The F-Word: Why I need feminism

Being a feminist isn't easy. You have to argue with people who you don't want to argue with. There's no way they'll ever change their mind and there's no good way to explain everything. While everyone is entitled to their own opinion...some opinions are wrong. Not wrong, but not progressive. Feminism is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes." Not a single word on how, as a woman, I want to be better and more advanced than men. Yes I would like a man to hold a door open for me if I have my hands full, but that doesn't mean I'm not a feminist. There's a huge stigma against identifying yourself as a feminist but I'm so glad my friends and I can do so when it is needed most in the world. 

I once dated a guy who told me he was a feminist. I don't think he was trying to impress me (he actually wasn't, he was just telling me) and it didn't impress me because I have always thought everyone should be a feminist. Barack Obama is a feminist so why shouldn't you too?! Too many people out there, including women, think feminism means I hate men and burn bras (but only on special occasions). Feminism is inclusive and I expect you to care about human rights. This is known as intersectional feminism and excludes no one. 

Another guy I'm friends with once told me he didn't believe in feminism and, without saying these words, thought he was above feminism and smarter than that. He told me he didn't care if his boss was green, purple or an alien. But he is a white boy from an upper-middle class area with parents paying for college so it's hard to convince him he doesn't need feminism. I have another female friend who thought it was weird my dad does the grocery shopping - and has for as long as I can remember. Another boy I knew used International Women's Day as an excuse to ask me out for a drink and was surprised when I declined. That is why I need feminism. 

A part of feminism is simply just encouraging and uplifting other women, but it's not just about women anymore. It's more than equal pay and breaking the glass ceiling. Feminists aren't just concerned about what's happening in the United States. Groups raise awareness of child bride epidemics, the wrongfulness of female genital mutilation, Black Lives Matter, the lives of LGBTQ, helping women in developing countries, social rights, sex trafficking that could happen both here at home and across the globe. It's not just about women anymore. I have lived in a world where I thought my reproductive rights were inalienable but unfortunately that's not the case anymore. I don't want everyday sexism to be a social norm. I want to create a better world for myself, my friends and the future. 

We actually live in a world were women have never been more respected or successful. Women are a bigger part of STEM, making strides in politics and dominate the comedy world. Women are in sports and practice law and some people find that weird. That is why I need feminism. 

So I need feminism for many reasons. I need feminism because my dates think they need to tell me they believe in my rights when I already assumed they did. I need feminism because other men think it doesn't involves them. I need feminism because society thinks it's weird my dad does chores around the house. I need feminism because I want equal pay for when I do the same job as a male coworker. I need feminism to end rape culture, to raise awareness of the horrors overseas, to make the world safe for my friends of color and my friends of LGBTQ. I need feminism because our president thinks it's acceptable to grab women by the pussy. I need feminism because I need people to know it's not about women being better than men, but about creating equal rights for all minorities, creating equal rights that everyone should have when they are born. Everyone needs feminism.