Last updated: June 9, 2016
I’ve been a bit busy this week, so today’s installment of Friday’s The F-Word is a bit shorter than usual.
I’m a feminist for many reasons. Here are 10 of them.
- It’s 2016, and the United States has never had a female president. While the November election could change that, it’s absolutely absurd that this is the first time we’ve even had a woman as the Republican or Democratic nominee.
- It’s 2016, and a presidential candidate routinely uses gendered slurs.
- Rapist Brock Turner only received a six-month sentence for raping an unconscious woman. Just so we’re clear, this is an example of what I mean by “rape culture.” Brock Turner was convicted of rape, with a recommended sentence of six years, but the judge only gave him six months.
- The Catholic Church, and many Protestant denominations, don’t allow women to hold leadership positions.
- By the time I graduated high school, I’d already lost count of the number of times I’d been sexually harassed.
- More than one man has sent me sexually-explicit emails, including an unsolicited dick pic.
- An analysis of 122 family films from 2006 to 2009 reveals great gender disparity in the characters. Only 29.2% of the speaking characters are female. Female characters are also more likely to wear sexy clothing and be younger in age. Source
- When I was still at Furman, pretty much anytime sexual assault or rape came up in conversation with me and one or more dudes, at least one of them would immediately bring up false rape accusations or the rape of men. Because if a conversation doesn’t focus on men, it’s not important, amirite?
- North Carolina’s House Bill 2 just overturned basically every single anti-discrimination law for the state.
- As a kid, my school library had just a handful of biographies on famous American women, but considerably more on men. Not only that, but the series published significantly more books on men than on women.
Sharing the reasons why I’m a feminist might become a semi-regular feature.
Are you a feminist? Why or why not?
I’m a card-carrying feminist. Any person who doesn’t call themselves a feminist isn’t a friend of mine. Period. Like you said, it’s 2016…I can’t even understand people who aren’t feminists bwcause the mental gymnastics they have to go through to say that must be insane. I can’t wait to see more of the Friday Feminist Features!
This!
I understand people who essentially share the same feminist values that I do, even if they are uncomfortable with the feminist label. (Like men not wanting to co-opt it, or WOC feeling ignored by White Feminism, for example). But people still thinking gender equality is a bad idea? Nope.
I always love your posts!! If only more people could understand that being a feminist isn’t a bad thing. It’s not wrong to want to be treated equal to men in all areas of life. I’m a feminist because I believe women should have the right to control their own lives and have the same exact opportunities men have. I hope this does become a regular feature!
Thank you so much! Friday’s The F-Word will be a weekly feature for at least some time. We’ll see how often I list all the reasons I’m a feminist. 🙂
I absolutely agree that women and men should have the same opportunities! The sexism in my education started so so young–it’s no wonder women often get socialized into certain roles or occupations.
Because we have to be, as a matter of moral obligation, for as long as “women are people” is still a radical notion.
Yes yes yes! Co-signed, 100%
These are excellent points! I’m a feminist also because growing up I as taught not to speak up because women are meant to quiet and listen to the men in their life… different culture, sure, but also shows how this sort of thing is everywhere, and in fact even among different cultures women do indeed disagree with their prescribed role.
Also, Brock Turner could still get off with only THREE months because of good behaviour. Ugh.
Yes, yes, yes to all of this
Although I’m a guy, I’m a feminist and proud of it. Why? First and foremost for my wife because I love her and realize that she deserves to be treated with respect and not trivialized because she is a woman. I’m proud to be her partner, to stand by her side, and to follow her lead.
Other reasons include being sick of femininity being a lower status than masculinity in society, the fact that men are not able to get out of a ‘macho’ mind set without being demonized, a patriarchal society that glorifies war and aggression, and because I want to see women more leadership roles in all aspects of society whether church, business or government (In my view, a more matriarchal society would be less prone to aggression and would be more nurturing).
All wonderful reasons to be a feminist! I’m glad you’re one of us. 🙂
Yep! All of the above. The Rabbi who Bat Mitzvah’d me was a female! And now we have a gay Rabbi. I love it. That aside, I totally feel you on all of the above.
I didn’t know you were Jewish. How cool to have a female Rabbi preside over your Bat Mitzvah.
To be honest, I’m not really a feminist. I guess I just dont support the movement.
But I guess it is just everyone’s opinion.