When one says “I am a feminist”, the world sighs. A word once filled with immense empowerment and strength now is a word that is associated and used with embarrassment and hostility. One meaning is advocating and supporting women’s rights for there to be harmony and equality between the genders. Another is advocating and supporting women’s rights, but in the process, men’s rights are being dismissed. One is dynamic and emerging, the other is misunderstood and is camouflaging the true purpose of this fight for equality. I identify as a feminist; advocating and fighting for women's economic and social rights to be equal to the rights of men. I am proud and not ashamed to identify as one. The word is slowly fading away into an abyss of lost and forgotten words, fighting for its chance at redemption, to show its true meaning.
The word “feminism” comes with the Latin root word: “femina” meaning women and ending: “isma” meaning the practice of something. Traces of inequality and injustice against women dates all the way back to 150 BCE. In Greek societies the word “misogunia” meaning the hatred of women. When the first wave of feminism hit in the 1800s to help the women’s suffrage movement, the main priorities were to create equal voting, education, and labor opportunities. Then in the late 1900s, radical feminism started to arise in places like America, Europe, Australia, where their priority was unequally bringing more power to women rather than generally fixing the inequality.
Being a feminist is something to be proud and confident about, and to say with huge amounts of pride. From the start of mankind, women have always been inferior to men, whether that is economically, socially, or politically. They have always been on the disadvantaged side. The common misconception that only women can be feminists is a narrative that is slowly dying away. Anyone can be a feminist regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, and religion. The common misconception that all feminists hate men is another false statement that is not valid. Being a woman myself, in the 17 years I have been in this society, the profuse amount of times I have been put down, disadvantaged and repressed, reminds me that I will not be equal to men without a fight. Women have to fight and work hard to earn those same basic human rights as men. Feminism is the constant battle with the world to advocate for equal rights.
Throughout the years, feminism has taken a more radical and extreme turn. A more radical form in which the true and raw form of feminism is dying away. Instead of trying to create equality and harmony between the sexes, these advocates supporting this movement are creating unhealthy and toxic values that women need to be superior to men. Trends on social media such as “#Men Are Trash” and “#Hate All Men” support this radical form of feminism. Many feminists try to avoid this irrational behavior and method, to ensure their validity in their fight for equality. The world works as a predominantly patriarchal society, feminists advocate for getting rid of patriarchies. The true goal is to create societies in which all genders are equal. But in all of this pent-up anger and irritation, radical feminists are aiming to create matriarchal societies, contrary to the purpose. In efforts to get rid of sexism against women, sexism against men also rose. The true purpose is not to be forgotten, the true purpose is to be equal. When the term feminism is brought up, people automatically frown and look away because society now believes that this word is automatically associated with negative connotations and meanings.
Throughout decades, the term feminism has generated multiple meanings, some positive while some negative. Based on the trends of the word, and how people perceive it in recent times, the word is slowly dying and is soon to be forgotten. Its true purpose and meaning are being neglected and lost. The effect and impact the word had on people once, is now a negative idea. I deeply aspire with great confidence that people will understand the accurate and truthful definition and act upon it. Feminism is one of the most powerful words that I have ever come upon, hidden under a pile of injustice and inequality. This word does not deserve to be forgotten, it deserves to be heard, it deserves to be understood, it deserves to be acted upon.
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