Feminism is one of those words that often sits with a bad taste in most people's mouths. It is actually referred to as the F-bomb as though it is some sort of obscenity that should be avoided being used in public. Coming from a small, conservative rural town, feminism was one of those hush-hush subjects that nobody wanted you to talk about or learn about. It was considered a old-fashioned place (a.k.a. patriarchal). Needless to say, I didn't know much about feminism and didn't even know where to look. That is until I came to Ithaca and signed up for Intro to Women's Studies.
I have really learned a lot from women's studies and not just facts about women's rights and history. I feel that the most valuable thing that I learned from this class was how to look at things from a feminist's point of view and find resources to expand my knowledge and that it is OK to question. I have become braver in starting and participating in arguments on women's rights and how feminists aren't crazy; we want equality!
Before this class I would have found myself say "I'm a feminist but...". I believed many of the same principles present in feminism, but didn't have the balls to call myself a feminist. It was always portrayed as a crazy thing when it's really not. Feminism isn't about going out and doing crazy things, hating men, and trying to prove that women are better. Feminism is about trying to create equality within a society that prides itself in the separation of genders.
I now will call myself a feminist and I'm not afraid to. After learning more about it, I've found myself standing up for it and arguing for it, even against my family and friends. I've been trying to open their eyes to its ideals and encouraging them to expand their knowledge in it as well. I've had my eyes opened to gender inequalities that I never knew existed and now know where I can even change my own life to help encourage equality.
I am a feminist and I'm not afraid to show it!
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