A Word on Feminism

The other day I mentioned to a friend that I consider myself a feminist and their reaction was surprising. It was kind of a look of shock. Now this is not necessarily the startling part because people don’t tend to see modern women as feminists unless they- if I may play on a phrase from Little Rascals- are a member of the “she-woman man-haters club.” What really surprised me is that this person knows me. Personally, I feel like I express my feminism on a somewhat daily basis. It is just kind of part of me, or at least that’s how I see it.

Feminism, of course, has evolved over time. It started out that feminists were suffragists just trying to get woman recognized as thinking, rational human beings. Then feminists became known as people like Gloria Steinem, outspoken and in-your-face about women’s rights. Today, although I feel like it is still essential for people like Steinem to keep women’s issues and women’s rights at the forefront, I feel that feminism has taken on more of an everyday kind of aspect.

For me, being a feminist is just knowing that I can do anything as well as, if not better than, a man. I may not be able to do it in the same manner for obvious- and less obvious reasons- but I will get it done. Being a feminist doesn’t mean making yourself masculine either. It means embracing your sex and all the wonderful aspects that come along with being a woman in whatever way you feel is appropriate.

To be a feminist does not mean that you shouldn’t have children or aspire to be a mother and have a family, but it also doesn’t mean you should have to compromise your own goals and dreams for any role because you feel like it is your duty as a woman. You shouldn’t feel like you can’t do laundry or be domestic, but you shouldn’t, as a woman, be pigeonholed into certain duties. If you want to mow the lawn while your husband cooks dinner, all the more power to you. Feminism means being who you are as a person and a woman all at once, not one before the other.

Another misconception about me as a feminist is even more prevalent with this year’s presidential primary election. As I have made fairly evident, I support Barack Obama for president. Most people would hear that I was a feminist and assume I support Hillary Clinton. For me there is no correlation from being a feminist to automatically supporting a woman candidate.

I chose to support Obama because he is the best political fit for me and what I feel is best for the country at this important juncture in out present and future. My choice of Obama defines my feminism. I voted for him because I do not feel obligated as a woman to vote for a woman for that simple and minor fact. Gender should not be a defining characteristic, just as race or sexual orientation should not be. A person should be judged individually not by the labels society attributes to them.

This is my feminism, and I have an inkling that it is others' as well. It is about embracing your womanhood but not being defined by it.