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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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Feminism To Me

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of feminism? Consider your thought and now think about how you came to this conclusion. Feminism has been labeled as many things that it is not. If I were to ask the mass of you in this room what is feminism, I am willing to bet the response would be it’s a group of man-hating, bashing, unattractive, entitled, and ignorant women crying about things. Or some may say it’s useless. “We are equal! I know women who are CEO’s.” Something of that sort. By the book a feminist is someone who believes in the social, economical, and political equality of the sexes. No where there did you hear the terms that are frequently associated with feminism based off of ignorance and misconception. I have a simple way of feminism. Do you believe women should have the same opportunities as men? Do you believe a woman should make less than a man for the same job just because she is a woman? Do you think women should deal with sexism at the hands of men because she is a woman? If you believe women should have the same opportunities as men, should make the same amount of money, and shouldn't deal with sexism you are a feminist. To be a feminist you do not have to burn your bra, hate men, and wave signs at every moment, but you have to acknowledge the abundant gap between men and women and the discrimination women all around the world face every day. You do not have to be a woman to be a feminist. Feminism is for everyone and it only requires you to be aware of the discrimination women face and vow to combat and help women all over reach liberation. For my project I focused on feminist and I wanted reveal the depth of their feminism. I wanted to know what encouraged them to identify as a feminist, how they defined their feminism, and at what moment did they realize this world was not an equal place that treated men and women the same. I heard many stories and I found myself very overwhelmed at moments. How could someone be discriminated against, disrespected, disregarded, and forgotten about just because of the gender they identified as? Feminism has come a long way since it was first organized. Feminism has opened many doors for women and men all over the world, but it is still not enough. In our environment we may not be aware of the catastrophic and vile women in other places face. There is a woman somewhere being held captive because she is a woman and that is the treatment woman face. There is a little girl being denied the right of education because girls getting their education is not deemed important. There is a woman not able to leave her home if she is not accompanied by a man. There are women who aren’t allowed to obtain jobs or even speak. Even in the halls of this school there are girls facing sexism and discrimination everyday. Women’s rights are basic human rights. People of all sexes deserve the right to education, employment, freedom, freedom of speech, sexual liberation, and complete equality, but women are not getting this. Women are important. Women deserve rights

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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Mariah

