Yes, I am feminist

Brunell, L. & Burkett E. defines feminism as a range of social movements, political movements, and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2019)

I have witnessed the majority--mainly men--both inwardly and outwardly opposing the idea that women and men must be given equal rights and opportunities.

I have heard men voicing out their disapproval with the known label, their 'If it's about gender equality, why is it called "feminism", then?', 'It should've been human beingsm! Genderism!' and the likes. 

So why is it really called feminism instead of a neutral word that doesn't sound so women-biased? 

For decades, we have been battling for equality of sexes, to break the stigma, those gender roles, and society's standards defining women as the inferior and men as the superior. That men are born leaders, they must be on top, always. They should be the ones who are holding the steering wheel at all times as they are the ones who don't let their emotions control them. While women, on the contrary, are the irrational ones. Thus the stereotype that they aren't capable of leading.

We must understand what feminism is meant to be. It is the advocacy of women on the basis that, in all aspects, women and men must be receiving equal treatment, equal opportunities, and equal judgment.

It existed for women to finally unleash, be liberated and empowered that they can end and they are capable  of ending the critical patriarchy and gender roles that have been preventing us from turning into someone out of the box for so long.

Feminism at its core is about equality and not sameness. Men and women are different in nature, the way men are naturally strong and women are weaker in terms of physical abilities. It is perplexing to acknowledge that same is not synonymous with equal. It requires a deep sense of understanding and a rational judgment for genders. Bias in gender is rampant within  society, most of us just don't want to admit it. 

But the issue here is about equal rights and equal access to opportunities, women being able to move freely and express themselves without worries in a way that it won't be weighed up with the standards for women. WE now want to put the women-must-be-this-ways into rest. It is no longer existing. It doesn't matter anymore. Women can work regardless of their physical abilities and not just stay at home, mothering their children; although I believe we are almost there but we haven't fully arrived yet.

It is continuous progress as long as there are still people in our society who are sleeping. You can be a man and be an advocate for a change. You can be a man and support the equality of sexes. You can be a man and be feminist. We have to abide by this movement in an effort to pave the way for equal rights for women and men.

Do you think it is inherently fair for women to gain only partial rights while men have full array of the remaining ones? If you believe in equality, but against feminism, why?

Yes, I am a feminist. And I will not settle for the bare minimum, and neither should you. Because feminism is about so much more than that.

n. leheri