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Why did YOU become a feminist?
James wrote: "oh and You are not a man or a boy so you would not understand how toxic Feminism affects men and boys and how it is not about equality for the sexist."Well I am a man and I don´t have a clue of what toxic youre talking about. I think it´s great that you are here and want to learn and discuss, but can you please chill a bit with that trashtalk about feminists. You have right to have your own opinion but this is a bookclub and it´s supposed to be enjoyable.
I actually think that your statement about feminism being toxic to men and boys, and not to mention when you wrote "[...] I mean unless they can blame it on white men, then theyre all in. Feminist are such liars and cowards" are quite offensive statements. Please discuss but in a less offensive way
Hi, I'm Hannah. I am 24 and I am from Michigan but currently living in Chicago.I grew up in a very rural small town and grew up in a very 'traditional' household where my mom was the one cooking and cleaning and my dad was the one working in the garage and the yard. I never necessarily felt unequal to boys but it wasn't until I got older that I realized not every household is run that way.
I have always (obviously) believed in equality but my husband (boyfriend at the time) was the one who really sparked my passion for feminist issues. He watched Miss Representation in a college class and encouraged me to watch it. He works in the film industry and gets really upset when there is something obviously sexist in something he is working on. He really opened the door for me to this world of feminism and ever since then I have been a big advocate for feminist issues.
I'm Lauren, 28 from the USA. I started off as a feminist when I was very young because of my father. My mother's job was draining so my dad did a lot of the work caring for me and my younger sister, and he wore the pink baby carriers, learned how to paint nails, and involved us in his projects around the house. One of my earliest memories is him teaching me how to hammer a nail while he was building a deck. There were never any toys or activities that were off limits or too "masculine" for us, and each parent took on the household chores that best suited their abilities. My mother cooked and managed the finances while my father did playtime and household repairs. I am a feminist because I don't feel that anyone should be expected to behave or speak or think in any particular way because of whether they have a penis or a vagina. It just doesn't make sense.
Well im Andreas from Sweden, 29 years old, an I can really relate to the small town feeling that Akhenatons talknig about. My hometown is only half the size of yours :-)I have just recently started to call myself a feminist, and why I havent earlier is mostly because both men and women in my hometown thought of it as something ridiculous, because everyone thought of the feministic idea to be a given. So grew up living my life like a passive feminist of some sort (cause my mother would have killed me if I spoke about sexistic jokes etc. so I was raised to be a feminist without knowing it). But when I started my journey to become a teacher I moved from home for 9 years, where I got new friends and all of them were feminists. After I finnished my education I moved back to my hometown for half a year and I couldnt belive what I heard and saw. As a kid I belived that what boys said to girls was just to tease them, but now I saw something different. I reacted most strongly to the way many boyfriends spoke to their girlfriends (agressive and patronising), and the sexistic jokes, some of my old friends honestly thought that "a womens place is in the kitchen" etc. We say that we have come a long way in gender equality in Sweden, but in many fields we haven even invented the wheel yet. Thats when I realized that I need to become a feminist.
Hi! My name is Soraia, I'm 21 and I'm from Brazil.I became a feminist in the middle of my superior course in Literature. For the first time in my whole life I began to think and discuss ( with my friends ) what the woman was over time.
We talked about how women were portrayed in literature, organization of the family , in the media and in our context .
It's not easy being a woman.
I lived alone for a while , I submitted myself to an abusive and humiliating relationship , now I understand why my mother , even today , not married .
And I was macho (I didn't speak English very well, is that correct?) for a while ... against other women. I accepted that, what this patriarchal society dictated and didn't question.
Until recently .
I am a feminist because I want to make a difference.
I want a change in this world.
I'm Paulina (24) from Mexico. I've always believed everyone should be treated equal, but I didn't realize the depth of gender inequality until a class in college. The teacher asked women to raise our hands if we were concerned with balancing a professional and a family life in the future, almost all of us did. He then asked the same for men and only two of them raised their hands. The teacher said that it was a clear example of how society still expects women to take care of the domestic responsabilities, even if there's an acceptance of women in the workplace. He also said that women would not progress professionally until men were able and aware of the need to share home responsabilities. The problem of gender was crystal clear after that. Since then, I attended different lectures from researches who study gender issues and then I read "Bad feminist", and that is when I decided to take a more active stand against gender inequality. Happy to be in this discussion group.
