Feminism: the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.
Google definition right there.
Note the emphasis on 'equality of the sexes.'
None of this has to be complicated.
Simply put, a feminist is someone that promotes gender equality. A feminist does not necessarily have to be woman, it is just a person of any gender that supports women having the same basic rights as men.
A man can be a feminist.
Anyone that favors one sex over the other, whether it be a misogynist, which is someone who degrades women, or a feminazi, which is someone who believes that women are more superior than men and shames the male species, is not a feminist, since playing favorites doesn't at all hold up the idea and definition behind feminism whatsoever.
Again, feminism is the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.
Seeing as though women have been subjected to discrimination and limitations on what they can and can't do for centuries, and in some corners of the world they still are, it makes sense that women's rights be emphasized. That's why it's called feminism and not equalitarianism, even though those two things mean the exact same thing.
Another vital thing to note about feminism is that it isn't just an empowering movement that encourages women to be more comfortable in their own skin. It is that, but it's not just that.
It is also a movement that encourages anyone of any gender to be comfortable in their own skin.
In today's society, men are deemed as aggressive leaders. Growing up, they are sculpted with a dominating nature that screams power and steel eyes incapable of tear ducts. If they are so much as touched by any feminine traits — such as a passive demeanor, a love for anything that's considered a 'women's thing' such as getting a pedicure, a short stature, and anything that defies 'testosterone-pumped' activities like 'sports' and 'brawling', then their reputation as men are immediately assaulted with degrading words like:
"Don't be a pussy!"
"I don't know, that sounds a bit girly to me."
"What, you wanna hold Mommy's hand?"
"Grow a pair and man up."
Feminism is not just a word for women.
It is a word for everyone that suffers from the negative stigma that's attached to being and acting feminine. Because anything that's associated with a girl is considered weak, as seen in the dialogue examples above. Women are taught that they can be themselves throughout this era of gender equality while men are taught to never be like a woman at all.
The system is a contradiction.
If the world wants to encourage feminism, then it should at least understand the definition of gender equality.
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The Truth Behind Feminism | ✔
Non-Fiction"Here's a dosage of reality for you." In which it's explained what feminism actually is, as opposed to the warped lies that many falsely believe. cover credit goes to @FollowingButterflies
