YESSS!! I love this thread so much! Feminism is a topic that needs to be talked about. We want equality for all. Feminism is NOT women trying to take over, women just want equal rights! Talking about equal rights, have you guys ever been to one of the Women's Marches / Protests ? I've been to 3, and I'm going to more soon! 

*Reads thread* Well huh. That's good to know. I've only worn make up once on account of my girly sister's sanity, and even then I only complied to wearing eye liner. For context, I was going as Kantiss Everdeen for Halloween. Even now, I don't wear make up, and I usually wear jeans and a tee shirt. I don't care about what other people think about the way I look, and no person ever should. It's maddening. At least that's what I've been told.

If you care about what other people think about your physique, don't. It's really just you being dissatisfied with the things that only you notice and only you think are ugly. I've found that most of my friends criticize themselves because they are slouching. It makes your ribs push your organs outwards, and from a perspective of two eyes looking down from straight above, it may seem like the beholder is fat, but they're not. You're not.

As for clothes, choose clothes that complimant your figure, skin tone, and eye color, but never flaunt them. They weren't meant for that. It doesn't look great.

I can give any advice on makeup, but I want all the girls reading this to know that they are special, and they are loved. A girl who radiates confidence (but not arrogance) is the most attractive by any standard. Smile. Stand straight. Be kind. Look upon the world as your adventure, and have a twinkle in your eye that says 'I'm ready for whatever you throw at me'. It is beautiful and good when girls and women in general stand up for themselves.

Just remember. You are loved. 

If it's means for the equality of both genders, why is it it called feminism?

Yes. Thank you, someone, for saying this. Feminism is very important to me, and I often feel the need to discuss it. I have a friend who doesn't believe in feminism, and this is exactly what I always try to tell her. Yes, I know women can vote. I know we can go to school. But it's things like this- the stereotypes, the social pressure- that we need to change. There are so many things that guys can do that girls can too, but they feel like they aren't allowed to. If people disagree with feminism, then I respect your opinion. But I respect mine, too. Please stop trying to shove why I'm wrong down my throat. Thank you again for saying this, I think this is a good thing to read and keep in mind.

@curious, I might be wrong about this, but I think feminism started out as suffragists working for the right to vote. The second wave of feminism focused more on women in the workplace (equal pay, women getting jobs they hadn't been able to get previously), divorce laws, family, and more aspects of society, and third wave feminism focused on abolishing gender stereotypes and included women with diverse racial and cultural identites. It's all the same movement, but the goals have changed.

I've been to two marches- the Women's March on Washington in 2017, and one in Seneca Falls this year. They were both lots of fun, and it was great to see so many people united for a cause.

Also, there's the gender wage gap, which is also still a problem today. Women are still sometimes paid less in jobs, even if they work just as hard.

@Esthelle: What you said is a common misconception. There are most certainly waves of feminism; however, a feminist who believes that women are above men is not a feminist at all. They are a misandrist and that is not the same thing. It's misandrists posing as feminists that make this such a common misunderstanding.

@curious: The short answer is because women are the ones being pushed down. We aren't attempting to become greater than men; we're trying to be equal to them, but to do that, we need to elevate ourselves. The focus is on feminine oppression, thus, feminism.

@..... That's a very untrue statement and let me explain why. Firstly, it's impossible for women to take more breaks than men in the workplace. Each workplace has its own rules as to how many breaks an employee can take. They can take that many and no more. Women don't get more breaks than men; they get the same amount, assuming they're both same-level employees in the same company. Also, these breaks and vacations are called "paid leave" because you still get paid when you're taking time off. So breaks really have nothing to do with how much a person is paid. You know what does have something to do with it? Sexism. 

[Note from Admin: The comment from . . . is not clear as to what is meant by "breaks." It may mean that women get more time off because of maternity leaves or sick-child care.]

Additionally, what I've seen says that your statement on divorces is not true; however, it was also pretty confusingly worded and I may have misinterpreted it. However, I believe that it was saying that men are actually far more likely to be awarded 50/50 custody of a child, even when the man is clearly unfit to raise them for whatever reason. This is because the justice system will favor the man and his opinions and wants over the woman's, even unconsciously, which is demonstrated not only in divorce cases but in others as well.

Women are still not equal to men, and that's why I'm a feminist. People won't acknowledge that women are still not equal to men, and that's why I'm a feminist. And I will stay a feminist until both of these statements are proven false.