Hi, I'm Bianca, 17 years old and from Brazil.I don't know exactly when I have become a feminist, but I never agreed to those sexist things that were taught to me, I never understood, but I wasn't familiar with feminism, the movement. In the high school I started to questionate myself, and others, more. I remember to research about it and read about it a lot, so I found Emma's speech at ONU, what made me realize how wrong things were, and how we need to change it. That's when I embranced feminism, and it totally changed my life. Fortunately, I've found amazing girls, and an amazing teacher, who have been helping and teaching me a lot, and I know that I still have a lot to learn.
I became a feminist because even though we are in the 21st century, I still see so much inequality all over the world. In some places, women are fighting for the right to vote and to drive a car. However, even in Western societies, there is inequality. For example, why are women considered "slutty" if they have sex "too much" when it is encouraged for men to "score" as much as possible? Why is there still much victim blaming in cases of sexual assault? Why are colleges not doing enough to protect women from assualt? Why is there a pay gap between men and women with the same jobs? Why are there much lower rates of women in STEM fields(Science, technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)? I became a feminist because I want to answer these questions and to find solutions. I dream of being in a society where everyone is treated with the same dignity and respect.
For me, it was never a question; I had grown up in a home full of people who believed in rights for all women, and with a mother as the main money maker. when I was small, I never saw gender as an obstacle: to me, a woman was always equal to a man.
although, now a teenager, and, mind you, one that has grown up in a vastly technology and media centred generation, I have witnessed the blatant disrespect toward all women. when I say all I (of course) include WOC, trans women, lesbian or bisexual women, straight women, white women, and women of all sizes. The list goes on. obviously all of these categories face differing amounts and kinds of inequality.
The media often gives mixed messages to women; for example, a magazine could say, 'love yourself' on page four, and, 'get that summer body fast' on page 20. society is much like this; full of double standards.
Back to the question, I guess I never really BECAME a feminist, per say, I always was one.
although, now a teenager, and, mind you, one that has grown up in a vastly technology and media centred generation, I have witnessed the blatant disrespect toward all women. when I say all I (of course) include WOC, trans women, lesbian or bisexual women, straight women, white women, and women of all sizes. The list goes on. obviously all of these categories face differing amounts and kinds of inequality.
The media often gives mixed messages to women; for example, a magazine could say, 'love yourself' on page four, and, 'get that summer body fast' on page 20. society is much like this; full of double standards.
Back to the question, I guess I never really BECAME a feminist, per say, I always was one.
It all started when I saw a video from a you tuber i liked, she was talking about feminism but not much so I was curious and started to search for more information. I was shocked I never realized things were like these, it really opened up my eyes.
I've always considered myself one. Even when I wasn't old enough to understand what a feminist and what feminism is, I recall fiercely believing that I could and should be able to pursue whatever I want, and that my being a girl shouldn't be a factor. I started coming into my own as a feminist in middle school. Every day after school I'd do research on it, try to find articles to read, and get opinions from friends and family to understand my own stance on various "women's" issues. Looking back on my childhood, I'm grateful, too, for being a child of the 90s.--There were so many strong and intelligent female characters in the media I was exposed to--Belle, Hermione, Nancy Drew, the Sailor Scouts, &c. to name a few--so I'm glad those ladies helped strengthen my own character in ways that made me never question my worth, intelligence, and ability to pursue my interests growing up.
Hey Everybody,My name is Grace and I am 15 years old from the United States and there are several reasons why I am a feminist.
I have grown up in a house where my dad is the only man. I did martial arts for years and have constantly been told that I can accomplish anything a man can accomplish. I am grateful to my parents for giving me that confidence. Generally in my daily life I don't encounter anything major. But there are still some small things that do happen and bug me. Like how when a safety issue on a shooting range was brought up by my mother she was told "women think emotionally and men think logically". It wasn't until my dad brought up the issue that it was taken seriously.
Or when I had to take the FitnessGram at my school in 8th grade, and even though I wanted to do regular push ups like the boys, I was forced to do knee push ups. Or as my gym teacher called them "girly push ups".
