This essay is a collection of my own thoughts and opinions on the Feminist Movement. Less than a month ago, I posted on Instagram a summary of my thoughts regarding the topic. Word limitations and time prevented me from disclosing a proper essay. Therefore, I’m about to dive into my personal experiences and opinions on feminism.
This post is by no means attacking, and should you feel this way, please email me at info.amelia.wilson@gmail.com to discuss any offenses or disagreements.
This post is simply an elaboration directly from my Instagram.
I hope this essay brings light to you/your situation or inspires you to view feminism as a motivating movement in our culture.
Anyway, let’s get to it.
(Disclaimer: All of the views and opinions in this post are solely my own and are not sponsored.)
Feminism.
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I am a feminist. I feel like most women are, or should be. The definition feminism is: the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of equality of the sexes (dictionary.com).
All too often, this definition is twisted or confused. ⠀⠀
A lot of people associate feminism/feminists with man-hating. That is NOT what feminism is. I am not man hating, nor do I want men to be degraded. I want equality between the sexes.
A lot of people associate feminism/feminists with man-hating. That is NOT what feminism is. I am not man hating, nor do I want men to be degraded. I want equality between the sexes.
Feminism is about lifting women up, not to be greater or more powerful than men, but to be equal in statute and power.
People have argued that women ARE equal, and that there is no reason to “lift them up.” Equality comes in many shapes and forms. A person can be equal to another in law, but subdued and abused in day to day life. My stance on the inequality of women focuses on the daily subjugations women experience, and how they are shamed and put down in society.
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I see the prejudices placed on woman in small ways: receiving judgement for menstrual cycles, walking with pepper spray held ready on college campus’, persisting fear from going out at night alone, etc. There are people who disagree that any of these things actually happen or that any of these things put limitations on women.
I see the prejudices placed on woman in small ways: receiving judgement for menstrual cycles, walking with pepper spray held ready on college campus’, persisting fear from going out at night alone, etc. There are people who disagree that any of these things actually happen or that any of these things put limitations on women.
But let me elaborate for those of you who disagree.
Receiving judgement for menstrual cycles begins as early as twelve years of age (sometimes sooner) when a girl experiences her first bleeding. The judgement comes from boys and girls alike, shaming her for a natural cycle from nature. This can go further to reveal that many young girls are shamed as their bodies mature.
I knew a girl in my sixth grade class who had very large breasts and an exaggerated figure. Many boys teased her about having had plastic surgery, though she had not. And girls whispered about her behind her back, saying she had the body of a slut, of a stripper.
We were twelve when this happened. I was twelve years old when I recognized that being “mature” at such a young age was a bad thing.
I lied to my friends about having my period. I didn’t want them to see me as uncool or unworthy.
My second example consists of women carrying around pepper spray on college campus’. There was a post from twitter I found months ago saying:
And the thought really hit something deep inside me. On my list for college, pepper spray is one of the items I intend to buy/bring. To be fair, I’m moving to a big city where crime is more frequent. (Is this right? No. I shouldn’t have to feel so unsafe. But it is a fact that Chicago has a bigger crime rate than my hometown. There is a bigger population. And the city is more foreign to me than anything).
A friend of mine who attends Ball State University carries pepper spray with her. Another friend of mine, attending the same college, does not. And there is no doubt that he likely carries condoms with him.
It’s an interesting dynamic to think about. Equal in law, yes. Equal in society, no.
Thirdly, there is persisting fear of going out at night alone. In some neighborhoods in the country, it’s pretty unsafe for ANYONE to go out alone. I’ve felt this fear all to often. A friend of mine and I attended an orchestral concert in downtown Indy one night. We were all dressed up and excited after the event finished. Though, we had to walk in our dresses, high heels, and made-up faces to our car parked about a block away.
We did not make eye contact or stop to talk to anyone. We each held our keys between our knuckles (as a weapon of defense), and you best bet we were terrified the whole walk.
The thing was, we were walking on a well lit, well populated sidewalk. Yet, the fear persisted.
I have had conversations about these topics more than once. One recurring theme is: it’s the girls fault if something happens and she is not prepared.
Let me elaborate on this as well.
My boyfriend and I have had many a talk about this. He argues that it is her fault. He is by no means a feminist. And he is by no means a misogynist. He applies the same thing to men. For example, if a man is out at night and gets beat up and mugged by other men, it is his fault too. In a public space, if one is injured, it is their fault for not bringing protection.