"Feminism has allowed me to learn about myself, about other women and their fight. Feminism has opened many doors for me and opened my eyes to so much. Feminism was introduced to me by someone I hold very dear to my heart and it's something I will help my own daughter find her footing with. Feminism has put me in relationships with amazing people, taught me many lessons, and with each march, protest, and voice I find myself seeing use closer to the finish life of equality for all." Feminism with Mariah... Do you consider yourself a feminist or a womanist? Do you prefer to not categorize yourself? Explain why. I consider myself a feminist because I advocate for women's right and for equality for the sexes politically, socially, and economically. How do you define feminism/women's rights/womanism? Women should the same political, social, and economical opportunities and advances as men. Women should be able to exist in this world and society rightfully. Women should have the right to their own body and have the freedom that the world has kept them locked away from. Women should not have to life in fear, in oppression, and in the shadows of men because men anointed themselves superior. How has feminism, womanism, or women's right's shaped your perspective? Feminism has put me in a position that's great for me. I have met incredible people from protest, marches, rallies, gatherings, and even getting books about the topic. I have been able to become smarter and a better person as well. It has made my perspective of both people and life more clear. Why are you advocating for women's rights? I am advocating for women's rights because I am a woman that has frequently experienced sexism and discrimination. I face it everyday. I am tired of having to fight for my basic rights. Women have been fighting against society since the beginning of time and in the year of 2017 it seems that women, no matter how hard we fight and try, are getting pushed back again at the hands of patriarchy. I have a daughter. I have a sister. I have a mother. I have women friends. I am a woman myself. I don't want us to go through any of the things we are made to endure. I don't any woman to go through these things and this is why I am and will always advocate for women's rights. I would find myself useless if I didn't fight for myself and the millions of other women around the world. Is there a person that encouraged you to become a feminist/women's rights advocate or womanist? How has this person helped you in your journey? My grandmother. She is an amazing woman. Truly. She has pushed me so much and introduced me to so much. She is wise and strong. Her past and her present keep me grounded. She grew up in the south in the 60s and 70s a time where women and blacks were fighting to be seen as humans in this world. She faced sexism and discrimination from her own family. Her story has always been so inspiring to me and I have always gravitated toward her and her life has always interested me. My grandmother introduced me to feminism. She helped me find my footing as a black woman in this world and she does nothing but encourage and guide me through the best and worst of times. She is the feminist that we all need in our life. I say this to her all the time! She came from a home that wasn't a hundred percent supportive of her, her beliefs, and her dreams. She was able to take her dream and make it a reality. She marched with the women that we look up today. She protested and made sure her voice was heard. Her story and her presence helps in the maze of my own life. She has helped me become a person in all ways, that I am proud of. Was there a moment that you realized women and men were not treated equally? If so, how did this make you feel? I got pregnant at a young age. I had my daughter when I was seventeen years old. I found myself facing constant, constant sexism and discrimination. People would look at me in disgust. My own family did. I was seventeen in my senior year of high school still living under my parents roof with no means of my own. It wasn't an ideal situation. I felt under attack all the time. My friends, my family, and even strangers were always judging me. I can remember my father saying, "this is why I never wanted a daughter." I was crushed. I felt like my life was ending when I was bringing another one into the world. I made it through. My daughter arrived in this world healthy and beautiful. Two years later my younger brother got his girlfriend pregnant. They both were sixteen at the time. My family did not give my brother the same treatment they gave me. They didn't grill him, tell him he had ruined his life or do any of the cruel things they did to me. When I reminded my father of the comment he made about me and my pregnancy after my brother announced he had a child on the way my father said, "but he's a boy. There is a difference." In that moment I felt a hatred for my father that I have never felt before. I was sickened that my own father has said something like that. He thought his son having a child wasn't as bad as his daughter bringing a child into this world. Because my brother was a male, the severity of a child was not as severe to him and his life as it was to me and mines. That wasn't the first time I dealt with sexism and it wasn't the last, but it is the memory that is embedded in my memory. With all the doors that the women's rights movement has opened for women, what do you feel should be the next thing to shed light on and help towards? As someone who had a child young, I believe that women's rights to their body is very important and should have more attention right now, especially considering the political destruction this country is doing to women right now. I wasn't aware of all of my options when I was pregnant and I had no options. My parents refused to allow me the right to my body and my life. I had considered getting an abortion at the beginning of my pregnancy. I was seventeen and pregnant. I didn't know one thing about being a mother and raising a child, but my decision to be a mother wasn't something that I had the liberty to make myself. My family made me feel ashamed that I had considered the option of aborting my child. I was called a killer by my own family. This was very hard on me and my child was even harder. Being a mother is wonderful, but hard. I don't regret my child and I am glad that I have her, but it makes me sick that I didn't have a voice in one of the biggest decisions of my life and something that affected my life and my body. I had no right to my own body and that is not something I want any woman to go through. I find myself getting emotional when I think about how women have no freedom to their own body and are being governed by men, the government, and even other women. It is not right. What do you think of the way the women's rights movement is portrayed in the media? I believe that the media is something than can be used for the greater good and destruction. Media has allowed more people to become apart of the women's rights movement I'm sure, but they also show a lot of negative and distasteful things about feminism, women, and the women's rights movement to make it seem like a bad thing. I cannot count how many times I have seen a bad headlines framing and slandering feminism for something. What would you consider misconceptions about the women's rights movement? Feminist hate men. Feminist are whores. Feminist are careless. Feminist are entitled. There are so many! We see them all the time. It makes me sick. I hate people generalizing an entire movement, race, sex, gender. It's pointless and usually very incorrect. I believe that some things are true. There are some feminist that hate men, but feminism is less about men and more about helping women obtain equality, equality for best sexes. I wish that people focused less on stupid misconceptions and more on the actually movement.

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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Pamela