On a larger scale, the difference in pay between men and women for doing the exact same job. It baffles me that this is still an issue, and quite frankly I'm confused as to why. Women work just as hard as men, in World War II while all the men went off to fight the war who went to work and provided the soldiers with what was needed whether it be tanks or rations. (Might I add, in addition to the women who pretended to be men in order to serve their country, because at this time women weren't allowed) Ada Lovelace was crucial in the beginning steps of computer programming as it is today and at the time she wasn't given any credit. Instead it was given to a man while she was written off as a nuisance for a long time.
There are plenty of people think of feminism as a bunch of housewives who hate men. But if you were to look up feminism, you would see it means equality for all. In the economic, political and social sense. This to me means that while women can do anything that men can do, men can be just as delicate as women can be considered. That we are all human. It's about time that we all start treating each other that way. That is what feminism means to me.
I really didn't even know what feminism was until college, where I signed up for a "Feminist Psychology" class, which was a requirement. It really opened up my world. From the language we use (we had to brainstorm a list of "bad" words - most of them were derogatory terms towards women), to the way women are portrayed in entertainment and the media in general. Once your eyes are open, you just can't close them again. For awhile I decided I would only read books written by women, or books with strong female characters. Later, when I started writing my own stories, I made it my life's goal to write stories that challenge the gender status-quo, with strong females driving the story.
I think we are living in a revolutionary time for feminism. When I was in college, little girls were still idolizing the Cinderella story. Now girls have stories with strong girl characters to look up to, and the whole "someday my prince will come" narrative seems like a thing of the past.
I have great expectations with this book club, I am very excited to learn about the feminism movement.
I have great expectations with this book club, I am very excited to learn about the feminism movement.
I have great expectations with this book club, I am very excited to learn about the feminism movement.
I have great expectations with this book club, I am very excited to learn about the feminism movement.
I have great expectations with this book club, I am very excited to learn about the feminism movement.
I have great expectations with this book club, I am very excited to learn about the feminism movement.
I have great expectations with this book club, I am very excited to learn about the feminism movement.
I have great expectations with this book club, I am very excited to learn about the feminism movement.
I never became a feminist. I was brought up in a home where I never had to think about equality, it was a given. Without ever uttering a word about feminism or equality, my mum and dad brought me up in an environment where I took it for granted. I took it for granted that both my parents would go to work, where my dad would cook breakfast and lunch in the mornings and my mum would take care of dinner, where all household, grocery shopping, taking care of me, earning was so perfectly split between them on a system based on understanding and mutual respect. So despite being brought up in India, where equality is actually a major issue, I never thought of it that way.Its only after moving to other parts of this country and seeing the struggles most woman have over everyday matters, that I understood this issue.
Im so glad we're talking about this now. I hope people who are learning about equality can bring up their children in an environment where equality is not a struggle, but a birth right. Where they don't have to become feminists (or menists!) but are just born and raised that way.
My explosion into feminism was more of what you might call a "slow boom." I grew up in the conservative church, and while I remain in the church today, I don't ascribe to the same conservative beliefs.I was taught the husband is the leader, the wife is supposed to obey him, that women are weaker than men...etc. I attended a Christian high school, and even though I thought I believed those same things, I found myself becoming angry whenever it was suggested that men and women may not be equal (Or, my personal favorite, "equal but with different roles").
I would hear my male classmates say things like, "Women are supposed to be silent!" And, "Get back in the kitchen!" and I would become enraged. Unfortunately, though, it wasn't until after I graduated from a conservative Bible college that my views started changing - or rather, I realized what my views actually were.
I became sick in 2013 and was out of work during that time. Because I had so much free time, I started doing research. I started looking at the Bible, talking to other Christians I knew who were feminists, and starting to form my thoughts. I'm a writer, so I wrote and blogged about this process as well.
To make a very long story a little less long, I finally developed my beliefs well enough to articulate them, and I am here today a very, VERY proud feminist, and though my parents' friends might disagree, i'm still a woman of faith. Anyone who knows me will tell you I hardly let any conversations go without bringing up something about feminism, and I will continue fighting for equality until my last breath.
Thanks for creating this club, Emma. I think this is fantastic, and I think you are are absolutely marvelous. (And we share the same MBTI type -- INFP!) :)
my name is michelle, i'm from Cambodia which people dont really know what is Feminist and the reason why i am in this thread is because i believe everyone are all the same , no matter what race, or skin color and genders you are we are equal .
