, the belief that women are inferior in all spheres of life is heavily enforced. This lack of equality in religion bleeds into the rest of society and helps to encourage the gender roles and societal expectations that feminists have tried and are still trying to break.
As stated previously, the goal of feminists is not to only uplift women, but to also help men. Feminists care deeply about breaking the stereotypical expectations of men. Men are often expected to fill the role as the “provider” who works hard for their family and does not show emotion. From a young age, boys are supposed to take interest in activities like sports and to want to play with toys like trucks and action figures. Many boys often grow up not knowing how to deal with their emotions properly. They are taught that it is weak for boys to cry or to talk about their feelings. Instead, there are many people who believe that boys should solve conflict through fighting or physical exertion like exercise. So, many men grow up to have an unhealthy perspective of emotions and how to deal with them because of societal expectations. Feminists believe that men should be able to express themselves as freely as anyone else. They should not be forced to keep their emotions to themselves or to only take an interest in “manly” activities. Feminists encourage anyone who wants to break out of the traditional roles that society has established.
A true feminist wants equality for everyone regardless of how they look, where they come from, or what they identify as. You do not have to identify as a woman to be a feminist. The only requirement is that you advocate for social, economic, and political equality for everyone. According to the Harvard Political Review, “at its core, feminism is simply about creating gender equality” (The Evolution of Feminism). People of all genders should unite and fight for a society that does not inhibit anyone by their gender identity. Gender is a social construct; Therefore, it should not be a limitation.
Feminists want to push back against societal norms and expectations. They believe people should have the same social, economic, and political opportunities. People should have the freedom to express themselves and identify how they choose. To wear, to act, to love, to feel, and to do as they want. Feminists advocate for a world that does not define anyone’s opportunities and freedoms by the gender they identify with.
REFERENCES
https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Historical-Essays/No-Lady/Womens-Rights/
https://feminisminindia.com/2017/06/22/religion-furthering-patriarchal-agenda/