This will come as no shock to those who know me: I am, and always have been, a feminist. I spent my high school and college years fighting loudly against gender stereotypes and injustices, either real or perceived. Although I’m much more reserved in my feminism now, I still look at the world through a feminist lens, and I think it is vitally important to provide a feminist voice in every hot debate.
I’ve decided to bring that perspective here to Curiata.com. Each week, I’ll be spending some time discussing one of a myriad of topics — pop culture, news, sports, and even fashion — from a feminist point of view. Most of my colleagues here consider themselves feminists (even the boys), and I’m hoping they may even chime in every once in a while on a topic that I’m just not as familiar with.
So, let’s get started with a fundamental question: What is feminism? There are a lot of definitions and conceptions out there; however, I think the simplest (and best) explanation is straight out of Merriam-Webster: feminism is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.”
It is important to note what that definition does not say. Not all feminists are man-haters, nor do we think we should run the planet (although, a planet run by a fem-puter Bea Arthur might be fun!). Being a feminist is far more complicated than world domination.
As a feminist, I believe that if a man wants to take six or more weeks of paternity leave after the birth of a child, he should be afforded the opportunity to do so.
As a feminist, I believe we have an obligation to continue to work to break the glass ceiling and close the pay gap.
As a feminist, I believe a woman is no more or less of a woman whether or not she decides to get married (to either a man or another woman).
As a feminist, I believe a woman is no more or less of a woman whether or not she decides to have children.
As a feminist, I believe if a woman chooses to have children, she should not be obligated to stay at home nor obligated to return to work, but rather be able to choose the path that is the best fit for her.
As a feminist, I believe I have an obligation to educate others on the status of women in other countries. Whether it is an easy topic to talk about, like the fact that approximately only 15 percent of females in Afghanistan can read and write, or a topic that can be stomach-turning, like the fact that approximately 90 percent of women in Eritrea will suffer female genital mutilation. Ignoring the mistreatment of women in other countries will not do anyone a bit of good.
As a feminist, I wear makeup, high heels, and dresses.
As a feminist, I wear jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers.
As a feminist, I drink wine.
As a feminist, I drink beer.
As a feminist, I drink Scotch.
As a feminist, I drink … well, you get the picture.
These are just a taste of the feminist beliefs that make up my worldview, to whet your appetite for the discussions we’ll have in the coming weeks. I’m excited to begin this column and to have you join me every week for a little fun feminism.
I want this to be a conversation; please feel free to share your thoughts on anything I bring up in the comments below. I do, however, have one request: no name calling. I’m not just talking to the “anti-feminists” of the world. There is a sentiment within some parts of the feminist movement that engages in calling out women who are “not feminist enough.” That has got to stop.
Feminists are working toward the same ends, and it will be a lot easier (and much more peaceful) to cross that finish line if we work together. And even though we may never see true equal rights for men and women around the globe during our lifetimes, I believe the kinder we are to one another, the more likely we are to achieve this goal.
With that out of the way, I hope you’ll join me next Tuesday for my first “real” feminist column. It may seem an unlikely place to start, but if you knew the men in my life, you’d understand why I feel compelled to explore the male-dominated world of … professional wrestling!