I became a "feminist" when I was conceived; I think we all were until society implemented the twisted ideals of how women and men should live/coexist.
I think I was, and am, and simply didn't realise it.. The term is still considered a dirty word in many places and I belong within the realm of one of whose dirty places. I'm a 43 year old Australian female. Australia, which is still considered very much a patriarchal society. And I grew up during the 80's where objectifying of women, especially in movies, was not only 'funny' but normal. I don't march or hold up banners. I don't have a blog or have 'feminist' type paraphernalia in my home. I simply expect and presume to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of my gender. And I return the favour. I do my own handiwork around the home except when I simply don't have the tools or no-how. Then I'll ask my Mum first (lol) then my brother. I put a Firemans calendar up near the downstairs toilet in my home, but promptly took it down. Reason? I have 2 sons who I want to show that objectification of ANY body is simply not right. By males or females
I've always been a proud feminist for as long as I can remember. I can't remember not thinking about equality and women's rights at any time.
I don't any life story like everybody else, I think it's a right thing and I follow it."Equality","Feminism "," Menism".Whatever people say it words don't matter feeling and right doing matters.
Tje momento I realidad this world is far from equal was when I realises(this might seem stupid) when I fpund out I was waitng for the guy to sah he loved me. souds cliché...but it la true! It seemed really strange that I told him first! And all of my friends thought just the same... So I Said"ok. let's go." and told him. He toght i was joking because girls should not say their feelings to a boy before him.Of course, I don't ever speak to him again.
I'm Dawn and I'm inspired reading through so many individual stories and experiences in these threads. I have probably always been a feminist, I am the only child of a dad who always said I could grow to be anything I wanted, and a mom who doesn't ask anyone's permission before making decisions. I grew up believing people to be equal, but also knowing that the world wasn't fair.
But, I didn't start to identify with the term "feminist" until I was in college several years ago, and one of my English professors explained that he was a feminist, and it just clicked that equality is something we all still need to work for, and that's what feminists continue to do, to demand equal treatment, both on the systematic and cultural levels for women all over the world.
I work in manufacturing, and in my role, i'm lucky enough to have travelled many times to the US, and to various parts of Europe. On a very regular basis i look around the various meeting tables and i'm the only female, yet the company i'm visiting has females on reception, in the offices etc etc. I wonder why more aren't sat around the board room table? Attending a conference in London in November, there were approximately 1K attendees, of only 10% were women. Why?
I have been asked when i'll be "taking time off to have kids" or "if i get the housework done before i take a business trip" (as though my husband is incapable of pushing a hoover around or cooking a meal). These questions are not only insulting to me, but to him also.
I'm also a fierce supporter of righting the wrong that is the gender pay gap. I believe that ALL companies should be transparent in their wage data. In 2016 this should not be allowed to continue.
When I was 12 I noticed for the first time the existence of "rules" that apply to me as a girl but not to the boys. I also noticed "rules" that applied to the boys but not to me. The older I grow the more I see those "rules". In the household, in society, in politics and in church. Some of these rules are simply inconvenient, some are simply dangerous. I have a little sister, she is 10 years old. I really don't want her and her friends to live under the pressure of double standards.
Hello to all,my name is Lyanna, I'm 19 years old and come from Italy, even if they are of English origin ...
I became interested in feminism at a project on the subject organized by my professor of philosophy in high school, who was adamant that men and women should have equal rights and for this reason he decided to involve the whole class in a search this argument, which I was now to the heart, although I had then only 14 years old.
I became interested in feminism even when, a few years later, my best friend told me that he had suffered countless harassment by his father, who never resulted in the rape, but that had deeply upset. I will never understand why it has not denounced the fact is that he died a short time later, and since then she has become another person.
I continued my studies, and the high school final examination I took as an argument the view that literature by women, unfortunately doing this as women were considered inferior to men since ancient times, when women of ancient Greece could not even leave the house without her husband's consent. In this regard, I found it very instructive book Eva Cantarella "The ambiguous ailment" I do not know whether or not released abroad since, although he lived until a few years ago in London, right now I live in Italy...
I recommend it anyway, because it opens a real rift in time that allows us to understand how women were treated in Rome and in ancient times.
