Feminism.
OH DEAR GOODNESS NOT FEMINISM OH NO SHE HAS GONE DOWN A TERRIBLE PATH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!!!
Hold up.
So you're not scared?
Good. You shouldn't be. I'm not about to go on some tirade about the unfairness of life as a woman. That is not my intention going into this post. What i am intending is just to get a few of my thoughts out.
I was scrolling through my Facebook feed this morning and came across an article about female nerds. I was interested because to an extent I identify as nerdy. I enjoy Doctor Who to a bit of a sick degree. I went to go see the new Star Wars movie and have already spent some time geeking out with friends over the finer points. I watch Sherlock and Game of Thrones. I love a good deal of the superhero movies out there, and recently got very sucked into Jessica Jones. Ask anyone about my love for dinosaurs and Jurassic Park. I own comic books, and have been known to dabble in a video game when Fiancé wants me to participate (though not very often). Apparently according to this article I'm not a minorty.
What made me upset in the article is that they talked about how some men still consider women to not be legitimate nerds. It described how some women are practically persecuted online for trying to voice their opinions. It even went on to say that some women have had their lives threatened for being a woman with an opinion. Can you believe that? What year is this, because it doesn't sound like 2016!!! I am floored that there are people out there who still consider women not as equals.
I am a woman. I know that there are stark differences between men and women, but in NO WAY should we be considered different in our rights. I have the right to say that I partially identify as nerdy! I may not be as crazy about it as others, but that happens with both genders!
I've recently started reading the book "I Am Malala." Already in the beginning, reading about how women have such antiquated mindsets when it comes to how a woman should grow up is unbelievable. Young women are lucky to go to school and receive an education since they are considered more apt to stay home to cook and clean. I can't imagine living in 2016 and being told I can't have an education because my role in life is to eventually be a wife and mother. While I respect the fact that their culture is very different from mine, it doesn't help in a global viewpoint that humans should all have the right to be treated equal.
It scares me that this mindset is still out there. It's there in every day life. I once knew someone who's favorite joke to me would be to tell me to get in the kitchen and make them a sandwich. I rolled my eyes at it then, but I was young and didn't care too much. Nowadays, that man would get an earful and would learn not to ever say that to me again.
I teach young girls for a living. Yes, dance is considered a feminine sport, but men dance as well. We have 3 young strapping gentlemen in our competition program who hold their own in the dance world. But the point is that these men are learning how to treat wormen as their equal. The young ladies I am teaching are learning that they can hold their own as well. I adore watching many of my students grow up and see how independent and strong they become. My female students deserve to learn that they have the same rights as men, and can be or do whatever they want to. If they want to geek out about Doctor Who- go for it. If they want to talk about how beautifully feminine ballet is with all its sparkle and pink, then go for that too. They have the right to choose what they want to like, just the same as any guy.
I am a feminist. I believe in the equal rights of men and women. I don't think women deserve more than men, but I don't think they deserve less. I'm not a crazy feminist- I don't throw it in anyone's face, nor do I consistently post on any social media about it. But I am strong, I have an opinion, and I hope that our younger generations feel the same. I want my generation to raise strong women as well. I can only hope someday that if I have a daughter, that she knows that I support her 100% to have as much as any man. I know that my future husband will support this. He may not say it outright (I doubt he's thought too much about it because he was just raised to be this way), but he's a feminist as well. He supports the rights of women, and I love that he sees me as an equal.
All I want is for women to have the right to choose what they want out of life. I want them to have the right to choose what to do with their bodies, to have the right to equal pay, and to not be looked upon as "weaker."
So feminism- really not as scary as some people have made it out to be in the world.
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