What comes to your mind when you think of feminism?
I think of gender equality. In a lot of women's minds, women are the superior gender. In a lot of men's minds, they're superior. How do you think that works out?
Feminism is not the fight for superiority in women.
Feminism is the fight for equality for women.
There are a lot of degrading gender roles that women are expected to follow, and feminism is only about breaking those down, and saying we can do as much as men can.
Gender roles are honestly the dumbest thing. And they're the norm in society, so it's harder for people to accept how terrible they are.
Most white feminists are the people who only support a portion of real women. White, cisgender women, who are only dealing with minor problems, like men not taking them seriously. But are you an activist when it comes to other types of women? Transgender women? Women of color? Religious women, that aren't Christian? All women count, and so if you're going to be a feminist, make sure you support all that comes with feminism.
Gender roles, now let me tell you what I think about those.
They're ridiculous, in my mind.
When you say, "you throw like a girl," to that young boy, what goes through his mind? Automatic superiority. He thinks it's not okay to throw like a girl, and that girls can't be as athletic as boys.
When you're a male in a heterosexual relationship, and you tell your female partner that it's her duty to stay at home and clean the house, it makes her feel unworthy, like she's not strong enough to be the provider of the relationship. She is expected to clean the house, because women are seen as the inferior gender, and that she can't be independent and do anything on her own.
Also, people need so stick up for women. They're ridiculed for everything they do. If they have a ton of sex, they're shamed for it. If they have little to no sex, they're shamed for it. If they wear makeup, they're "insecure" and if they don't, they're "ugly." Women are always expected to do things for society, when really, they just want you to mind your own business.
Whenever someone tells you that something happens because 'you're a girl,' call them out on that. You are your best self as a woman. This is a great lesson for all the males out there too. Women are not objects, and they shouldn't be expected to do certain things. Like you would expect a chef to cook. Or a mailman to deliver packages. That's not how women are. They don't have automatic jobs.
Playing with dolls is not a girl thing. It's a gender neutral thing.
Liking the color pink is not a girl thing. It's a gender neutral thing.
Wearing dresses, skirts, anything considered feminine, is not a girl thing, it's a gender neutral thing. It's feminine, but it's not for girls.
You don't have to be a boy playing with toy cars, you can be a girl who likes to.
You don't have to be a girl playing with dolls, you can be a boy who likes to.
Gender roles need to be demolished. You can do whatever you want if it makes you happy, because nothing is 'gendered' in this world.
So this rant is kind of an introduction to the new section. It's all about gender identities, since I've now covered sexual identities. Keep in mind they're very two different things. Gender is what you identify as. Sexuality is who you're attracted to. So the 'basics' of gender will be introduced in the next entry! Thanks for reading and please comment and vote!