Feminism Is Not an F Word

Last night, I was talking to a man around my age (early 30s) in Cambridge, Mass. I told him that I was attending an International Women’s Day (IWD) breakfast this morning. He hadn’t heard of IWD, so I told him a bit about it. He then asked, “Are you a feminist?” I replied, “Not only am I a feminist, I was a women’s studies major!” His reaction was surprisingly strong — he visibly backed away from me. Evidently, feminism is, for some people, an “f” word.

A heated discussion about the meaning of feminism ensued. He spoke at length about his belief that feminists want to prevent “girls and guys” from behaving according to their “true nature.” This attitude from someone my age surprised me, because I believe that women and men of my generation have benefited so much from the feminist movement. Apparently, those benefits are perhaps now being taken for granted.

For me, feminism is about women and men having the freedom, safety, and opportunity to pursue their dreams and live the lives they want to live, whether that entails taking care of children, pursuing a career, or going to school. Until this becomes a reality, locally and globally, I will proudly call myself a feminist. By doing so, I recognize the struggles of the women who came before me and stand in solidarity with the women who continue to struggle today, hoping that, some day, all women and men will have the freedom to be the people they are meant to be.