The Progression of Feminism- by Benedictine University blogger Karly

When I was growing up I always thought that  being a feminist was a negative thing. I thought that if you were a feminist, you hated all men and you only talked to women. That if you were a feminist you only were a part of things that women did. That was when I was younger, probably around ten or so. As the years went by I slowly realized what feminism truly is. It not a negative thing at all, actually it is the total opposite. Unfortunately, some people still think of feminism like my ten-year-old self did. Some people view the world of feminism in all the wrong ways. Being a feminist isn’t something that you should be afraid of. Just because you have a certain outlook on life doesn’t make you any different from anyone else. Now is a better time than ever for the world to shine a positive light on feminism. The movement has helped so many women feel strong, respected, and justified. I feel that most of the people that dislike the idea of feminism are men. I feel that men believe this movement is belittling them and taking away the idea of a “man’s role” in society. But one is no better than the other. Feminism is not taking anything away it is actually adding a positive outlook on today’s culture.

I think that being a feminist is cool. When you are a part of the feminist movement you want for men and women to have equal rights. However, there are extreme feminist that s
ometimes go a little overboard with their thoughts and that might be why feminism is looked at negatively sometimes. Those people that go a little too far with feminism just need to remember the initial reason and purpose, which is to create equality between men and women all over the world. There is not just one type of feminist. You become one with a reason behind it. If you feel strongly about a small portion or the whole idea of feminism, you will be different from the feminist next to you. You don’t have to be a woman to be a feminist. I feel that is a misperception that a lot of people have today.

The “He For She” movement, that actress Emma Watson brought a lot of attention to, is a perfect example of what feminism should be focusing on. We need to stray people away from the confusions of feminism and show them that now in the 21st century, men and women are coming together to create equality.