Okay it's time to clear up some things about true feminism, because there are a lot of misconceptions. First, feminism is a gender equality movement. I repeat, feminism is a gender equality movement. It is not just a women's movement it's a men's movement too! Going along with that feminism is not about hating men, feminist does not equal misandrist. Contrary to popular belief not all feminists are angry lesbians who don't shave there legs and hate men. Just no. This statement is a huge wrong generalization. Yes there are feminists who don't shave, and that is fine (I am not one of them). I understand the concept and I think it's great that those women have chosen to defy the "beauty standard" set. Yes there are feminists that are lesbians, once again I am not one of them. Just because you're a feminist doesn't mean you're a lesbian. There is nothing wrong with being a lesbian, but I'm just saying people of all different sexualities are feminists. Stereotyping feminists as "angry" is not okay (stereotyping anyone is not okay). We're not always angry, but we sure a hell have a right to be if we want. Some other things I frequently hear: 1) Feminists are ugly. That's just ignorant, spiteful, and rude besides have you seen Emma Watson?????? 2) Feminists are fat. Once again that is ignorant, spiteful, and rude. 3) Feminists are stupid. Again that is ignorant, spiteful, and rude. 3) Feminists are sexist. What the hell? this statement just proves to me that whoever said this is ignorant and completely uneducated on feminism. 4) Feminists are "feminazis". Okay yes there are feminzais, but they are not real feminists. They go against the ideas of feminism and do not represent us at all. They are radical and have a skewed understanding. This seems to be the only group the media focuses on though...they are the outspoken minority. Personally I think they are worse than misogynists they give us real feminists a bad name and give misogynists and anti-feminists a tool to use against us. Moral of this last paragraph stop generalizing and stereotyping us. It's ignorant and not okay.
Another common misconception is that feminism is just for women. Like mentioned previously feminism is about gender equality therefore men's equality is included. Besides the point that men are equally entitled to caring about women's equality as well because why not (and they should)? Just like women should care equally as much about men's equality. "Feminism is for white women" there are so many things wrong with this. Feminism is equally if not more important for women AND men of color.
Many people also think that feminism is irrelevant now and that is far from true. Feminism is very relevant and very important in America and around the world. In America feminism is addressing the misrepresentation of women in the media. Frequently the media objectifies and over sexualizes women. Also, there is a lack of strong female leads in the media. This affects how women are treated and viewed in society and in the workforce. Of course there is also the ever so controversial pay gap issue. Whether you want to believe it or not the pay gap is real all of the statistics may not be totally accurate, but pay gap is real and is a problem. Reproductive rights are proablyy the biggest legal issue third-wave feminism is dealing with. One of the most relevant topics in feminism in America currently is rape culture. Rape culture and rape are different things. Yes I recognize that men get raped too and that is a huge problem, but that's not what I'm talking about at the moment. I'm talking about the unfathomable amount of people that still ask what a girl was wearing when she was raped or sexually assaulted. I'm talking about the fact that I and many other women are afraid to walk places alone at night or during the day. The fact that over 80 schools are under investigation for Title IX complaints. Majority of these complaints are from universities are mishandling sexual assault and rape cases. They ignore them, don't take them seriously, and in many cases don't even investigate. The most recent discovery of a university mishandling a rape case was at University of Virginia, where it took a year and a half for them to begin investigating a gang rape case.
Then once we look at things on a global level it just gets worse and feminism becomes more necessary. In many middle eastern countries women and young girls are denied the right to education. In Saudi Arabia and Vatican City women are denied the right to vote. In India and China baby girls are murdered simply because they are girls and that is seen as a burden. In Yemen a woman is only considered half of a witness in court. Feminism is relevant and necessary. Do NOT say that feminism is irrelevant.