The women's rights movement has been around since the nineteenth century. Women have been fighting to be seen as equals for centuries now. Women have been oppressed and suppressed by men and society for years, but nothing is able to keep the women that make this world a beautiful place. Being a black woman is like having two strikes against you by the society, but there is so much beauty in being black and being a woman. Feminism with Pamela..... Do you consider yourself a feminist or a womanist? Do you prefer to not categorize yourself? Explain why. I am a feminist. I have been a feminist for many years. I am in my sixties now and I have always been very supportive and very interested in women and our rights and our role in society. I came up when women and girls, black especially, didn't have much of a presence in society and I have been able to watch our role in society grow a little. How do you define feminism/women's rights/womanism? Being unapologetic about being a woman. Being a woman with rights and a rightful place in this world. Women have fought for many years for a place for us all. For equality for us all. This is a fight I have been witnessing and fighting my entire life. I'm in my sixties! I'm tired. Women long before me and long after me will still have to fight in this battle. A battle to just be treated as an equal. How has feminism, womanism, or women's right's shaped your perspective? My perspective is clogged. As a black woman I know that my place in this world is not acceptable. They hate women, but a black woman is even worse. With the women's rights movement my perspective has been clogged and I say this because I always have to have my eyes and ears open and it's so much I have to be aware of. I always have to be alert. I find myself asking "is it because I am a woman or a black woman?" There is so much that I have been introduced to and learned about because of my dedication to women's rights. Why are you advocating for women's rights? I have watched women be told that they will never amount to anything because they're a woman. From a very young age I felt that my freedom and my life were not mine. I felt suffocated as a woman. Advocating for women's rights is important to me because of the things that I grew up around. I came from a small town in South Carolina. Women weren't working in big offices, wearing what they wanted, having the pleasure to do what they wanted. My own mother was a slave to my father. I never wanted to be that, so I turned to empowering myself and other women. Has becoming an advocate for women's rights changed you and the way you see the world? Explain. Yes. Very much. I have become the woman I am today because of the things I do and believe in and advocating for women's rights is one of them. Being a feminist has shown me more than anything, that this world hates women. It has allowed be to see that men have made their mark and don't want to share. Women, no matter how far we go, how many doors we knock down, in the face of society it seems we still are displaced. Is there a person that encouraged you to become a feminist/women's rights advocate or womanist? How has this person helped you in your journey? My mother. A strong, beautiful black woman she was. My mother went through a lot of pain and suffering in her life, but she was still able to push through it. I watched my mother get beaten, disrespected, talked about like a dog to her face, heard her cries and screams at night, but she was still able to remain strong during those times. She had her moments of weakness. We all do. It's what makes us human, but even in those times I could still find a lesson and strength within her. It wasn't always pretty, but I learned from her. Watching my mother suffer so badly at the hands of men and the world's hate for women encouraged me to become someone for women's rights. Was there a moment that you realized women and men were not treated equally? If so, how did this make you feel? I have a hundred of those moments. Growing up in the south as a black girl, I was no stranger to discrimination, racism, and sexism. I'll tell you once I heard my parents arguing when I was a girl coming out of high school. They were arguing about me and what it is I would do when I graduated. My mother wanted me to follow my dreams. I wanted to become a hairdresser. I wanted my own salon. My daddy wasn't with it. He thought I should marry, have some kids. He didn't think that I had a rightful place in the world as a woman. It's what he said and boy, did it make me anger. I was anger, but overtime I was able to take that anger and channel it into something better. I chased my dreams. I became a hairdresser. I got my salon. As a woman.

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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Jasmine