Often, when I talk to new people and I say I am a feminist, I almost fall hair when I realize that many people conceive that term as negative, and know nothing on the subject ... I'm sorry, because we're in twenty-first century, and I believe that this way of thinking now closed and male should no longer exist ...
Hi! Only in last year I understood that I'm faminist because I saw EMMAZING WOMAN- Emma Watson and than I was excited what does she do now. She's feminist. So when I watched her interviews and her speeches I understood that I'm faminist from time when I born!
For me, it started when my son was born in June last year. I've always said I want my son to grow up being able to cry, wearing whatever the hell he wants to, changing gender if he wants to ... I've never understood this idea that "boys should be boys". What if my son wants to wear a dress one day? What if, say, for his twelfth birthday he wants a Disney princess party? Who am I to deny that?As well as this, there's an inherent idea that women who are strong are "bossy" - something I've been told all my life. My answer is "At least it gets done", but the bossy label sticks and I'm tired of it. Women are more than housewives now, we are more than pretty faces, and it needs to stop.
The final point I want to make is about men's equality. This was hammered home when my son's father asked for mental health support and was denied it on the basis that he's a man. Why does he not deserve the same support I get? Why is it that, when I demand mental health support, I get it and when he demands it he doesn't? Just another example of gaps that need to close!
So that's why I'm a feminist - because I believe we should be free to be whoever/whatever we want, with no judgements.
Hello, my name is Sabrina. I think I was raised a feminist. My father died when I was 2 years old and my mother had to support me and my others 3 sisters by herself. We were really poor and my oldest sister was 14 years old, so it was really hard for her. But my mother showed me what a women is capable of. She fought hard for her daughters, she started a company, became a business woman. Today im 24 years old, my mother's company is in 2 countries with more than 20 branches and growing. She taught us incredible lessons until sadly she passed away in 2012 because of stomach cancer. Now me and my sister are continuing what she began.
So I think life made me a Feminist, and I am so proud of my mother and my sisters, and I know how much a woman can go through without breaking her spirit! Go luck to everyone!
I am 19 years old, an insatiable bookworm who want to be an astrophysicist, and this, I think, has pushed me toward feminism in some very important ways. The first is that society perceives my accomplishments in a rigorously math-based field as being impressive not in their own merit, but in that they occur in spite of my being a woman.
Perhaps more importantly, however, I have personally been surrounded by people (men and women alike) who make me feel smart and powerful and strong- and I believe all individuals should be made to feel like that, no matter how they identify, no matter their religion or appearance or gender or beliefs or origin.
I have been incredibly lucky in the people in my life. I have parents who share books and dreams and newspaper clippings about the universe; I have friends, male and female, who are ambitious and supportive and discuss the difficulties facing men and women in our society; I have been supported and strengthened as I push into a field that many consider to be male-dominated.
I feel so lucky- yet I should not. This should not be surprising to me; everyone deserves this kind of support. The fact that most people are not this fortunate clearly shows a need for change. I am a feminist because I want to live in a world where all people are encouraged to seek their dreams, no matter who they are.
My name is Becca and my dad is in the military.There have been several things that have happened in my life that I feel have all added up to me becoming a feminist.
A couple years ago when I was maybe nine or ten years old, my cousins (Spencer and Nick, both boys) were hanging out. I normally hung out with them individually but never with all of us together. They had both always been really nice to me when it was just us. Suddenly they were both there and they were excluding me because I was a girl. They wouldn't let me hold the bb gun because I was a girl. I carried a stick. (this was in south Texas) When I stepped on a cactus and my foot started bleeding they said I was a baby. This made me really, really upset because I just wanted to hang out with them.
I recently moved back to the US(my home country) from Korea and while I was in Korea, a korean boy named Johnny was hanging out with my friends and I. We were joking around and some of the boys were lifting other boys up (showing us how strong they were) and Johnny said 'Becca, can you lift me up? You say you're strong. Try.' He then proceeded to tell me I was a girl and my bones would break if I tried. He doesn't know I can squat and deadlift more than him.
I need feminism because I'm tired of boys being nice to me when we're alone but feeling like they need to be cool (and sometimes mean) when they're around other boys. I found a feminist post on Instagram and was really excited because I'd never really thought about being a feminist before. If anyone has any suggestions for me because I'm kind of new to this...
