*disclosure: these statements are apart of my opinion and decision on why I am a feminist. I respect anyone else's opinion as long as it does not degrade me, other women, or other people. thank you*
fem·i·nism / noun the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Notice how no words revolving around "shaming" or "male-hatred" is involved in the definition. Although the term has become entirely misconstrued over the centuries, most women don't even know the correct vision for the movement. My idea of feminism is the development of equal rights towards women and ultimately all humans. I know that most people think, "But women already have rights", yet where is our first female president, or equal pay in careers, and why should our breasts be censored when they are provided for nourishment and have the same anatomy as a male? Women are told, 'Respect yourself by covering up your naturally born body so men don't get aroused. Because in a world of rape and domestic violence, or violence against women in general, it is your fault if you were wearing "skimpy and slutty" attire. You were asking for it. You are not a victim'. Since when is someone asking for the degradation, loss of innocence, or harm from another human over their body. Society has sexualized women and their non-sexual organs, such as their breasts, to a point where our bodies are censored and discriminated against. Meanwhile, men with the exact same anatomy (yes, men have breast tissue) are free to post shirtless pictures, walk among beaches free and comfortable, and so on. Now it is a woman's job to keep "modest", or else others may be aroused and take advantage of her. Since when is it my job to cover up and worry about another person not being able to control their actions and not having enough decency to be respectful. As humans, we should be able to control our actions. Our brains have the capacity to handle that. So don't tell me that if I show off my breasts, I am "asking for it". It was the other person's decision to harm the victim, the victim did not choose for them. The other day, I was on the social media site Twitter, and because I follow many feminist accounts, I came across another woman stating that even though women have the right to expose themselves to the world, if they do so they are not respecting themselves and they are asking for it because men are going to be aroused. If I could've (I was only working with a 116 character count people,) I would've replied as so: Whether or not I show off my body has nothing to do with my dignity, self-worth, or self-respect. Respecting yourself is having confidence in who you are, and I am a woman. A strong and independent woman, who has these things called mammary glands. I among the 4 billion plus women of the world have them and share this never-ending struggle. It has become a normality that we should be ashamed of our bodies because we are only sexual objects for men to possess and dominate (I understand that not ALL men do these things, but that is no excuse considering it is a large enough number for it to take effect on the female culture). These organs are present to nourish children. That is their soul purpose. But we as a culture have come to believe that their purpose is for sex, that they are only for private eyes, or they lessen a woman's worth if she exposes them to the world. Don't degrade a woman for her body. Don't tell her she is not respecting herself because you don't have a clue what she thinks of herself or her body or anything about her presence. It is not a woman's right to decide whether someone else respects themselves or not. It is not a mans right. It is not anyone's right except for that person and that person alone. So don't degrade women for bearing their beauty.
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AuthorGrace Willcox. High school student. Likes to think of herself as cunning & witty. Probably isn't. Enjoy. Archives
March 2017
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