“I’m a feminist. I’ve been a female for a long time now. It’d be stupid not to be on my own side.”- Maya Angelou

I had an intense argument with a Feminist friend, who asserted that she doesn’t need men in her life to pay her bills. I am proud of her, she is doing extremely good for herself.  But then she said something that made no sense to me. She said, “I don’t understand the concept of marriage. Adopt a child and live the way you want to live. Men are good for nothing!”. She filled her glass of wine and continued, “I am a true FEMINIST”. Are you kidding me? I think you don’t know anything about Feminism. I never understood why a father’s role as a parent doesn’t get as much appreciation as a mother’s role. You have got every right to challenge social norms but you cannot take away respect from people who are ready to sacrifice their life to save yours. Adopting a child is a noble thought but saying men are good for nothing is obnoxious. Your success is a collective effort of both men and women. Respect! I am not a Feminist who is aggressive and essentially a men-hating woman. I don’t even intend to burn my bra in support of feminism nor I want to imprison men in gender stereotypes. Actual feminism is about gender equality and justice. I am a feminist because the most common question asked after a sexual assault is, “What were you wearing?”. I am a feminist because domestic violence is a reality and sexual consent isn’t taken seriously. I am a feminist because there are still cases of female foeticied. I am a feminist because I don’t hate men.  Here is a list of quotes from strong women who defined feminism and made their voice heard.

“To all the little girls who are watching, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.” —Hillary Clinton in her 2016 concession speech

“I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard…we cannot succeed when half of us are held back.” ―Malala Yousafzai

“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.” —Maya Angelou

“A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.” —Melinda Gates

“A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” ―Gloria Steinem

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” —Michelle Obama

“Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.” —Nancy Pelosi

The more I have spoken about feminism, the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.” —Emma Watson

“We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.” —Sheryl Sandberg

“A woman is like a tea bag—you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

“I am a woman with thoughts and questions and shit to say. I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story–I will.” —Amy Schumer

“For I conclude that the enemy is not lipstick, but guilt itself; we deserve lipstick, if we want it, AND free speech; we deserve to be sexual AND serious – or whatever we please. We are entitled to wear cowboy boots to our own revolution. –Naomi Wolf

“Human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights, once and for all.” —Hillary Clinton

“In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.”—Sheryl Sandberg

Do you connect with the concept of Feminism? Do you think hating men makes you feminist? Comment and let me know.

Lots of love!

xoxo