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I’m a woman, and I love being a woman. Doesn’t that make me a feminist? Not quite.
For a long time, I thought I wasn’t allowed in the feminist club. I always pictured feminists as tomboys who hated men and didn’t shave their legs.
My opinion of feminists got worse when my “first wave feminist” teachers argued with me that Beyonce can’t be considered a feminist, and housewives aren’t “real” women.
Does staying at home and taking care of children, like millions of women do, really mean housewives can’t be feminists? And if Beyonce, a self-managed artist and inspiration to legions of girls, isn’t allowed to be in the feminist club, did I even want to join?
My favorite teacher later said to me, “Feminism is essentially about dignity.” She explained that being a strong woman isn’t enough. I must also empower other women to be themselves–without judgement.
I realized there’s no right way to be a feminist and no wrong way to be a woman, and that the greatest power in being either is the freedom to choose.