Hi, My name is Mandy, 27, Massachusetts, US. I didn't realize that I was a feminist until I left home for college. I wasn't a word that I had ever really heard or used before. But when I got to Wheelock College I was intrigued by the sociology and women study classes that Gail Dines offered. She identified herself as as a radical feminist and I learned for the first time what the term meant. I spent a lot of time in that class reflecting on my life up until that point. I reflected on every man and boy who laughed at me and asked me if I wanted to fight them when I told them on practiced martial arts. I reflected on every time my brothers hid their emotions and them made fun of the other one if they cried. I reflected on every time a male made me uncomfortable by whistling at me or staring at my chest. I reflected on the time my high school guidance counselor suggested I stick with the art and child development classes I had taken the previous year instead of the advance math and architecture and design classes that I wanted to take. I reflected on how most of the bullying that I experienced in school was based on the fact that I wore clothes from the wrong store or because I was heavier or wore glasses or liked to read. I reflected on every time my father pushed my mother around and every time I stood up to him to protect my siblings from his rage and I realized that I already was a feminist, I just hadn't ever really heard the word before.
The 7th grade was reading the book I am Malala. A very ignorant boy said: "I mean I kind of get why girls don't need an education. They're just going to grow up to be house wives."
This made me VERY mad.
I mean, how could you even think that?
Watching the movie Girls Rising was very moving to me and reading/watching Malala's life story greatly inspired me.
And... of course Emma Watson is a heroine of mine that I admire and her UN work and speech was amazing!
These are just a few of the reasons why I identify as a feminist.
I am farely young, and I am a feminist, purely because it is the 21st century, this issue needs to end and it's common sense. Equal respect to all!
Hello , my name is Lorrayne , I'm from Brazil . What led me to be a feminist was the news I started reading online. Brazil is a conservative country politically and the situation of Brazilian women underwent complicated periods ( still does ).
Abortion is forbidden , rape is not taken seriously by the authorities, transgender women are killed just like that ( so do other members of the glbt community ) , and even with more than half the population being black , yet we deal with racism daily.
I felt I needed to know more , get informed in order to fight it, so that all men and women, regardless of color, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or social status, have access to the same things, the same rights and duties.
Abortion is forbidden , rape is not taken seriously by the authorities, transgender women are killed just like that ( so do other members of the glbt community ) , and even with more than half the population being black , yet we deal with racism daily.
I felt I needed to know more , get informed in order to fight it, so that all men and women, regardless of color, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or social status, have access to the same things, the same rights and duties.
I think I have always been a feminist, I have 3 sisters and 1 brother. Our mum always raised us knowing that we were all equal and we could all achieve with effort, and our dad always expected us girls to help with the 'men's work' and he and my brother always helped around the house and with the younger kids. I suppose the amount of reading I do also influenced me, finding strong female characters, as well as examples of the kind of woman I don't want to be. I also spent 2 years at a girls catholoc school, where we learnt about equality, but were also subjected to outdated ideals on the roles of women. When I went back to a co-ed public school, I realised exactly how much oppression I had faced at the girls school. That was kind of the defining moment for me, I suppose, but really I have been a feminist since before I knew what the word means.
Hi, my name is Alix, I'm from Colombia and I started to using the word "feminist" to describe myself aftervthe Emma Watson's speech at the UN conference. the good think is my familiy teach me about the equality of the mans and womens. My Dad is feminist and my Mom too and i talk about feminism with my friends, more with the girls who have violence or oprecion in her houses.
26 year old woman living in the NW United States, here. I don't think I was ever *not* a feminist. But what made me really start to stand up and speak out was being treated SO differently than my two brothers from a very young age; we had different rules about curfews, dating, even chores all based on our genders. As a young adult, I started to notice my core college friend group (all male) spouting the same ass-backwards attitudes about women that my parents used to! As a woman in her mid-twenties, I finally feel like I'm coming into my own and learning how to speak my mind and be heard.
Alix wrote: "Hi, my name is Alix, I'm from Colombia and I started to using the word "feminist" to describe myself aftervthe Emma Watson's speech at the UN conference. the good think is my familiy teach me abo..."
Hola Alix,
yo estoy en Medellin ahora y tu?...que lindo seria conocernos personalmente entre tantas personas desconocidas!
I think we were born feminist, because we were born women and have to learn to seek our rights, achievements and respect.I found myself a feminist when I was young and noted at school we were humiliated. Teachers said to some classmates: "you are beautiful is enough", as if it said something about someone's personality. This was a way to degrade us.
