I am completely a feminist. To me, it makes absolutely no sense that some people think men are more capable than women. I also think that girls and boys should be able to like anything they want. It doesn't make sense that by just looking at a person, you can tell if they are a boy or a girl by the clothes they wear, how their hair looks, and even the way they act. People only act like stereotypical boys and girls because if they didn't it would be considered weird, unless that's what they actually like. But why is it strange for a girl to wear a suit to a fancy event instead of a dress? Or to like blue instead of pink? People should be able to do things without their gender affecting it.

I am definitely a feminist. It's important here to note, that like Pepper Star has already mentioned, that feminism is the idea that men and women should be treated equally. So to be honest, I don't really see why people aren't feminists (besides the fact that they think that feminism entails women running the world and like enslaving men and whatnot. ALSO: I don't mean to offend anyone or point finger; I'm speaking in general terms here) Because the idea that women are people too was radical (and still is, in certain parts of the world). And while the United States has definitely grown and developed and is changing, there are still things that we have to champion ourselves, things that are maybe more well known to the public eye, while there are things that slip by unnoticed that we can't let go anymore. And I know someone mentioned the gender wage gap, but also, please be aware of unrealistic body standards and body shaming (and I know that this applies to boys too), or that women who stand up for their rights are often threatened, etc, and other things that aren't exactly PG-13. Because "I was just joking" or anything along those lines is not acceptable. What I find important about feminism is for everyone who grows up never learning, never knowing, never getting the chance to be who they want to be. Because this is for all the girls out there who get told "don't be so bossy" or "he picks on you because he likes you" or that they're "too sensitive" and that they "can't take a joke". And on that note, labels and stereotypes are meaningless. Remember that, everyone. And this doesn't just apply to girls, it's equally applicable to boys— in the 21st-century, we should all have the right and ability to be who we want to be without being mocked or ridiculed. But the one thing that does annoy me about feminism is the over-commercialization of it, the way that brand names have suddenly become feminist, selling their "the future is female" t-shirts for $60 or soap that "empowers women". And I'll stop my long-winded rant here. 

I love you all <33 

I don't really know if I'm a feminist or not. Sure, I think that women and men should have equal rights and oppurtunities. I also think that women can be whatever they want if that is what they choose. At the same time, I also think that men and women were not created equal. They are obviously different, and they have different roles. This doesn't mean that I think that women should just be SAHM and do nothing else. My religion believes that they family is central to God's plan, and that one of our purposes on this Earth is to create families. I for one know that I am going to have a family and have kids, but I am also going to get an education and hopefully have a proffession. I'm not shooting down the people who just believe in SAHM. My mom is, and she is the best person ever. 

I also believe that women should be respected. I don't want to have to walk through Walmart with my sister and have remarks made by other passing men. It doesn't make me feel good, and I feel like women shouldn't have to be treated like that. Just because I am a girl doesn't mean that you can say whatever you want to me and it will be OK. I think that people just need to learn basic respect.

I agree with Someone.

A lot of you who are saying you're "sort of" feminists: you are feminists. Look, there are feminists who don't believe in the right to "choose." There are Christian feminists and agnostic feminists and Muslim feminists and Mexican feminists and Asian feminists and male feminists. There are feminists with varying views on LGBT+ and other such politics. But if you believe that men and women are equal, you are a feminist. Sure, you're not an extreme one necessarily, but you're a feminist.

So am I! I'm most certainly a feminist. I believe that it's perfectly all right to be a SAHM, or a SAHD, or a working mom or a working dad. I believe in the right to choose. And as for reasons feminism still needs to exist, I have a super long list. Not all of it is CB-appropriate, but I'll post what I can.

1. "Oh, he's just doing that because he has a crush on you." That's what girls are told from a very young age when they complain that a boy is pulling her hair or pouring mud on her or what have you. That's not okay to put into people's heads. What happens later, when boys are doing . . . other things? Is that still excusable because of a "crush"?

2. Wage gaps exist. So do job opportunities. If a man and a woman applied for the same job and had the same qualifications, the man has a distinctly higher chance of getting hired over the woman. The main reason for this? The woman might start a family. And, yes, that's a perfectly real possibility. But it's just as likely that the man will start a family. And that's an issue.

3. Catcalls. Some catcalls are just not okay. So not okay that I can't even repeat them here. But women everywhere hear them - heck, I've heard them, I'm thirteen years old. And they're a social norm.