Feminism makes the people that advocate for it better. Many men and woman find themselves a better version of themselves as I study and get deeper into the political movement that has been around for decades. Feminism is not about fitting into a stereotype or doing something by the book. Feminism is about fighting for women while being the truest form of yourself, even if you fit into the stereotype. Feminism with Jasmine..... Do you consider yourself a feminist or a womanist? Do you prefer to not categorize yourself? Explain why. I am a feminist. I am a feminist because I truly want for women to have equality and freedom. Women have been held down by patriarchy for decades. We have been suffocated and been in the shadows for so long. I truly want women to have a place in this world that is not circumstantial or dictated by a man. Women deserve equality. How do you define feminism/women's rights/womanism? Would you want your mother to make less than a male co-worker, for the same job when they have the same qualifications and work ethic? Would you want sister to be told she is cannot make decisions for her own body? Would you want your daughter to deal with sexism? Feminism to me is adjusting society for women's equality. Women did not have a place in this world before and we're fighting a long and hard fight for equality. How has feminism, womanism, or women's right's shaped your perspective? Feminism has made my perspective widen and clear. I see things for what they are and it's like a curtain has been lifted from my eyes. I see now that the comment that that man made about women was not just a joke, but very sexist. I see that it's not this company doesn't have any hiring positions open, they have positions open, but not for women. These are things that I have dealt with myself and things that feminism has opened my eyes to. Why are you advocating for women's rights? I want all women and myself to exist is this world peacefully and with purpose and equally. I will never fathom how men decided that they were the superior and they dictated everything in this world, but it is not right and it was never right. Women are vital for human life and without women you have nothing. I want every woman and every girl to have rights to everything and absolute freedom and liberation. We deserve it. We should have it because it's basic human rights. Has becoming an advocate for women's rights changed you and the way you see the world? Explain. Yes. I see everything in depth now. I don't sexism as a joke or take things as "tradition." The more I learned about women's rights and the deeper I dug into the history of women in society, the more I learned that we were never considered and that there is more to everything that what one says or sees. Feminism has allowed me to see beyond the layer on things and get to the raw and real. Is there a person that encouraged you to become a feminist/women's rights advocate or womanist? How has this person helped you in your journey? There are many women who have helped me and guided me. My friends, my women teachers, my grandmother, and my mother most importantly. I am a feminist. I am a lesbian. I am a black woman. These are a lot of things to be at once and society tends to hate each and every one of the things that make me, me. My mother never once questioned me, my sexuality, my political views, my thoughts and feelings. Growing up it was hard for me to find my footing because I was a black lesbian feminist. I fit into that misconception that all feminist are lesbian and I would see that sinister smirk that would cross someone's face when they discovered I was a lesbian and a feminist. It's demeaning and it's infuriating, but my mother hasn't allowed me to feel pity for myself or anything. She makes me feel proud of who I am, who I love, and what I support. My mother has helped me become a better feminist and a better woman from her guidance. Was there a moment that you realized women and men were not treated equally? If so, how did this make you feel? I have four brothers. I am the middle child, the only girl. Growing up I was surrounded by a large amount of masculine energy and I definitely soaked in it. I did everything my brothers did while also maintaining my own femininity. When I got to high school I wanted to play on the football team. I've played every sport under the sun and I'm exceptionally good at football. I wanted to be a quarterback for my high school and just my luck, the quarterback was horrible. I thought I had it in the bag. My brothers weren't comfortable with my trying out, but I didn't care. I wanted to do something and I wasn't going to let my gender stop me. I didn't even get to try out for the team. The boys and girls of my school broke me down to the point I was ashamed to even show my face at school. I was bullied and experienced so much sexism that it made my stomach turn. I listened to adults tell me I should find something else to do. Something more "girly". I will never forget a classmate of mine, male, saying "you can like girls and all, but you're still a b*tch. You don't have a place on the boys football team." I was more than hurt, but I finally get a taste of the inequality. With all the doors that the women's rights movement has opened for women, what do you feel should be the next thing to shed light on and help towards? I don't think there is something specific we should focus on. Being a woman in America is not a great thing right now and the leaders of this country are trying to diminish and take away our every right. We have a rapist, sexist, and racist man running the country right now. He's taken away education programs for girls, trying to take away planned parenthood, and the right we have to our own body's right now. It's scary and I feel like it's exceptionally hard being a woman right now. I feel like every single problem we are facing is the most important right now. What do you think of the way the women's rights movement is portrayed in the media? The media can be very harsh and inaccurate when it concerns the women's rights movement. Feminism does not mean you hate men, you're a lesbian, you're entitled, or whatever they like to paint feminism as. The women's rights movement is not pointless. We are fighting a true fight, but the media loves trying to destroy the true image and purpose and meaning of women's rights. I think that it's disgusting and it has to stop. Women are under constant attack and you wouldn't believe it's because we've decided that no longer will we stand for inequality. Women seeking to be a mans equal has started a nasty war and the media does nothing, but make it even worse with its slander to the movement. The media has also helped the movement in a big way. There are hundreds of people being able to get more information from the media about the movement. When I was coming up I didn't have the teachnology we do today. It's so many resources to get information from now. You're not just hearing information from one site or one station and this, I believe, has also helped the movement because now we can tell our truth. We are the media. We can give the facts about feminism and the women's rights movement.

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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I'm a feminist. I've been a female for a long time now. It'd be stupid not to be on my own side

Maya Angelou

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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Tony

