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How to Be a Feminist
Let’s redefine what being a feminist really means.
Can you believe I’m about to tell you how to be a feminist?
No, I can’t either. Am I throwing myself to the wolves or falling back into a trust circle of like-minded and curious individuals? Ideally the latter, but you decide.
As we talk about International Women’s Day, I feel a great debt to the brave women (and men) who stood up for women’s rights. These heroes crossed lines, pushed boundaries and were slapped on the wrist, to say the least. But they kept pushing. And pushing. And pushing.
With my gratitude for the past and my hope for the future, I’ll follow suit and keep pushing.
Let’s dive in: here’s how to be a feminist.
1. Decide you want to be
If your first reaction is, “duh” — good. Move on to #2.
But many women and men fear to call themselves feminists; they fear the weight of the title. “Feminist” comes loaded with assumptions of being stuck up, uncool, narrow-minded, man-hating, loud and opinionated. We know this isn’t true, but we’d be lying if we didn’t admit that even incorrect perceptions affect us.
If you decide to be a feminist, will people look at you differently? Maybe. Does being a…