Though I disagree with this sentiment, I completely understand where he is coming from. We can’t trust that people out there in the real world aren’t going to hurt us. We can only prepare ourselves for danger. This is not the kind of society I am advocating equal rights for. This is the society we live in.
It’s a shame. Really. A shame on us. A shame on our country. A shame on the society as a whole.
Bringing this back to feminism, I don’t think it is a woman’s fault for whatever abuse might come to her. But it is still crucial that, as of right now, she bring a means to protect herself. It’s terrible. And part of bringing about societal equality is wiping away the dangers that exist for men and women alike.
I have met a number of people, both men and women, who do not appreciate the feminist movement. This is due to ignorance and lack of proper informing.
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I, for a long time, did not consider myself a feminist because I believed that if I wore the female symbol proudly, I would be considered a man-hating b***ch. ⠀⠀
I, for a long time, did not consider myself a feminist because I believed that if I wore the female symbol proudly, I would be considered a man-hating b***ch. ⠀⠀
“But women ARE equal in law.”
“Women are responsible for protecting themselves from rape.”
“Feminists just want attention. They’re dominating women who need something to feel empowered.”
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Every feminist I know preaches that “this has to stop.” And it does. I’ll be the first to say that I don’t fully support, yet don’t hate in anyway, the #metoo movement that swept America months ago.
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Every feminist I know preaches that “this has to stop.” And it does. I’ll be the first to say that I don’t fully support, yet don’t hate in anyway, the #metoo movement that swept America months ago.
I don’t like the idea that just a phrase can condemn a person for life. When I was a kid, a little girl would always tell fibs to the babysitter, “she bit me,” “amelia broke my toy,” “she stole one of my brownies” etc. I always got punished for it. And I know this is not the same as rape or sexual abuse. However, the same feeling is behind it. Accusations can destroy a career. And yes, some of them might be true. But some of them might not be. I’ve been in customer service long enough to know that not everyone tells the truth.
This idea will receive a lot of hate. I know this. I have been on the receiving end of abuse a few times. It’s not something I like to talk about. Though I will say this: I can’t prove that ANY of it happened. All anyone will have is my word. And it isn’t enough to condemn someone else to a life of hell. How do you know if I’m lying or not? You don’t.
That’s just how it is.
Can we fix it?
Right now the only way to bring about justice in a respectable way is to admit the violence right after it happens (women should not feel ashamed of the abuse brought unto them. We need to push to get people to speak up immediately without fear. Though I also understand where a problem can arise with that). The alternative is to teach women how to protect themselves (back to the pepper spray situation, it’s unfortunate but necessary).
People have accused women of being at the root of their own subjugation. Perhaps there is some truth in that. No one is exempt from the implementations of society. No one can escape toxic masculinity.
I am a feminist. I believe in uplifting women to be equal to their male counterparts.
I am an egalitarian and I believe everyone is equal and that men AND women each suffer from toxic societal standards.
I don’t think it’s right to shame men, or to ignore male victims of rape. ⠀⠀
I don’t think it’s right that male privilege exists.
I don’t think it’s right that female abusers get lighter sentences.
I don’t think it’s right that female privilege exists (because it does).
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I don’t think anyone in America is fully “equal.”
We are finally equal in law (for the most part), but we are not equal in day to day life and THAT is what I strive for.
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| Source: https://markmanson.net/whats-the-problem-with-feminism/amp |
I am striving for a day when women and men alike don’t have to be afraid or “prepared” for danger. I strive for a day when women are not shamed by their bodies or their vulnerability. I strive for a day when egalitarianism is the ONLY movement. I strive for a day when we are socially equal and no one is condemned or degraded.
The day toxic masculinity is nothing but dust under our shoes is the day we will truly be equal.
We are all unique and have something special to offer to the world. Your gender is important. And it will predetermine some things about you. It does not define you. Your gender is not who you are. Your gender should not limit you.
⠀⠀It takes patience. It takes time. But I know that I want to live in a world where I don’t have to say #metoo. I want to live in a world where college girls can walk around campus without a can of pepper spray.
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I want to live in a world where boys aren’t taught that emotions are bad. I want to live in a world where boys aren’t told they “hit like a girl.”
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I have feelings, okay?
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