Let’s talk about Women’s Equality.

It’s not gossip that even in 2019, women are not treated as equals to men.  Though hard to swallow, women are not receiving equal pay, adequate support during births, sufficient time for maternity leave, and respectable reproductive rights.

Challenges of being discriminated, objectified, and unnecessary physical and emotional abuse still occurs. It’s the raw truth that needs to be discussed this August 26th on Women’s Equality Day (and every day until it becomes fully equal).

The feminist movement that overflows social media is not just a fad. Women have been fighting for their rights for a very long time. In fact, nearly a century has flown by since helped Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton,& Lucy Stone fought for women’s suffrage. Yet, every year feminist flood streets demanding equal pay and rights. Before I get too ahead of myself, I’d like to clarify the following. I understand that the term “feminism” seems to be a controversial word, even with the textbook definition on dictonary.com is crystal clear.

fem·i·nism /ˈfeməˌnizəm/ Noun

1. the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.

Feminism should be a term that is associated with the desire for women to share equal opportunities and rights regardless of race, religion, gender expression or identify, and sexual preference.

What should be common sense is commonly ignored

Regardless of the piles of data proving that women are not equal over-pouring on the Internet, it’s still not common sense that women deserve equality. Excuse after excuse is made as to why women are not equal to men. It may stem for the lies that society has taught me from a young child.

A few lies:

1. Women are already equal to men.
2. Men work. Women stay home with the children.
3. Women cannot be race car drivers or firemen.
4. Physically, women are weaker. Men are biologically different and should not be compared.
5. Women bring too much emotion into “things” and therefore make terrible leaders.
6. Women provide favors in order to climb the corporate ladder which is the only reason she received that promotion.
7. Women were created to provide for their families and that is absolutely it.
8. Women should not travel alone.
9. Women cannot handle changing flat tires, mowing the grass and balancing the checkbook.

Now, I do want to clarify that this is not a hate-on-men article. Feminism is not about hating men.  The feminism movement is strictly about women gaining rights that they should already have.

Sometimes equality seems to be too much to ask

Surprisingly, most feminist treat men badly and it’s not good for feminism (and really bad for Women’s Equality). When women bad mouth men and fixate on behavior characteristics it distracts from the fundamentals. The “man-hating” label needs to be peeled off because it is only causing the gap between gender war to widen.

I feel it’s necessary to say that men are also at a disadvantage. Boys are taught to “rub dirt in it” and not cry when hurt. Society does not want men to show emotion or seek help for mental illness. Men need to provide financially and cannot stay home with children. These are just a few lies that society feeds young boys.Yes, but ironically, cis white men are statistically financially better off. Men statistically have more power and can get ahead (virtually in any way).

Please check out these articles below for further more information:

• Women are under represented in government offices.
• Women pay more than men for common items (like deodorant and shampoo)
• Women face obstacles when making their way to the executive suite
• Women are greatly under represented in news media
• Women venture to male-dominant fields, but pay drops

Feminism is not for the faint of heart. It is the duty of each individual to make sure that all humans are treated fair and equal. How do we go about this, you ask? Well…

Representation, please!

In a perfect world, equal opportunities for all will create a society that flourishes and vastly improves lives. With that being said, it is so necessary to encourage and support women to vote, run for office positions, and improve laws with intentions to improve the conditions of women and their families. This will NOT happen without the equal distribution of representation. Diversity is key!

NOW is the time to step up and voice your opinions

Be thankful for the progress made, but recognize there is a long way to go to protect and improve the election process and increase the participation of women voters. I encourage you to fight for free and fair access to voting for all eligible voters. Put women into office in efforts to change laws and improve lives. Together we can make things happen.

In honor of National Women’s Equality Day, take the opportunity to honor those who have spend a majority of their own lives to improve the lives of women.

1. Anne Sullivan taught Helen Keller (blind and deaf) to communicate at the age of 20 years old. Keller could read braille, speak, and write in just a few months.
2. Marie Curie – first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different categories (Physics and Chemistry)
3. Ada Lovelace claimed to write the instructions for the first-ever computer program, but her work went undiscovered until 1950 and introduced by B.V. Bowden under another title
4. Mary McCarthy is a well-known writer for her wit and detailed analysis of intellectual dilemmas even after being orphaned at the age of six
5. Jane Goodall, a British primatologist and anthropologist, was deemed a UN Messenger of Peace in 2002. She spent 55 years studying chimpanzees in the wild and now is known as the world’s leading experts. Animal welfare issues and conservation will be her sole mission in life.
6. J.K. Rowling, author, and creator of Harry Potter sold more than 450 million book copies and went on to be a blockbuster legend.
7. Hermine “Miep” Santruschitz Gies helped protect the family of Anne Frank from the Nazis for over two years during World War II. Thank her for saving Anne Franks diary after the Franks’ arrest.
8. Edith Cowan landed on Australia’s $50 note in 1995 (and still today) for being the first Australian woman to serve in parliament.
9. Audrey Hepburn, the Hollywood icon, did not just dance, act, and model. She was known for being quite the humanitarian, only speaking kind words and having knowledge as a secret weapon.
10. Dorothy Levitt, a trailblazer, took a fast chance and became the first female British racing driver.

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