Hello, everyone! My name is Cecilia, I'm 28 years old, and from Argentina. I've always been a feminist for the simple fact that my education made me one. I was privileged enough to attend an all-girl non-denominational, British Preparatory and Secondary School, where I was taught the principles of service, friendship, achievement and ambition. I was brought up to pursue a career, to be independent and to choose what to do with my life, free from prejudices. In my mind, woman and man were equal, both capable of pursuing the same things. Imagine my surprise when I went on to Uni and was faced with gender discrimination, with men and women talking about the distinct roles for each gender - if you were a man and studied Communications you were probably gay; women are not bright enough to become Engineers. It was a rude awakening, and one I resented. I understood then the importance of feminism, the need to champion women in all academic areas, and to stand up straight against those telling me my role is in the house and that I couldn't possibly be both a mother/wife and a woman with a career.
I'm here to learn more about feminism, especially as some countries are more behind than others.
I became a Feminist because, why not?Why shouldn't everyone be a feminist?
All throughout my life I saw empowering women become whatever they desired to be, and ignore any steryotypes placed on them.
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During a long time, from my birth to my 19th birthday, I've lived in a small rural town in France. It's a nice place, surround by mountain and with not too many people (around 40000) The most important thing to know is : everybody know everybody, and every time you met somebody new, you could be sure that at least 3 of your friend know them. It's horrible, because everybody judged every others peoples and the rumor are very frequent about the people.
When I was young, my parents separated and I got to lived with my father. My mother got to live nearby and since I'm around 8, I used to move a lot between the two of them and with my friend. After all, it's a small city, nothing wrong can happen. But the things are : I get to pass a lot of time with my friends. And in a small town like this one, you don't met a lot of new people's and you usually pass a lot of years with the exactly same people. And since they aren't a lot of people coming, the way we see the world stay the same for year and year, and if you have choice the bad people to stay with (I mean, in the way they looked at other people and judged them), you will only go deeper and deeper into sexism and things like this.
And that how you spend year and year judging women, shaming them by the way they're act or what they're said. I can remember everything we talking about girl, calling them slut, only thinking about sex and doesn't even recognize them at human being. After all, they just here for us to have some fun and sex, right ? And things getting worse and worse, to the point of I've done some bad things that still haunted me today.
And in the same time, I get offended and shock every time I heard what's happened to some friend of mine, not realising that I doing the exact same thing to others girls.
With time, I begin to realise that something was wrong, but I couldn't tell exactly what and I begin to hate this town to be so small and to be the source of so many problems.
So, as soon that I've finish high school, I've move away in a much bigger town in France, Montpellier. The study I've choice is not really important, the only thing I'm wanting to do is to run away from this town. And their, I begin to meet a lot of people and heard a lot of differents story.
It's was around this time that the feminism begin to make himself really know in the Internet, notably around the video game, making the first time I really heard about it and didn't judge it at a : "Stupid things from stupid woman"
I begin to grow interessed more and more about this subject and one day, I've discover a French tumblr, called "Je connais un violeur" (I know a rapist) To resumed, it's a place where woman can speak about the experience they have, involving direct rape or not, and about who did that (to break the cliché of the unknown man in a dark street) I recognized so many thing I've done or way of thinking that I've before, or story that my friends told me, that I got myself sick from it, reading it again and again and realizing what I've done in the past, my mistake and how dangerously closed I come to do something really bad.
I decided from this day to learn, read and understand the sexism and the feminism, for the purposed of acting in the right way for the rest of my life and to make up for my past mistakes. After all, I was still a white man who didn't suffered to much from it (but still a bit, because I'm not manly enough to be a "true man") and they're a lot of things that I didn't know or heard before, like the everyday problem a girl can get, just because she's a girl.
Some time after that, a young and strong woman stand up for every women in the world, and start the HeforShe movement : Emma Watson. Watching someone as young as I'm doing such importants things and making a real change in the world was truly inspiring for me, and I decided to follow this movement and to learn a lot more, to possibly be able to react in the right way in the bad situation and to make, at my level, some amelioration to attain the gender equality.
That how I became a feminist and a HeforShe member. That why I did it.
Sorry for the long text and sorry for the bad English.