The advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. That is the definition of feminism. Today, many people think feminism is this absurd, corrupt idea that will obliterate all of men’s power. They think it means that women are better than men. I believe people say this because they don’t actually know what it means. It means equality. It means that there is no superior gender. For thousands of years, women have been put in these boxes that limit their opportunities and rights. And even though, we have definitely progressed from the past, I believe feminism is still relevant and important today, to make the world a better place.
When I say that I’m a feminist, people are baffled. They assume that I want women to have more power than men. Today, people think feminists despise men. I’m a feminist, and I don’t hate men. They are just indifferent to actually trying to understand the idea and they don’t realize what it is. So in order for people to know more about feminism, we need to start teaching this at a young age. Everyone should know that feminism is for men and women.
In many places, women are restricted of their opportunities solely based on the fact that they are a woman. Young girls all over the world still do not receive the education that males are getting. According to The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, “130 million girls between the age of 6 and 17 are out of school and 15 million girls of primary-school age—half of them in sub-Saharan Africa— will never enter a classroom.” We take for granted all the opportunities we have. Some days we wish we didn’t have to come to school. But some people in this world would die for the education that we didn’t even have to work for or earn. Women should be getting the same schooling as men. It doesn’t matter what gender you are, everyone deserves education. We need more people to address this problem to make a change.
Fortunately, most women in our country go to school, but in America, we still face sexism. At young ages, girls are forced into these stereotypes. A stay-at-home mom, working in the kitchen, taking care of the kids, not playing sports, being told that they don’t belong in a workplace. They are forced to like things and to be what society wants them to be. Some girls quit sports because they think they will look too masculine, or they assume, because they hear people say, girls can’t play sports. I’m sure you have all heard of the saying, “You run like a girl”. That statement is supposed to be a negative thing to say to young kids, but it is not.
Young girls grow up thinking they are limited of what they want to do, what they are interested in, or what they can or cannot be when they are older. This can plumet their confidence and self esteem. We We have to teach kids that they can’t believe the negative things they hear. They don’t have to stay inside these stereotypes. That they can be whoever and whatever they want, no matter what people say. Women can be leaders, scientists, or engineers. We need to teach the young kids that they can do whatever the opposite gender typically does because we are equals.
I believe that feminism is essential and beneficial to our society today. We should teach the youth to fight for everyone’s rights. We should teach them not to be afraid of stepping outside of society’s “rules” and “standards”. More people should learn about what feminism actually is. ‘Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.’ —G.D. Anderson
