The kind of feminism we are promoting on the NDSU campus is one that includes everyone, no matter your sex, gender, race or class. All of these things make a person unique and it makes you who you are, so those things should not be used to discriminate against a person.
The patriarchal culture around us has taught us sexist thinking without even realizing it. “Feminism is made, not born” as quoted by bell hooks reminds us to dismantle these sexist ideas and stereotypes and find our own feminist path.
We may not be born feminists, but we can change the way we think.
Do more than just women benefit from feminism? Many believe that feminism is not for men. We are here to tell you that men need and benefit from feminism too! How often have you heard that a “real man” is tough, strong, aggressive, and provides for his family? As hard as it is for women to be Barbie, it’s tough for men to be Ken also. People everywhere feel insecure because they may not be competitive or supportive enough or their interests are too “girly” or “manly”.
Society loves to put us into boxes, often telling us that we only have one option. If you deviate from the “norm” you’re pretty much out of luck. Feminism is here to tell you that you are free to be you while promoting equality through all genders, and that in fact, there is no “correct” way to be a man/woman or male/female.
So many people become excluded when you give people limited options on how they should behave and identify. If you identify as anything other than a white heterosexual individual, you will face a lot of discrimination. Did you know that in North Dakota transgender individuals don’t have the same rights as other people? They can be legally fired just for being who they are. And it is a known fact that women get paid less than men (73 cents to the dollar to be precise), but did you know women of color get paid less than white women? Feminism is more than just equality between men and women, it means that everyone is equal even if they are gay, lesbian, straight, transgender, male, female, white, black, Native American, Latino, Hispanic, Muslim, disabled, etc. Everyone should be equal and everyone deserves to be treated the same.
Feminism is for everyone, no really it is! Its main goal is equality. Everyone is different and we make different choices, but those choices should not determine the quality of life you get or affect the rights you have as a person. So go out there and be yourself. Make a difference and be proud to call yourself a feminist.
Sincerely,
Hannah Stevens, Senior, English
Carly Deal, Junior, Women and Gender Studies and International Studies
Jessica Murray, Senior, Human Development and Family Science
Cassandra Wood, Senior, App. and Retail Merchandising Design
Being able to provide for the people you care about is a good thing. I would rather not live in a society where people have no incentive to improve their lives.
“Society loves to put us into boxes, telling us we can only have one option.”
Like when people say their not a feminist, feminists will scream misogyny and try to get people fired or publicly humiliated.
Private businesses should have the right to fire ANYONE for ANY REASON. It’s called freedom of association. In the same way free speech allows us to say opinions other don’t like, free association allows us to associate in ways others don’t like.
Similarly, it’s their property. The government should not force people to give up their property against their will.
That 73 cents bit has been disproven a thousand times over. It compares ALL men vs ALL women. It does not account for different industries, nor for experience in that industry (statistically women take time off to raise a family), and a myriad of other factors. It is not about discrimination.
If feminism is about equal rights for men and women, I have some questions for you:
1. Why is it that only feminist philosophy is taught in Gender Studies classes? Shouldn’t they be called “Feminist Studies” classes?
2. Why do feminists denigrate the Men’s Rights movement? If women are allowed to advocate for women, why can’t men advocate for men?
3. Why do feminists teach that masculinity is “toxic,” but not that femininity is “toxic?” Are they not both creations of the Patriarchy designed to oppress women (according to you)?
4. Why do feminists teach that The Patriarchy values men over women, when traditionally women have always been valued over men, because women have a uterus and men do not? This is why men were the ones sent to die in war and were always the last to leave a sinking ship.
5. Why is it a controversial issue among feminists if men should even be allowed to call themselves “feminists,” instead of just second-class “allies?” The Men’s Right movement always accepts women as equal partners and never calls women members “allies.”
6. Why do feminists use the term “Rape Culture” to describe our society, when rapists are widely condemned for their crimes? As a related question, why do feminists associate cat-calling, telling jokes about rape and even a man looking at a woman (The “Male Gaze”) with rape and sexual assault, when there is no evidence that they are related?
7. Why are feminists only interested when women are under-represented in certain careers, and never when men are under-represented? For example, men only represent 16-18% of elementary and intermediate school teachers in the U.S. This at a time when boys are falling further and further behind girls in these classes, and many have no male role models at all. Why don’t feminists call for more male teachers?
Great article! Don’t listen to the other commenters who somehow got stuck in the 1950s.