“WHY I WON’T CALL MYSELF A FEMINIST”

To all the triggered feminists, I feel you. I found the inspiration to write this after I saw a YouTube video( titled the above) where a female found extreme pride in stating that feminism was beneath her. And as a feminist, I do understand that she is entitled to her opinion and her beliefs, that is what feminism is about right? Giving women a choice. I have nothing against her but unfortunately, the reasons she used to justify her stance did not sit well with me.

Throughout the video, she basically states that the third wave feminism conditions women to believe that in order to be a feminist, they need to be the following

1. Pro-choice
2. Anti-patriarchy
3. an LGBT ally
4. a Planned Parenthood ally

She further states that women who are prolife and conservative do not feel welcomed in the community but hear me out, as a women, why should I be okay with other women( or any individual for that matter) stripping my of my own rights. I have no issues with someone who wishes to lead a conservative life, I have no issues with someone who would refrain from getting an abortion themselves, but I would be concerned if this someone stands against me in an attempt to take away my rights, my choices and my autonomy over my own body.

I wonder what is the issue with being pro-choice?

The Pro-choice movement doesn’t demand every pregnant person to get an abortion, does it? It simply stands for the belief that people should have control over their own body, and they shouldn’t have to give in to what the state feels is the “right” choice for them.

The movement provides everyone who is capable of getting pregnant with a choice. Only when people have choice over their own body, they are free. Only when people have choice over such crucial and life altering decisions, they can function as their own individual. An individual that is fulfilled, satisfied, happy and at peace.

I wonder what is the issue with standing against patriarchy?

What good has patriarchy ever done to anybody? Patriarchy sends out the message that men are emotion-less creatures, who need to provide for their family. Who need to stay strong no matter what, who can’t indulge in feminine behavior, who can’t be sensitive to those around them. Do these beliefs really do any good to the men in our society?

Patriarchy sends out the message that women are sensitive and extremely emotional human beings that need men to protect them. Individuals that belong in the kitchen, individuals that are doomed to taking care of their children, husband, household and are capable of nothing more.

This patriarchy puts the entire society in certain boxes, boxes that limit us, boxes that strip away our individuality, boxes that paint us as an alien for daring to step out of these boundaries.

If this is what patriarchy does, won’t it be liberating to fight against it? What good these anti-feminists are going to get by defending such an institution?

I wonder what is the harm in being an LGBT ally?

People of the LGBT community are humans too, who deserve the respect and treatment straight people enjoy. First off, an individual can’t change their sexual orientation, and neither should they have to in order to desire equal treatment. What is the harm in loving people? What harm is the LGBT community doing to the homophobic? Why is the LGBT community expected to seek validation from people who can’t mind their own damn business? What is the harm in loving someone from the same gender?

Wouldn’t it be better and much easier to be an LGBT ally rather than dismissing an individual’s right to love? Wouldn’t it be better to associate yourself with a movement that provides freedom to a greater section of the society? Won’t you feel better knowing that your thoughts unite people? What is the harm in aligning yourself with an ideology that makes more people feel validated and recognized? What on earth is the harm if your actions and thoughts put someone else at ease.

I wonder what is the issue in being a Planned Parenthood ally?

The essential health care services Planned Parenthood provides are STD testing and treatment, birth control, well-woman exams, cancer screening and prevention, abortion, hormone therapy, infertility services, and general health care.

Shouldn’t people have greater access to information and resources regarding their own body? What can possibly be the harm in providing people with cancer screening and infertility services.

To sum up, I don’t see any harm when feminism strives for recognition of a greater section of society( people that extend beyond those who recognize themselves as females). People who are males, non-binary, members of the LGBT community, and much more.