Tony Feminist are men and women. Feminist are the people that fight for the equality that women deserve and will never quit. Feminism is more about helping women than focusing on the sex of the helper. Feminism is about embracing and being in control of your body, your life, and your destiny as a woman with the help of other women and men. Feminism with Tony.... Do you consider yourself a feminist or a womanist? Do you prefer to not categorize yourself? Explain why. I am a feminist. I am a feminist because I believe women should have more than the same rights. I believe more in equity than equality. I am biased and I favor women more and I believe they are stronger, wiser, and better than men. I am a man myself, but I don't think I can ever compare to a woman. Women go through so much and it is for that reason that I say I am a feminist, but I believe in more than just equality for women. How do you define feminism/women's rights/womanism? My feminism is allowing women to exist as equals and superiors to us men. I believe that society first has to be equal and then we can make our way to equity. My feminism is believing in women and not speaking or doing anything for me. As a man, my feminism is being a great ally to women and doing whatever I can to help them in this movement to make this world a better place for women to live. How has feminism, womanism, or women's right's shaped your perspective? Women and their fight has allowed me to see things in a new perspective. I see things in a deeper way and I think it's pretty great. I see all people for their true beauty without the blockers of sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and all. Being around women and watching them organize and fight has really inspired me and made me into the new person. Why are you advocating for women's rights? I grew up with interracial, gay parents. I am no stranger to discrimination. I have empathy for women and I hate society for the way that women have been treated. I am sure that I will never experience the things that women go through, but from my own life and the things I faced I can understand it and I want better for women. I feel like women deserve better. I don't understand how we can disrespect the very women that carry this world. Women have been through so much, but still they prevail. That is why I advocate for them. Women are strong, powerful, amazing, and beautiful. They have been beaten, raped, disrespected, spat at and on, forgotten about, disregarded, and disposed of, but still they rise. It honestly baffles me! It's amazing and every time I take on look at a woman I am reminded why I fight with them. Has becoming an advocate for women's rights changed you and the way you see the world? Explain. Being an advocate for women's rights and an ally has definitely changed me and the way I see the world. I grew up in a very modern and different home. I had two fathers, both of different races. I believe this has always helped me to see the world in color and not in black in white. Women's rights came natural to me. Who doesn't believe women should have the same opportunities and rights as men? Why wouldn't anyone believe that? To me it is basic humility and common sense. I am more aware of everything, I believe and I have so much more positivity, happiness, and people with alkaline views in my life. Being an advocate for women's rights has changed me for the better and elevated my life. I am surrounded my so many amazing people. I see the world in the darkness and the light. I can see the potential while experiencing the hate. Is there a person that encouraged you to become a feminist/women's rights advocate or womanist? How has this person helped you in your journey? My friend since gradeschool has encouraged me and she kind of helped me mold into the person I am today. She grew up in a house full of women who were feminist without even knowing they were feminist. They did not call themselves feminist or anything, but they were truly amazing women. The entire feel when you stepped into their home was warming. My friend would always correct me when I was being sexist and misogynist. It's actually how we started being friends. She wanted to play basketball with all the boys and we were taunting her and saying, "girls don't play basketball," but that girl played basketball that day and she showed us more than a thing or two. She was better than most of us on the court. I don't remember this, but she says I asked her how could a girl play basketball so well and she replied, "sports are not for boys only. Girls can play too. Even better than you." She has always guided me in becoming a man that I wanted to be as far as women's rights. Was there a moment that you realized women and men were not treated equally? If so, how did this make you feel? I don't think I can recall a specific moment, but high school really showed me that inequality between girls and boys was real. In high school there is a lot of ignorance floating through those halls. It's a hundreds of teenagers in one building and not everyone has reached peak maturity. Things I heard and seen in high school disgusted me. Girls not being able to play the sport they want, girls being judged by boys and even other girls. High school is a much like a big competition for most and I think mixing that with sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and more is really overwhelming. I became more familiar with women's rights and the things that girls had to go through in high school and this is when my admiration for women kind of started to grow. With all the doors that the women's rights movement has opened for women, what do you feel should be the next thing to shed light on and help towards? There is so much that needs to be shed light on. So much, but I think given the current state of this country focusing on the laws and executive orders that the leaders of this nation want to enforce should have attention. We're in a time where the government wants to have control over women and their body's. It's extremely important and as a person who is invested in women's rights it's heartbreaking that we've come so far, but are getting pushed back so much. Women are really fighting a serious fight now. They're fighting for the right to their own body and it's scary. What do you think of the way the women's rights movement is portrayed in the media? The media ruins everything. Women's rights is portrayed very dirty and wrong in the media and I believe that people intentionally inaccurately speak and slander the women's rights movement to paint that anything women do together as bad. Women coming together to fight for their rights is not about men or a senseless fight. It is serious. It is important and it is terrible that the media chooses to play dirty instead of showing this movement and the amazing women who are leading it, in a positive way. What would you consider misconceptions about the women's rights movement? I think there are many misconceptions about the women's rights movement and the allies are one of the biggest to me. Women should not be alone in this fight. They aren't alone and as a man, being an ally for feminist is not a bad thing and it doesn't make a man less of a man. Men have such fragile fragility and it hurts us more than anything. We can join women and help them with this fight. It is possible. People also have misconceptions and a lot of misinformation about the movement itself. I've heard so many incorrect information about women's rights. People don't even know why women are fighting. They think because women have been able to knock down a couple doors in this male dominated world, they're fine. Women have done a lot, but they still have a lot to do. Their fight is far from over.

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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Katy

