March Blog Post

In my experience, the word ‘feminist’ is one which frequently stirs strong reactions. The people I have encountered who have vehemently denied being a feminist often have ideologies which line up with the true definition of the word. Of course, no one has to identify with any one label or another, but the idea of what feminism actually means is often misconstrued.

Feminism is about equality amongst the genders. It’s about equality of opportunity. I personally don’t know a single person who doesn’t believe in this, regardless of race, gender, or political alignment. Given that this is the case, why are people so hesitant to call themselves feminists? I believe the answer has more to do with misunderstanding than actual bigotry or sexism.

When I’ve asked people who claim not to be feminists if they believe in gender equality, the answer has always been ‘yes’, quickly, and without hesitation.

People who say this are by definition, feminists. Again, no one should be forced to identify with something they’re uncomfortable with, but it’s okay to be a feminist. The negative view of what feminism is may have come from certain isolated instances of radical groups exhibiting inappropriate behavior, but my response to this is: don’t let anyone warp the definition of feminism. Feminism is a good thing meant to promote a positive world view. Equality is not negative, and neither is feminism.

Feminism is absolutely necessary in today’s world as well. Many strides have been made towards creating a more accepting world, but it is important to continue applying pressure in that direction. I have personally heard several accounts of gender inequality from many facets of society, but one which stands out to me took place in a professional environment. An accomplished woman in her field found herself in a situation when the company she worked for asked her to interview potential candidates. She witnessed first-hand how a group of males (also part of the hiring board) were about to hire a woman, but offer her an annual salary of $30,000 less than a man in the same position. She questioned this without anger or judgment, simply fuelled by a desire to gain insight, perhaps the male in that position had qualities which warranted the pay disparities? But after drawing attention to the matter, she was removed from the hiring board.

This type of inequality is unacceptable, but difficult to remedy. I firmly believe that the first, and perhaps the most important step, is giving people the opportunity to understand. It’s important to share these stories and talk about these issues. Feminism is a vessel for this, and the Women’s Center Coalition provides a good environment in which to discuss it.

To this end, communication is important, but diverse, educated, and constructive communication is essential. It’s important to listen. I recognize that I cannot properly understand an issue without first hearing about it from someone who has experienced it. By understanding, I can make positive changes in my own life that might make even the subtlest difference in the world. Likewise, I believe others can learn from my perspective as well. I am one of a few males in WCC, but we happy few contribute to the conversation with our own individual perspectives. One group discussing on its own can quickly become an echo chamber. Diversity is the medium for progress.

Feminism can be misunderstood, but through patience and educational discussion that understanding can change. The worst thing to do is to dismiss people with different opinions to your own. Even if there is disagreement, everyone has a specific way of perceiving the world, shaped by individual upbringings and experiences. While it is sometimes the case that people hold genuinely differing feelings towards how various issues should be tackled (or if these issues even exist), sometimes these differences emerge simply from a lack of discussion with people who feel directly affected. It’s not always possible to force people to listen, but by sharing stories and continuing the conversation, empathy and common ground can be established. Males are an important part of feminism. Without support from all reaches, true equality might be impossible to attain.