final

changing the face of feminism.

why we still need feminism

feminism lesson for young people. don't be afraid of feminism. 

http://jezebel.com/5975076/paul-ryan-once-again-sponsors-the-bill-that-would-make-it-possible-for-womens-rapists-to-sue-them (conservatives are dying out but are still in power)

http://www.dayswithoutagoprapemention.com/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45755822/ns/msnbc-the_ed_show/#49561743

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/10/28/1101761/gingrich-mourdocks-comments-every-catholic-believes/?mobile=nc

Let's be honest. I wouldn't be the feminist I am if not for the amount of time I spend on the internet having discussions and reading blogposts like this one about why feminism should or should not still be relevant in todays culture.

Here is what I believe to be true: this is the 21st century. As much as we'd like to believe we live in a utopian society that has moved on from our prejudiced past, that's just not the case. Old habits die hard, and sometimes don't die at all. As a people, we are victims of social conditioning. Our culture has general perceptions of different groups of people as a result of our country's past.

The first time I was called a slut, I was 11 years old. I didn't think much of it. I had a strong head on my shoulders and knew it was a comment that arose from nothing, especially because, well, I was 11 and had no sexual experience or promiscuity of any kind.

And it's not like from that moment forward I was inspired to become a feminist and empower people everywhere about women rights and denounce slut-shamers and victim-blamers. No. It hasn't been until 5 years later and I am sixteen years old that I reflect upon this befuddling moment of name-calling and consider how we, the people, box up sexuality

Feminism first arose in the early 20th century when women fought for the right to vote. It was a political and social movement back then. 100 years later, women and men officially have all the same legal rights. Women can have all the same jobs as men and become a successful, innovative part of the American workforce. But this doesn't mean that it happens. On average, women earn ___ less than men. And that's just white women. Women of color earn ___ of what men earn.


Feminism is a very dear issue to me as a female and as a human. Let's define feminism as equal rights for women in relation to men politically, economically, socially, and all areas of living.

For me, becoming a feminist has greatly increased my awareness of mens issues.

Rape culture is any sort of tolerance or condoning of rape or sexual assault as well as behaviors or attitudes that sexually oppress people such as slut-shaming or victim blaming. A large part of feminism that is circulating in todays society would not exist without issues stemming from rape culture, which, yes, exists in todays society.

Females now have this internalized fear of being out alone at night. We are cautious when men look at us, let alone talk to us. This is a fear that women deal with daily. Not only should women not have to deal with this, it is also a stab to men because, last time I checked, not all men are creepy pervert-rapists.  But these fears do not stem from nothing. They are not a small issue, they are the result of a huge issue. 1 in 3 women are raped every year in the US.

We need to stop thinking about rape and sexual violence as something that only happens to women.

What guys need to understand is that if they say a girl was asking to be raped because of what she was wearing, it is an offense to themselves because they are saying they have no self-control.

To treat women and men not as women and men but as people. As human beings. We need to teach consent. We need to teach that women can also be perpetrators of sexual violence. We need to be understanding and accepting of everyones rights and comfort zones. The only way to fight ignorance is with education.