 
4. I once read this testimonial by a man that worked alongside his wife, and they were customer assistants of some sort. At one point he was e-mailing with a client who was a completely terrible person - uncooperative, impatient, and downright rude. Then, the man realized that he'd been signing his wife's name on all the emails, because they had a joint account. He apologized and explained it to the man. Afterwards, that client became a model subject.

 
5. There's an argument that fourth wave feminism doesn't exist. That it's just misandry by now. That all of our statistics and testimonials are fake. That's not okay either, because they're not and we need feminism.

 
6. Feminism isn't just about women's rights, though that's mostly what it encompasses. Feminism stands for anti-racism, anti-segregation, and other positive political stances. Even if men and women suddenly become totally equal, feminists will still be out there, pledging their support.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but there you go. Even that would be enough to form a decent argument, right? Not to mention some of the things I had to censor. But again - if you agree with the things I said (except, perhaps, parts of the second paragraph), you're most certainly a feminist, and don't let confusion with misandry or even mere hesitation confuse you.

I agree with everything St. said. But the main thing to realize here is that we can't keep pinning the blame on the 'other.' This argument is used a lot by feminists, but this doesn't mean it doesn't apply to us. We can't keep on saying, "Oh yeah, I'm a feminist, but not that kind of feminist." We can't keep on saying, "Other people think [something sexist] or act [anything racist]." We've got to realize that these things are ingrained into everyone's brain, in the subconscious mind.  

We see things in the media, especially when we're young. We see that people with certain characteristics often have better roles, better abilities and talent, and even if we vocally disagree, it's always there, hidden in our brains. 

EVERYONE has subconscious bias, from the alt-right (although it's a little less subconscious XD) to the most passionate equality activists. And it shows up. We might treat people differently based on their skin or hair. And everyone does it. You can't shame everyone. 

"The good man is the friend of all living things." --Mahatma Gandhi

Ok, so for those who've been around longer than a few months, you know that im an extream rights activist. Like, for basically everything. And now, what you've all been waiting for.....my long-winded rant! 

First things first, not every woman hast to be a SAHM, and they dont even have to be a mom! They have the rights to choose, choose to go to collage, choose to get married, choose to work, choose to be whoever they want. Heck, they can even be president! Woman make great leaders too, not just men. Some of the greatest people were woman, actually, MOST of the greatest people were woman. Theyre just not talked about as much, because guess what, society favors males. 

And while we're on the topic, men can be whoever they want, too. They can be a SAHD, work, go to collage, get married. They dont have to support the family, they can be a house husband, or do a little of both. 

And I agree with Mei and St.Owl, and you guys, women need more respect. Its not ok what guys say to woman, they should show more respect. And the worst part is, they get away with it. And when women say things like that, we're frowned upon. Heck if women did anything that males do, like sit like a male and talk like one, or even be even a bit tomboyish, they'd get frowned upon and people would say it was rude (Experience).

Alright, thats all I got for now.  

Claaws, you make some very good points. I'm sorry we can't post the political paragraph on Chatterbox.

Admin

@Admins could you please tell me why my post was deleted? I am 90% sure it didn't contain anything offensive or not allowed.

What post do you mean? I don't remember deleting anything recently. Maybe it's just on a back page? Feel free to sumit it again for consideration.

Admin

I've always found the "men and women are different but equal" argument kind of... alienating. And also not true. Because those arguments say that women are 'naturally' more social and less inclined toward STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) or whatever, as someone who is extremely uncomfortable in social situations and really likes science. I guess that makes me an anomaly. Anyway, scientific studies show that the brain is, at first, a unisex organ. Societal forces and behaviors taught to children can shape what is thought of as "the female brain" or "the male brain". And other studies show that "male and female brains" aren't as different as people think. (see Scientific American issue The Gender Issue) And the whole "male and female brains" totally discounts people who are nonbianary. I've always kind of thought that this "male and female brains" thing was like the "right and left brain" thing (which has also been disproved by science) in that people want to put themselves in a nice, simple, category. I don't mean to attack anyone, or their religion, but I've always seen the Bible as more metaphorical than literal. I think the teachings of the Bible, and the Torah, and the Quran are great, but I feel that the Bible is often used to justify stuff (women are inferior, black people are inferior, evolution never happened, gay people are evil, etc.) Maybe it never literally happened, but that doesn't mean that the Bible doesn't have important things to say. 

Did anyone else get a creepy, segregation feeling from that first sentence (different but equal)? You know, segregation in the American South in the early 20th century... That wasn't on purpose, I swear.