Why I’m a feminist

You’re either a feminist or you’re not. There is no “I think women should be equal but…” If you believe men and women are equal, you’re a feminist.

However, if your feminism does not include women of color, women in developing countries or transgender women, it is not feminism.

Because I am a woman, I am expected to take a backseat to men. I should aim to achieve success, but not become too successful because I’ll become threatening. I should be assertive, but not too assertive because then I become bossy.

I’m a feminist even though I shave my armpits and don’t hate men. I’m a feminist and I’m a student, a daughter and an employee.

I’m a feminist because I believe with every fiber of my being that every man, woman and gender non-conforming individual deserves equal rights.

I’m a feminist and I’m not angry. I’m scared. I’m scared because it’s 2016 and some people still don’t know what it means to be a feminist.

What humans have in common should take precedence over what divides us.