Why I’m a feminist, or not… Because feminism has changed a lot since it first started. Honestly, I don’t know if I want to call myself a feminist anymore. And I want to talk about it in my new Let’s talk video. I started the Let’s talk video series a while ago to talk about things that are important to me. I’m not here to convince you of my opinion, I just want to start a conversation without bashing and attacking other people. Communication is key to solving problems, so that’s why I like to talk about things that are important to me.
Now let’s get back to why I became feminist: I’m for equal rights for men and women. Why I might not want to be a feminist anymore: I didn’t become one to hate on men, other women or yell out hurtful things and opinions in the name of feminism. But that’s what is starting to happen more and more. It’s not why I liked feminism in the first place. I think that’s why I don’t want to call myself a feminist anymore, but simply someone who’s for equal rights for men, women and everything in between.
When feminism first started in the early 1900s, women were fighting for things like the right to vote and making their own decisions. Around the 1960s women were starting to figure out they wanted to be able to have the same jobs and pay as men. To dress the way they like and make more decisions based on their own opinions. Like choosing a career over being a housewife or not being a mom. All very important things that us ladies now get to enjoy because of the feminists back in the day.
Nowadays feminism is all about celebrating the female body, equal pay, breaking stereotypes and doing whatever makes you happy. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of young girls and women who use feminism to hate on men, sharing hurtful opinions no one asked for and bashing other women for making different choices. Feminism has become somewhat of a hype and it seems to be less and less about equal rights for men and women.
To me feminism is about everybody doing what makes them happy, as long as it doesn’t hurt other people. I did not become a feminist to support women, I also want to support men. It’s all about equal rights for men and women after all. Although feminism started to support women, I think it’s a good idea not to forget about our men. There are also a lot of men out there who do not get to be themselves due to religion, country laws and cultures.
As a person who is all for equal rights, I also think about young boys who are pushed into a certain way of behaving. Like boys don’t cry, man up or boys can’t wear pink. I think many women forget that the way grown men behave, has a lot to do with how they were raised. And that is often done by women, so I think it’s a good idea to keep that in mind. Also, I know a lot of good men. Who deserve to have a nice life and people that love them. I do not hate men, I love them because they can do a lot of good in this world, just like women.
But enough about boys, let’s talk about girls. Because feminism or equal rights movements are still necessary. There are still a lot of women in different countries, cultures and religions who do not have the same rights as men. There are still a lot of women who get sold off for money. Women who get abused or do not have the chance to create their own lives. The same goes for a lot of men who are being forced into living a certain life because of their religion, culture or country laws.
That’s why I became a feminist about three years ago. Now I’m not so sure about calling myself a feminist. Mainly because a lot of women use the word feminism for their own gain. Feminism has gotten a bad reputation and I do not want to be associated with that. That’s why I think about stopping with calling myself a feminist and starting to say I’m a human who is for equal rights for men and women.
What do you think? To be a feminist or not to be a feminist?
Kaya-Quintana
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