My Two-Cents on Feminism

There's been so much debate over feminism lately and after reading Loepsie's  post on how she became a feminist, I've been inspired me to write about my views and thoughts on the topic. :)

First of all, a disclaimer; for me, being a feminist is believing men and women have equal rights and opportunities and furthermore acting on this belief... So that's the sort of premises this post will be based upon.

I suppose I do identify as a feminist, but I feel there's pressure on people to either be completely for it or against it and have a solid view and opinion. I believe being a feminist is being made into something it's not and it's being blown out of proportion. It's undoubtedly amazing how far the feminists of the world have come since the 1960's and there's obviously still inequality, but what I don't understand is why such a big deal is being made over acts of feminism, such as Emma Watson's HeForShe speech (I surely couldn't write about feminism without mentioning her, could I?).

I am in absolute agreement with Watson in what she is advocating, but it frustrates me how people are suddenly making a huge deal over the idea of gender equality, as if it's a radical new ideology that came out of no where. What I'm trying to say, is that there shouldn't have to be a famous actress making a speech for people to realise that men and women currently don't have equal rights and that they should.

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This year, for English, I wrote a speech about how I thought Miley Cyrus was a feminist (this was right after her performance at the VMAs). It began with, "I told my sister the other day I thought Miley Cyrus was a feminist. She laughed." I understood why she did, because who would vouch for gender equality, whilst simultaneously wearing next to nothing and dancing in all kinds of provocative manners? But being a feminist doesn't mean you have to be a man-hater, wear ugly clothes and not shower (some weird stereotype I've found a lot of people associate with feminism).

Surely anyone, men and women included, can be a feminist, if they so choose? In my opinion, Cyrus is empowering women, by doing what she wants and not being confined by the rules of our (less so nowadays) patriarchal society. Saying this, I'd never wear the things she does and prefer to be empowered in other ways, but I admire her for her courage and how she is utilising her fame to show society you can be a feminist in whatever way you choose. After all, isn't that what feminism is about? Being able to express yourself and having the freedom to act and say what you please?

Wow, went off on a bit of a tangent there, but I suppose I'm saying that feminism shouldn't be about feminists telling each other what they can and cannot do and that there shouldn't be such big of a deal made over people wanting gender equality. It's upsetting there has to be, though, for the message to get across, but I hope I can make a difference and even if one person reads this and is inspired in some way, I'll be very happy :)

I hope this made some kind of sense to you... It was kind of just my train of thought typed out, but I think I got my point across :)

Em x