Yes, Feminism IS Still Necessary; Just Not in the Ways We Think

Anonymous
Yes, Feminism IS Still Necessary; Just Not in the Ways We Think

At least, that's what it used to mean. Nowadays, when people think of "Feminist", the majority thinks of a 200lb woman, with a cropped pixie cut and a sign rioting against men. And, in all honesty, there are times that I, a proud feminist, think that too. I thin it when I see in the news that a self-proclaimed "feminist" has gone on another man-hating rant.

These misconceptions have ruined most of the western world's opinion of feminists. I am a proud feminist, but not for the reasons most believe. Lets expand for a little bit, beyond the Western world that most of us know, and don't always love. Let's look at the Middle East, or Africa, or Asia, or quite literally anywhere else in the world that is not flooded with such first world problems that we can write essays on why Feminism is necessary/un-necessary.

Yes, Feminism IS Still Necessary; Just Not in the Ways We Think

In the Middle East, women are punished for being raped. They are disgraced, and the ones who are "pure enough" are sold off to a man old enough to be their father for the sake of their families. And this is not even scraping the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sexism in many parts of the world. I am not for hating on men, and I do not believe women are superior. It's time we face it, though- men and women will, never, be physically equal. The majority of average males will always have a physical advantage over the average female in certain categories, like speed or strength. (There ARE exceptions, these are by no means the rules.)

But its also time that we accept that, underneath the layers of men-hating feminazi's who give the idea of equality in mind and spirit and everything else such a bad rep, feminism started off as a search for equality in the sense of rights, not body. And if you are trying to tell me that the 11 year old pre-pubescent girls in Pakistan do not need feminism, you have no place reading this. Feminism might be done in the Western world, but it is no where near done changing everywhere else.

Yes, Feminism IS Still Necessary; Just Not in the Ways We Think

Equality is a vital part of our society. We have achieved something close to perfection here in the western world, but I see so many, men and women alike, venting about how it's useless, and only for first world problems. But what about the third worlds, where women still don't have the right to vote? Or own land? Or quite literally anything else?

For them, the idea of equality is laughable. And if you're telling me that you don't support equality, then that's a whole new problem. Feminism might have run its course in the US- but that doesn't mean that just because it was successful in the Western world, we need to destroy the idea of it possibly saving lives elsewhere.

If you support equality- you're a feminist. And if you don't; don't attack the people who want to protect the rights of the women who have none.

Feminism is not a dirty word. It does not mean you hate men, it does not mean you hate girls that have nice legs and a tan, and it does not mean you are a bitch or a dyke. It means that you believe in Equality" - Kate Nash
Yes, Feminism IS Still Necessary; Just Not in the Ways We Think
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