Why I'm a Feminist.

Note: These are my opinions about what feminism is. I'm not claiming these to be right, in fact, my opinions could be completely wrong. If so, please tell me so I could be willing to learn from it. 

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Feminist: A person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.

If you asked me to define feminism, I would say that it’s basic human rights (social, economic, and political) for everyone. Whether you’re a woman, a man, a person who identifies as both male and female, a person who identifies as neither male or female, a person of color, white, lgbtqia+, disabled, able bodied, poor, middle class, rich, old, young, etc.

[But]Discrimination against homosexuals isn't a feminist problem. Yes, it is indeed a feminist problem. There are women and other people who are gay, bi, transgender, etc, and they have to deal with homophobes, misogynists, biphobes, transphobic people, etc.  In fact, any kind of discrimination is a feminist problem, because as this tumblr ask says, the category of women still includes women of color, and gay women, and women with disabilities, and trans women, and poor women, and so forth.

But feminism focuses on women, what about the men? Feminism is also about undoing the harmful effects the patriarchy. It’s about telling men that it’s okay to have emotions, to cry. It’s also about telling them, hey it’s okay to wear “girl” clothes and do “girly” things. Because being feminine does not equate to being weak. It’s also about building more shelters for men who’ve been abused. It’s about protecting those who’ve been raped and laughed at by others (usually men) because they must have wanted it. It’s about tearing down the stereotype that men are sexually hungry beasts, and more. That’s what feminism can do for men.

So all in all, to me feminism is about showing that women are humans and not sexual objects to be ogled at. It’s about letting us have the right to do almost* whatever it is we want with our body, without getting criticized for it. Whether it’s get an abortion, a tattoo, a piercing, cutting our hair short, not shaving, wearing makeup, etc.

Feminism is about being whatever we want, whether it’s masculine or feminine or both or neither.  It’s about choosing whatever we want to do without being criticized for it. Whether you want to be a lawyer who works a lot or a houseparent who loves taking care of kids. To me, feminism helps those who are disabled. And telling them, yes their views do count and that they’re not monsters.

Feminism is about letting people wear makeup, whether it’s because they want to do it for themselves or because they want to do it for other people. It’s about having the right to not shave or to shave because you want to do it.

 Feminism is about showing, hey you’re not weak for being feminine nor are you weak for being masculine either. And any kind of “feminism” which bashes femininity, disabilities, people of color, lgbtqia+ people, men, and/or the poor is not feminism at all.

In general, Feminism is human equality for everyone on all levels.

*I say almost because if it involves any kind of eating disorder, pill overdose, cutting, or self harming in general, then you (or someone you know) should stop and get help immediately. Here are a few hotlines (mainly phone numbers, with a few online hotlines, and emails) that can help you. 

Depression Hotline: 1-630-482-9696
Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-8433
LifeLine: 1-800-273-8255
Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
Sexuality Support: 1-800-246-7743
Eating Disorders Hotline: 1-847-831-3438
Rape and Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673
Grief Support: 1-650-321-5272
Runaway: 1-800-843-5200, 1-800-843-5678, 1-800-621-4000
Exhale:After Abortion Hotline/Pro-Voice: 1-866-439-4253
Child Abuse: 1-800-422-4453

UK Helplines:
Samaritans (for any problem): 08457909090 e-mail jo@samaritans.org
Childline (for anyone under 18 with any problem): 08001111
Mind infoline (mental health information): 0300 123 3393 e-mail: info@mind.org.uk
Mind legal advice (for people who need mental-health related legal advice): 0300 466 6463 legal@mind.org.uk
b-eat eating disorder support: 0845 634 14 14 (only open Mon-Fri 10.30am-8.30pm and Saturday 1pm-4.30pm) e-mail: help@b-eat.co.uk
b-eat youthline (for under 25’s with eating disorders): 08456347650 (open Mon-Fri 4.30pm - 8.30pm, Saturday 1pm-4.30pm)
Cruse Bereavement Care: 08444779400 e-mail: helpline@cruse.org.uk
Frank (information and advice on drugs): 0800776600
Drinkline: 0800 9178282
Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 802 9999 (open 2 - 2.30pm 7 - 9.30pm) e-mail info@rapecrisis.org.uk
Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02 (every day, 6pm to midnight)

India Self Harm Hotline: 00 08001006614
India Suicide Helpline: 022-27546669
Kids Help Phone (Canada): 1-800-668-6868, Free and available 24/7

Suicide hotlines:
Argentina: 54-0223-493-0430
Australia: 13-11-14
Austria: 01-713-3374
Barbados: 429-9999
Belgium: 106
Botswana: 391-1270
Brazil: 21-233-9191
China: 852-2382-0000
(Hong Kong: 2389-2222)
Costa Rica: 606-253-5439
Croatia: 01-4833-888
Cyprus: 357-77-77-72-67
Czech Republic: 222-580-697, 476-701-908
Denmark: 70-201-201
Egypt: 762-1602
Estonia: 6-558-088
Finland: 040-5032199
France: 01-45-39-4000
Germany: 0800-181-0721
Greece: 1018
Guatemala: 502-234-1239
Holland: 0900-0767
Honduras: 504-237-3623
Hungary: 06-80-820-111
Iceland: 44-0-8457-90-90-90
Ireland: 1800-247-100
Israel: 09-8892333
Italy: 06-705-4444
Japan: 3-5286-9090
Latvia: 6722-2922, 2772-2292
Malaysia: 03-756-8144
(Singapore: 1-800-221-4444)
Mexico: 525-510-2550
Netherlands: 0900-0767
New Zealand: 4-473-9739
New Guinea: 675-326-0011
Nicaragua: 505-268-6171
Norway: 47-815-33-300
Philippines: 02-896-9191
Poland: 52-70-000
Portugal: 239-72-10-10
Russia: 8-20-222-82-10
Serbia: 21-6623-393
Spain: 91-459-00-50
South Africa: 0861-322-322
South Korea: 2-715-8600
Sweden: 031-711-2400
Switzerland: 143
Taiwan: 0800-788-995
Thailand: 02-249-9977
Trinidad and Tobago: 868-645-2800
Ukraine: 0487-327715
Uruguay: 095 73 8483

Online hotlines:
https://www.rainn.org/
https://www.imalive.org/
https://www.safehelpline.org/
http://www.thehotline.org/
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
http://www.crisistextline.org/

And now the weather:
WHY I'M A...FEMINIST *gasp* by Laci Green

~ Stacy N.