Straight Talk by Nimfa L. Estrellado What is Feminism? Throughout history, women have always struggled to gain equality, respect, an...
Straight Talk
by Nimfa L. Estrellado
What is Feminism?
Throughout history, women have always struggled to gain equality, respect, and the same rights as men. This has been difficult because of patriarchy, an ideology in which men are superior to women and have the right to rule women. This ideology has permeated the social structures of societies throughout the world and as a result, even in the new millennium, women are still struggling for rights that most men take for granted. The struggle was even more difficult for women of color because not only were they dealing with issues of sexism, but also racism. In order to fight patriarchy, feminism and feminist theory was born.
What is feminism? By general definition, feminism is a philosophy in which women and their contributions are valued. It is based on social, political and economical equality for women. Feminists can be anyone in the population, men, women, girl or boys.Feminism can also be described as a movement or a revolution that includes women and men who wish the world to be equal without boundaries. These boundaries or blockades are better known as discrimination and biases against gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status and economic status. Everyone views the world with his or her own sense of gender and equality. Feminists view the world as being unequal. They wish to see the gender gap and the idea that men are superior to women decreased or even abolished. There are many different types of feminist theory and each has had a profound impact on women and gender studies.
The first is cultural feminism, which is the theory that there are fundamental personality differences between men and women, and those women’s differences are special. This theory supports the idea that there are biological differences between men and women and sexism can be overcome by embracing the “women’s way.”
The second type is individualist or libertarian feminist. This feminism is based upon libertarian philosophies, with the focus on autonomy, rights, liberty, independence, and diversity. Next, there is the radical feminism; this theory began during the Sixties. This ideology focuses on social change, and “attempts to draw lines between biologically - determined behavior and culturally- determined behavior” in order to free both men and women as much as possible from their previous narrow gender roles.
Finally, there is liberal feminism, a theory that focuses on the idea that all people are created equal and that education is the primary means to change discrimination.
From a young age I learned the importance in not only standing up for myself, but in standing up for others. I’ve seen what happens when someone has so much fear surrounding them that it silences them and I always told myself “that will never be me”
For myself, my mom, my relatives, my friends, the girl sitting at the bar alone crying, the girl on the street being harassed, I choose to have a voice. I’ve learned that you can’t wait for someone else to take action or to stand up for what’s right, because people often disappoint you.
I’ve seen a lot of women sharing why “they don’t need feminism” and one thing I have to say to these women is this; Just because you don’t need it, doesn’t mean that someone else doesn’t. Just because you have a voice that you choose not to use, doesn’t mean that someone who doesn’t have a voice doesn’t need one.
There are hundreds of thousands of millions of women who don’t have the rights we do. There are women who are mutilated, raped, tortured, and killed every single day and there’s nothing they can do about it. But if you think that is a reason to sit and be quiet and stop, then you are wrong. Do you think these women want life to be that way for them? Or do you think that they wish they could put a stop to it, that someone would help them? I choose the latter.
I use my voice daily, if not for myself for someone else who needs it. FEMINISM IS NOT A SELFISH AGENDA. If you need it, it’s there. If you choose to ignore it, it’s still there. The changes that are being protested now will not affect me in a devastating way if they go through, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t affect other women to that extent.
I’m tired of hearing women even act like feminism is something to be against. If you choose not to use your voice, that’s fine. But if you have a problem with other women using their voice just because you personally do not need it, that’s just selfish. I think we as women would get a lot further together, supporting each other, and standing up for all of our rights whether it is loudly or silently.
Throughout history, women have always struggled to gain equality, respect, and the same rights as men. This has been difficult because of patriarchy, an ideology in which men are superior to women and have the right to rule women. This ideology has permeated the social structures of societies throughout the world and as a result, even in the new millennium, women are still struggling for rights that most men take for granted. The struggle was even more difficult for women of color because not only were they dealing with issues of sexism, but also racism. In order to fight patriarchy, feminism and feminist theory was born.
What is feminism? By general definition, feminism is a philosophy in which women and their contributions are valued. It is based on social, political and economical equality for women. Feminists can be anyone in the population, men, women, girl or boys.Feminism can also be described as a movement or a revolution that includes women and men who wish the world to be equal without boundaries. These boundaries or blockades are better known as discrimination and biases against gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status and economic status. Everyone views the world with his or her own sense of gender and equality. Feminists view the world as being unequal. They wish to see the gender gap and the idea that men are superior to women decreased or even abolished. There are many different types of feminist theory and each has had a profound impact on women and gender studies.
The first is cultural feminism, which is the theory that there are fundamental personality differences between men and women, and those women’s differences are special. This theory supports the idea that there are biological differences between men and women and sexism can be overcome by embracing the “women’s way.”
The second type is individualist or libertarian feminist. This feminism is based upon libertarian philosophies, with the focus on autonomy, rights, liberty, independence, and diversity. Next, there is the radical feminism; this theory began during the Sixties. This ideology focuses on social change, and “attempts to draw lines between biologically - determined behavior and culturally- determined behavior” in order to free both men and women as much as possible from their previous narrow gender roles.
Finally, there is liberal feminism, a theory that focuses on the idea that all people are created equal and that education is the primary means to change discrimination.
From a young age I learned the importance in not only standing up for myself, but in standing up for others. I’ve seen what happens when someone has so much fear surrounding them that it silences them and I always told myself “that will never be me”
For myself, my mom, my relatives, my friends, the girl sitting at the bar alone crying, the girl on the street being harassed, I choose to have a voice. I’ve learned that you can’t wait for someone else to take action or to stand up for what’s right, because people often disappoint you.
I’ve seen a lot of women sharing why “they don’t need feminism” and one thing I have to say to these women is this; Just because you don’t need it, doesn’t mean that someone else doesn’t. Just because you have a voice that you choose not to use, doesn’t mean that someone who doesn’t have a voice doesn’t need one.
There are hundreds of thousands of millions of women who don’t have the rights we do. There are women who are mutilated, raped, tortured, and killed every single day and there’s nothing they can do about it. But if you think that is a reason to sit and be quiet and stop, then you are wrong. Do you think these women want life to be that way for them? Or do you think that they wish they could put a stop to it, that someone would help them? I choose the latter.
I use my voice daily, if not for myself for someone else who needs it. FEMINISM IS NOT A SELFISH AGENDA. If you need it, it’s there. If you choose to ignore it, it’s still there. The changes that are being protested now will not affect me in a devastating way if they go through, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t affect other women to that extent.
I’m tired of hearing women even act like feminism is something to be against. If you choose not to use your voice, that’s fine. But if you have a problem with other women using their voice just because you personally do not need it, that’s just selfish. I think we as women would get a lot further together, supporting each other, and standing up for all of our rights whether it is loudly or silently.
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