Katy It is not about the label you bare, but the message you carry. You do not have to call yourself a feminist to be passionate about women's rights. Labels don't suit everyone and women's rights is all about allowing women to manage their own lives and their own freedom. Women's rights with Katy.... Do you consider yourself a feminist or a womanist? Do you prefer to not categorize yourself? Explain why. Neither. I prefer not to categorize myself because I feel like I don't fit into one category or have one label, but I do feel very passionate about women's right and I want the best for all women. Some will say I am a feminist. I say I am passionate about women and our rights. Same difference. How do you define feminism/women's rights/womanism? I define my women's rights by standing up for all women no matter what. All women deserve a voice and we all deserve to be respected. How has feminism, womanism, or women's right's shaped your perspective? I think women's rights has shaped my perspective by showing me how vile women are treated. I have been able to see how women are really treated and perceived in this world outside of the internalized misogyny I was once suffering from. When you grow up a certain way or surround yourself with certain people and hear things, it seems acceptable for women to be treated differently. That's the memo I got from some people and some of those people were women themselves. Once I removed myself from those sexist environments and came back to the person I knew in my heart I was, I discovered the true purpose of women's rights to me and my entire perspective of everything changed. Why are you advocating for women's rights? I am advocating for women's rights because I am a woman and I want to live in a world that treats women right. I don't want to live in a world where women don't have right to education, work, or even to exist. It's not a place I want to live. It's not a place anyone should want to live. There should be a face on this planet that believes women should be paid less than men because they're a woman, women should be abused and beaten because they're a woman or women should have no rights because they're a woman. Many other things too of course. There are so many scenarios. The list can go on forever, but it boils down to the fact women do not deserve to be discriminated against. Has becoming an advocate for women's rights changed you and the way you see the world? Explain. Yes. I believe I see the world for the way it really is. People can be disgusting, sexist, and really mean. Becoming the person I am with women's rights has helped me see this. The more I explored and researched and meet new people, the more I was able to change and become a new person. I am not the same girl I was when I was 15. I've learned so much more and I'm so much stronger, wiser, and I use my voice as my most powerful weapon now. Is there a person that encouraged you to become a feminist/women's rights advocate or womanist? How has this person helped you in your journey? My brother! He's an amazing person and he's a feminist. He has helped me become more vocal for women's rights. Although I don't call myself a feminist, he's been a great help. I can remember him talking about feminism when he was a teenager and I was a couple years younger than him, so I wasn't that interested, but having him around me, him being the person he was, was helpful. He's a great man. He's a great feminist. He would always say, "men shouldn't wait until they have a daughter to b a feminist," and it really stuck with me and opened my eyes to the men allies. Was there a moment that you realized women and men were not treated equally? If so, how did this make you feel? When I watched my father treat me and my brother different our entire lives. I wasn't allowed to date, go out, get tattoos or piercings, and even dress how I wanted because I was "a girl" and my brother was "a boy" . This really introduced me to sexism and then I just seen more outside and in other places. This made me feel upset. I couldn't believe my own father would treat me like that just based off the fact I am a girl. I couldn't fathom it. I still can't to this day. I love my father very much, but growing up in that environment and being denied so much because of my sex was depressing. My family is also very religious, so I was being sexualized and experiencing sexism covered as religion. My parents would tell me to save myself for marriage because only a pure, innocent girl would get a man. They never told my brother to save himself for marriage. My father was even proud when my brother began dating and became sexually active. It was almost a prize to him, you know? His son, the macho man, had a girlfriend and all the other crazy things. Then he would turn to me and say, "wait until marriage, Katy." Or "you really don't need a boyfriend, Katy. Boys are distractions. They're no good for you." It was a lot for me to take in at a young age, but I was able to make my own thoughts and ways just like many other girls. I didn't let my environment and the people that surrounded me keep me enclosed for too long. When did you become invested in women's rights? Why did this change happen? I graduated high school at 16. I was extremely fresh at college. I didn't go too far away from home, but I was far away enough to have my freedom and have my family at the same time. Feminism and women's rights weren't new to me. I grew up with a feminist in the bedroom next to mine, but in college I met hundreds of women and men who were feminist, who took part in strikes, in rallies, in protest. People who were majoring in things linked to women's rights and things of that sort. It was a new world for me. I was happy to say the least. It was amazing. College really opened my eyes and it gave me the best experiences. My roommate was by far the most eye opening. She was originally from Turkey and had lived there for most of her life. When she was 17 her family moved to the states. I can remember her shock at the freedom women in America had. She would always say to me, "you just don't know how good you have it." She would tell me about the sexism and degrading things women had to endure in her home and it would make me so sad. She helped me become aware of the sexism outside of the states. I realized it was bigger than me not being able to date and my brother being able to. We kind of found our way as young women in society together. We still are too. With all the doors that the women's rights movement has opened for women, what do you feel should be the next thing to shed light on and help towards? I think the next thing that should be shed light on is the lack of representation of women from other countries. Women's rights didn't start of end in America. There is so much we don't know about women in other locations and it's important we all know. What do you think of the way the women's rights movement is portrayed in the media? I think is portrayed in a very nasty light. People don't see it for what it actually is. The media makes everything out to be the worst thing ever, but it really confuses me how the media portrays women's rights. I don't understand how women fighting for rights isn't important to everyone. There are literally leaders of countries saying women are not equal to men, there are tons of women being underpaid, women being abused, women being raped and taken advantage of because they are women. It is not something light. It upsets me that the media portrays our fights as something bad. We are fighting for a real cause and for real change. What would you consider misconceptions about the women's rights movement? That feminist are men bashers. I personally find it annoying and I don't consider myself a feminist! It's a simple movement with a simple message, but people still found a way to paint it in a bad way. It goes back to the way of the media. Women organize amongst themselves and dare stand up for their rights to a man and suddenly we all hate them. It's absurd. All women do not hate men. There are women who hate men and I personally believe they have a right. Men have caused so much pain for women. What is the most important issue you would like to see be discussed and managed? This is hard for me to answer because I believe that every issue is the most important and should always be discussed. I can't pick one thing that should be the center of attention. There's just so much and I want it all to be televised and discussed and solved.

