Feminism is not a dirty word. In a talk at TEDxEuston last 2013, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie defined feminist as “a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes”. Unfortunately, people today still cringe and shake their heads in dismay at the faintest mention of the word feminism. It baffles me that they shy away from a movement that is geared toward making the world a better place. If fighting for equality among all genders is not a shameful thing to do, then what is it that makes feminism repugnant and divisive?
It makes perfect sense not to support something one does not fully understand. Perhaps one of the reasons many are so afraid to associate themselves with feminism is that it continues to be widely misinterpreted and misrepresented. The stigma attached to feminism has evidently influenced both men and women to grow hesitant and reticent about identifying as feminists. It is distressing to think that a person would rather remain apathetic regarding political issues mainly because of the prejudices surrounding them.
A common misconception that people have about feminism is that feminists are mannish, hysterical, bitter and single
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Discrimination is oppressive and it comes in different forms. For example, the manner in which individuals decide to dress does not necessarily define how much decency and respect they have for themselves nor does it validate their worth as a person. Women should not be ashamed of admitting they enjoy sex as much as men do, just as men should be able to freely express their emotions without fear of being judged and labeled as “weak” or “overly sensitive”. Feminism challenges society to abolish the expectations that have become too deeply entrenched because it is through conforming to these gender roles that people hinder themselves from growth while they perpetuate abuse, rape culture, discrimination and