What Is Feminism? Essay

Submitted By issybosh
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“The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be, rather than recognise who we are”
-Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings. Feminism is about gaining equal rights and opportunities for women, and allowing women to have control over their lives and bodies. At a time when women are sexualized and objectified in so many cultures, feminism is also about empowering women and young girls. Feminists can be straight, bisexual, pansexual, asexual or gay. Feminists can also be men, since any person- male or female- who wants equal opportunities for both sexes is a feminist. Some feminists are tomboys, while others are feminine. There is no one stereotype that all feminists fit into.
Over time, feminism has gained a negative label, and it’s mostly due to ignorance. It is as if society makes out self-proclaimed feminists to be whining, complaining women who hate men. There is generally a lot of ignorance regarding the feminist cause, and feminism is misrepresented by common stereotypes. People often assume feminists are women who have had a bad experience so they have hostile motives. When supporters of feminism tell others that they are a feminist, they are often met with remarks such as “why do you want to kill men?” Feminism is not about destroying men – it’s about eliminating patriarchy and sexism.
Only 29% of American women and 42% of British women would describe themselves as a feminist. That is ridiculous. 29% of American women and 42% of British women don’t support the cause which gives them the freedom to vote and the ability to not be owned by the man they marry and the cause which campaigns for equal pay. Some people question the need for feminism. Now that women in “industrialised” nations have the right to work and vote, many people believe that gender equality has already been established, and that it’s only the poor, developing countries that still have patriarchal structures. If only that were the case. I doubt that there is any country that has complete equality for both sexes. Even in the UK and America, double standards and gender inequality are prevalent. Women might be able to work, but there’s still the gender and racial pay gap, and sexual harassment in the workplace, amongst other
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