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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Ericka

"Being a feminist and strongly speaking out on your beliefs is a blessing and a curse. But though the taunts and remarks, one can remember that feminism is not always met with positive reviews, but it is never too bad to abandon your beliefs and rights." Feminism with Feminism Ericka.... How does feminism shape your outlook? Feminism shapes my outlook because I just really believe in equality and it kind of makes my outlook more positive. Especially at Hoover. I feel there can be a lot of negativity at Hoover, a lot of racism and sexism also, but being a feminist and believing in so many things that feminist believe in shapes me into a more positive person. I see the world in a way that's positive and better than what it is actually. I see the world and society as things that can be positive and good because of feminism. How do you define your feminism? A lot of people think feminism is about men. Bashing men and bringing them down, but I believe I define my feminism is bringing women up and believing we should have the same rights and opportunities as men. We deserve equal rights and equality. That's how I feel. People like to judge and intentionally bash feminism, but it's a movement that is important to women and men both. That's how I define my feminism. Why are you advocating for women's rights? I am advocating for women's rights because I feel like we have come so far in society that we should never really stop fighting for them because there is always going to be sexism in society. I don't think we can change the beliefs of everyone, but I do think if we fight for what we're doing it will still be positive for us. How has feminism affected your life? My sister. She is a big feminist too and I grew up with her and her views kind of rubbed off onto me. She's a great inspiration and her being a feminist has helped and guided me in my own journey. I will also say feminist celebrities like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. They are both great women who are feminist that I look up to and they really inspire me. How has feminism affected your life and your decisions? It has definetly affected the group of people I hand around. I don't surround myself with people who don't believe that feminism is important and don't put feminism as a thing. That is how it affected the people I socialize with. I'll say feminism has affected my life by allowing me to standout, especially at Hoover [High school] I don't believe there is a lot of feminist at Hoover. Not feminist that speaks out and is always saying what they believe in. When did you realize that society did not treat men and women as equals? How did this make you feel? I realized the inequality at a very young age. The boys at school were always trying to show they were tougher than the girls, always saying they're strongher than us or smarter than us because of their sex. It's small things that made me see sexism at a young age. I don't think until I entered high school I realized that feminism was something I actually followed, believed in, and believed was important for society. What do you think is the biggest misconception of feminism? I think the biggest misconception about feminism is that feminist is about bringing men down, which it is not about. Feminism is not about bringing men down at all. It doesn't have anything to do with bashing men all day. I also think the only feminist that get attention or the only time feminism has light shed on it is when there are moments when feminist are talking down about men or portraying bad behaviors or saying things that really don't go within feminism. Feminist get attention when things are bad rather than when they're doing good things for women and the movement. What do you think of the way feminism is portrayed in the media? How do you think feminist can combat or fix it? I think feminism is portrayed horribly in the media. The media brings feminism down and paints it as a bad thing. Saying things like "feminist think they're better than everyone" or "feminist always bash men." I think we can resolve this by bringing awareness to the truth of feminism and show what it is really about, which is equality.

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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Kamryn

