The Feminist Issue

Feminism. It's a topic that has been getting a spotlight over the past couple of years. As someone who identifies as a feminist myself, I am ecstatic over this. Women and their allies have been fighting for equality for far too long. As a movement that has united women and created such strength, it is unfortunately surprising that there is such debate within the feminist community.

That being said, I do understand that there are many different views when it comes to anything, so why should feminism be any different? True, there are always going to be opposing sides, but at the same time, I feel that it comes to a point when picking sides just causes unnecessary arguments, moving backwards in terms of equality.

Let's take the whole pin pointing celebrities, as an example. Hollywood celebrities are targeted unfairly as it is. If they say one thing that can be interpreted as offensive, then they are publicly shamed and humiliated. The whole industry is sick in that way, taking away the privacy of individuals and turning their image into a marketing tool, rather than the being  of a person. So it's easy to take a self-proclaimed feminist celebrity, and point out everything that could be wrong about them and their beliefs.

Furthermore, why are words like feminism and empowering women used as means for some women to take other women down? Aren't those very words meant to give another power over our own lives? Don't get me wrong, there are times when it is important to use concepts such as feminism and equality to fight...we need to combat issues of sexism and rape culture. However, I see it far too often used as a tool for women to tear apart other women, when it could be used to help empower another.

What Guys Really Think of Girls Who...

Maybe it's been going around more than usual lately, or maybe I'm just more aware of it, but there's been a lot of posts on Facebook and social media about what guys really think of girls who... Whether it's wearing something, acting a certain way or something else, it creates the idea that girls do everything for guys.

And no, I'm not pointing fingers at any specific gender. This isn't just an issue of (certain) men thinking that women's lives revolve around them. It's a societal issue that all genders take part in. The fact is that many girls and women actually (*gasp) do things for themselves not not for the attention for men. 

I think that a big part of it is how the media portrays relationships. Let's be honest, the vast majority of television and movies about women, still revolves around men. Girls grow up thinking that they need to find Mr. Right. And if they can't? Well that would be a disaster, wouldn't it? Oh, and if you're a girl who isn't into guys, then you're out of luck there. (I hope you sense my sarcasm.)

But I think it's important to realize that many times when girls do things, it's for themselves (and that's completely okay!) There's this notion that if a girl goes out dressed up, she must be doing it for someone else (and by someone, I mean a guy). I myself have been asked many times if I'm going on a date, just because I'm wearing a pair of earrings I like. And in wearing them, I wasn't thinking of anything else except, "These look nice with my outfit. I want to wear them today."

So let's get this straight, to anyone posting these posts up on social media. Good for you. But maybe, just maybe the intention had nothing to do with caring about what guys thought. And so, you're post is a bit pointless there. Of course, some girls might be trying to impress a guy, and that's okay too. But I also think it's important for those girls to know that their worth isn't dependent on whether a guy approves or not. 

All in all, it's important to do things for yourself, no matter what your gender is. And it's a good thing. Whoever said that it makes you cocky and full of yourself obviously didn't know what they are talking about. Because a huge part of having a fulfilled life is being happy in your own skin. 

It Starts With Elementary

People often think of high school as the peak of bullying, mean kids and stereotypes. In many situations, yes it is. But it's often forgotten how hard it can be in elementary school too. In fact, for many children, this is when they begin to develop ideas and labels that influence high school cliques and groups. 

One of my major issues with elementary schools is their lack of support for LGBT kids. I'm not saying that all schools are this way, but there is a large amount of them. Teachers often shrug off the comments such as "gay." I remember being in second grade and my classmates telling me that the word gay was an insult to boys. My teacher, who ended up being part of the situation, didn't even take that opportunity to educate us students. 

Many children come out during these years. As they start to learn about sex in school, they fail to learn that sex isn't just a thing between man and woman. I'm not saying they should go in detail, but they definitely need to discuss that sexuality is very diverse. 

This is where so many ideologies come from. By not having the proper education and support, children either grow up feeling neglected, or form negative opinions of the LGBT community. I hear about so much bullying that goes on due to this, and so little is done about it. It's not just kids being kids. It's a serious issue that needs to be addressed. 

Unfortuantly, we can't just change the school system overnight. But I think it's important that supportive parents and teachers take the time to provide proper education. For myself, I know that I grew up with negative opinions on people within the LGBT community, and it took me branching off from what I was taught to discover the truth for myself (and I now identify as part of the community). If you know anyone who looks up to you, take time to educate them. That's the key to creating healthier school environments and a generation that embraces sexual and gender diversity.