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Jennah Jones ENG-111 Word Count: 901 Feminism If you think any word has one, universal definition you might be surprised to find that this is not necessarily true. The meaning of a word and its use can change depending on societal influence, location, age, level of education, class, race, ethnicity, nationality, and even gender. One word in particular that varies in meaning is feminism. This word can incite thoughts of appraisal and admiration, but also feelings of anger and contempt. Many gripes and misconceptions about feminism come from a lack of education on the matter, the influence of both the media and social media outlets, and a closed-minded thought process. The concept of feminism holds a simple and true definition; it is the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men (Feminism). The roots of feminism can be traced back to the beginning of civilization. In many cultures women were (and still are) regarded as inferior. Women were seen as less intelligent and weak; not able to work, go to school, or vote, and many were not able to read or write. They were simply put in their place by men and told to take care of their children, their husband, and their home (Infoplease). Through the years women have fought to be on equal ground with men, and feminism has gotten women a long way. It is now accepted in society for women to not have children, they can go to work and school, are allowed to vote, can hold public office, and even rise to the top of their job. Many people wonder why feminism still exists, as women have all these equal rights. The reason feminism is still needed is because there are still many people in our society that believe women are inferior and should not work. Women today are often sexualized and seen as objects

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or prizes. Many primetime television shows, videogames, and popular movies depict women as nothing more than that. Women who have sex are seen as sluts, and men who have sex are praised for getting some all by the same peers (Firestone). Social media outlets such as Twitter promote topics such as No Shave November for men to grow out their beards and facial hair. In the same breath the users on the site make sure to let women know that girls who participate in No Shave November will be participating in No D December. The media is a destructive force against women (Romano). It teaches girls from a young age to be sexy and appeal to men, but only when theyre told to. If youre a woman and have a strong opinion and arent a push over, youre likely to be labeled as just a bitch. Modern feminism fights for a different view on women. Feminists want women to be seen as strong and assertive, but also want women to know that it is also okay if it is not in your nature to be so. Feminists want women to be as free as men in their sexuality, and also want women to know that it is okay to not be free in their sexuality. Feminism is a movement that fights for equality in rights, representation, and perception. Not everyone will agree with the textbook definition of feminism. There are those who are closed-minded and will not accept feminism for what it is. For example, there are both radical feminists and anti-feminists that will dispute what feminism is truly about. The former believing that in order to reach equality women must be liberated from the patriarchy and abolish gender as it, [divides people by] oppressing women and privileging men (Lewis). Antifeminists and mens rights activists alike believe that the eradication of all men is the entire concept of feminism, and recognize feminism as, a hateful, bigoted, and destructive ideology which undermines the civil society by pitting women against men and against their own interests (Anti-Feminism). There are anti-feminists who believe that feminists believe every

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woman should be outspoken and working, and that it is a bad thing as a woman to be a stay-athome mom. However most feminists believe that it is the womans choice in what she wants in life. If a woman wants to stay home and take care of her kids or partner she should have that choice. If a woman wants to work and rise to the top of her workforce she should have that choice. However even after civil debate and sound reason on how feminism looks for equality and not misandry, many anti-feminists are firmly set in their ways in believing that being a feminist equals hating men. It is unfortunate that such a powerful and well-meaning movement has been demeaned and written off in this way. The idea and meaning of feminism has been changed and misconstrued throughout time because of ignorance, those who are set in their ways, and the way media projects feminists. It is important to remember that the actions of a few do not define a movement as a whole. Feminism is comprised of all sorts of men and women from all over, each with their own unique backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. Not every feminist will think the same, and that should not take anything away from the validity or true concept of feminism. Ultimately feminism comes down to equality, respect, and our decency as human beings.

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Works Cited "Anti-Feminism." Men's Rights Edmonton. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. "Feminism." Dictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. Firestone, Lisa, Ph.D. "Are We Still Condemning Women for Their Sexuality?" PsychAlive. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. Infoplease. N.p.: Pearson Education, 2013. Print. Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Radical Feminism." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. Romano, Aja. "No Shave November Leads to Antifeminist Backlash." The Daily Dot. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.