"Feminists come in many genders, shapes and colors, come from many different backgrounds and walks of lives, but women’s rights is the one thing that brings us all together. Feminism has no requirement rather than believing and advocating for women." Feminism With Kamryn..... Would you consider yourself a feminist? Yes. A hundred percent a hundred times! I love being a feminist. What does feminism mean to you and how do you define your feminism? My feminism is basically being about you and standing up for women as a whole. My feminism is standing up for women. ALL women. All women who can be and say what she wants. You don’t have to be educated or bold or feminine to be a feminist. How does feminism shape your outlook on life? I feel like a lot of things aren’t being pushed under the rug now. It has allowed things to be more relevant and important in my life. I’m more bold and don’t accept a lot of things society tells me to. How has feminism affected your life and your decisions? Feminism has influenced my life by allowing me to be more in control and aware. Being a feminist has affected my outlook and made me decide I am capable of a lot of things, but not saying when you aren’t a feminist you aren’t capable. Society want you to believe that women have to be submissive and that’s not the case. A man will not make me hush! It [feminism] has made my opinions more relevant and made me more confident and walk batter and have an opinion. What do you think of the way feminism is covered in the media and how do you think women can help it? I believe feminism is not always received with appreciation and respect that other movements are. It is displayed negative in the media a hundred percent I believe. People think feminism is anti-men and anti-all things and it gets a bad name. People don’t think very open minded and think anything is OK and right, but it’s not. A way to change the view and perception, to me, is to open up and respect people’s opinions, and allow everyone to have an opinion. We [feminists] have to be more open and accept others and not always jump down someone’s throat. What do you make of the division in feminism and how do you think it can be fixed? There definitely is division and tension in the feminism movement. White women sort of have their own feminism. They think they are superior and some fight for their rights-not for all women. There is a big difference in black women and women of color when compared to white women. Also more conservative feminist or feminist who only care for some equal rights. Amber Rose is a feminist who constructs Slut Walks in the U.S and fights for complete equal rights whether in the workplace or for the sexual liberation or not sexualizing women. A more conservative feminists doesn’t care for sexual freedom and fighting for women not being sexualized for things they wear or say. I want the same opportunity for all women in all cases. That’s my feminism.

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feministthe-blog · 7 years

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Naomi

"Feminism is for all women, by women, and it will help women. I think it's time for women to be selfish. Feminism is equality for the sexes yes, but I strongly think women should remain the main focus. Women are strong, powerful, beautiful, funny, amazing! All the things and it seems this society does not appreciate the woman a hundred percent. It's time for that to happen and it will." Feminism with Naomi.... How does feminism shape your outlook? Feminism makes me look at everything in a new light. I think about things more and really just look at life through a fresh set of eyes. I now understand and I’m aware of all it means to be a women in this society. This makes how I look at everything change. How I see my parents, my friends, my teachers, my co-workers. It definitely made me give my outlook a boost. Why are you fighting for women’s rights? Women are not appreciated. Women are not free. Women are not treated the same. I want for women on every inch of this planet to have the basic human rights they deserve. How do you define your feminism? My feminism is focusing on women and women only. My feminism is doing things I can do to help women. I think we have the right to be selfish and have this to ourselves. Feminism is for us. My feminism is for me and other women. Is there anyone that has inspired you to advocate for women? If there is anyone that has inspired me it has to be men. Watching and listening to men really opened my eyes to the way women are treated. Men will say, "but she's a girl!" or something along those lines and it ignites a fire in me. We do not deserve to be discriminated against because we are women. It's wrong and it's sexist, but it is the thing that has inspired me in my journey of women's rights. How has feminism affected your life? My entire way of life has been affected. I choose my friends, what I want to do when I get older, who I date, where I dine and tons of other things because of feminism. I don’t want to go where women aren’t treated right and celebrated. It's a serious thing for me. I don't want to be anywhere where I am not welcomed or other women aren't. It's very, very important and has affected my life so much. What are you doing personally to advocate and further the feminist mission? I am doing the same thing that every other feminist is doing and that is everything I can do. I speak out and try to educate others, I donate money, I participate in marches. Anything that I can do to help, I do it. What do you think of the way that feminism is covered in the media and how do you think we can help it? I think feminism is poorly covered in the media. The media makes feminism out to be a man-hating, bra-burning, unintelligent movement, but it is not. Feminism is the thing that will make sure that every women and little girl everywhere in this world will be respected, will be treated equally, will be able to be a women and powerful or weak. It will be the thing that makes sure that women that aspire to be the CEO of company and the women who want to be stay-at-home mothers all are protected, respected, celebrated, and treated equally. What do you believe are the biggest misconceptions about feminism? There’s so many! I cannot even begin to think about the biggest. But if I had to say it who people think feminist are. I believe it's hard to believe that a feminist can be a man, a very religious person, a person who's sexually liberated, a person who wants to save themselves for marriage or something. There is not one look or representation for feminism and I think that's what boggles people and makes them have misconceptions about it. When did you realize that in the world women aren’t treated as equal to a man? How did this make you feel? I realized women aren’t treated equally as to men when I watched women I’ve grown up around having to put 110% more into everything they do because they’re a women. I can always remember women being called promiscuous and other bad words because of their lives, but a man can do the same and he’s a “ladies man” The double standards and the extra work that women have to put in to even be looked at, at that time made me feel furious. How dare you look at a woman like that? How dare you treat a woman like that, you know? What are your hopes for the future of feminism? That women are truly set free. I love women and I want for us all to have the freedom we deserve. I want all women to be happy, to do what they want, and be secure in everything they do without having to worry about not being seen as successful because she's a woman.

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