It has come to my attention that there are many varying views regarding 'women's equality' and 'feminism.' Some individuals see two completely different ideas that virtually contradict each other. Others see synonyms.

As a woman, I feel that not only do I have a right, but that I /should/ speak about it. As someone who considers herself a writer, and who feels very passionately about the rights of women in today's society, I think it's my duty to speak out.

One extreme stereotype I have come across several times is that all feminists are angry--and men-haters. You've all heard the word 'femi-nazis.' That is not just an overgeneralization--that is dead wrong.


To those who disregard or belittle feminism:

Feminists are not always angry. Sometimes we are sad. Sometimes we are despairing. Sometimes we are happy. We are people, just like you. To say that we as a whole are "always angry" is stripping away the individuality we all have, and exercising the same misogyny we are protesting--you know, the problem that you hear about all the time, but you don't seem to truly grasp the severity of.

You don't always even realize when you do it--oh, sure, you mean well. You're probably referring to 'those femi-nazi's, the bitchy ones.' But to put down and discourage feminists, those of us who are actively speaking out for our rights to equality, is a sign of ignorance... for women have yet to achieve perfect equality with men in today's society. Sure, most women are being treated as equals most of the time. But there's still more than enough misogyny going around that women continue to struggle against being treated as inferior. And until you recognize this fact, you are a part of the problem.


That said, I will now address everyone once more.

Women are still not receiving equal rights on all fronts. Our society is based upon centuries of trumped up gender identities, like girls wear dresses and are weak, sensitive, emotional, and like being treated 'special' and put on a pedestal.

Oh. Hell. No. We don't. Fuck that. You try to pay for my date? I won't let you. We split the check, always. Equality means equality, not 'special treatment for women.' That's not what real feminism is about. Any woman who tells you otherwise is making the rest of us, REAL feminists, look bad. Do not judge us by those few idiots who take advantage of the rising idea of feminist culture in society. We want real equality, and that means just what it says. Not special treatment. Equals.

Don't think I'm not aware of the draft for men--I believe there should be one for women, too, if we're going to achieve true equality in our society anytime soon.

Yes, we get angry, but we do not hate men--we hate the inequality that persists in our society today. Because it does. Officially and on the surface, we have 'equal rights' on all fronts. But below that surface of rights in the judicial system, there are beliefs, attitudes and culture as a society. As a country, we still have misogyny, rampant in places, many of them going on around you. Yes, you.

I grew up in a world where little girls were encouraged to be princesses, and let men save them from dragons, while they be relatively useless, until they have a man they can fall for. Even then, the idea of needing to be rescued made me sick. But its all over our pop culture--in movies, women always letting men pay for them, dressing up like ladies, getting emotional and clingy on the man, being relatively silly while the guy is the 'normal' one who is just being himself, without all this trumped up 'I have to act this way.'

Hell, I thought men were supposed to chase women--men did the asking out, while women were supposed to leave hints, flirt, and do anything but fucking say how they were feeling. Be open and honest? Pff. Women are supposed to be coy and shy and adorable, not blunt and scathingly truthful. Well, I didn't win any boyfriends by not telling them I liked them--I still sometimes regret not simply telling an old friend about my feelings, once I realized that he had no idea what the hell I was trying to tell him that day in high school (that means you, NametheRabbit).

Fortunately, I have since learned to be myself, and bugger how women are 'supposed' to be. If that's who you are, that's great. But if it's not, why the hell are you still wearing a mask? Over my years, I've learned that most men appreciate female abruptness and honesty. All this 'read my mind' stuff just makes communication harder, and drives the wedge between the sexes even deeper, until we understand the other side even less than before (and fall back on, 'women are crazy' and 'feminists are angry' as our misguided stereotypes, mistaking them for something with even a kernel of truth).

To those who have read this far, I thank you for bearing with me.

I, too, am a woman struggling with her own sexuality, with her own natural submissiveness to the man she loves, while maintaining that I, too, have a voice--as do each of us, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. I am not perfect--I make mistakes all the time. But I deserve as much respect as anyone, whether you are my sexual partner, significant other, friend, neighbor, that guy I pass by in the hallway, or just a stranger. And even if I don't get it from you, I will do my best to treat you with that same amount of respect I would wish to receive, in hopes that one day, we might come to understand each other. That's who I am.

Peace.

~Infinity