What People Think.
In the following video I asked some of my peers what they thought about feminism:
I also asked my wonderful Language Arts teacher to respond to some questions about feminism. Below are the questions, and her answer! (Special thanks to her for making this whole project possible!)
Q: What do you think about feminism?
A: I think feminism is a great thing that many people find fearsome. Unfortunately, there is a stigma to the term, which is why more people need to be aware of what feminism is all about. It’s not just a bunch of angry women talking about how much they hate men - it’s about equality. There is nothing frightening about feminism; if you believe men and women should have equal rights, then you are a feminist - plain and simple. We are all feminists.
Q: Who are some people that you know of that are feminists?
A: I surround myself around many women that advocate for equal rights in many different ways. My mother was the first example of feminism for me. She supported my family before my father got on his feet, and was not afraid to work rigorously and be our source of income while the household responsibilities were equally divided.
Q: Do you think feminism is a social issue? Why?
A: Feminism isn’t the issue, it’s the fact that we live in a sexist society that continuously favors men. This is what leads to feminism, because something needs to be done to ensure that there is equality for all. The social issue derives from many roots, such as through advertisements, movie roles, and just the double standards that exists. For example, the common expression “boys will be boys” is problematic because it gives “boys” an excuse to do what they want without being held accountable. More people need to be aware of these subtle differences that play a major part of the issue we are in.
Q: Have you ever done something to help feminism?
A: Aside from attending women’s marches, I think the most important thing to do, as a woman, is vocally stand up for yourself. Anytime a person makes a sexist jokes or says something that is degrading, it is important to say something about it in order to send the message that it’s not right. And this goes for men and women equally - men need to vocalize their advocacy as well in order to help this society improve.
Q: What are some ways you think you can do to become a feminist?
A: Like I stated earlier, vocalizing your position and rights at any opportunity given. If you hear something sexist, it is important to address it. This can be at a large scale and a small scale too. For example, if you’re a female and your mom asks you to help do the dishes, that is an opportunity to question: why does it have to be the woman? If your mom or another family member automatically asks the boys to take out the trash - you can make it a point to declare that women are capable of taking the trash out too. It’s important to start small, before going big.
Q: Do you consider yourself a feminist?
A: Absolutely! In fact, I make it a note that my husband and brothers identify as feminists too, because quite frankly, we should ALL be feminists.