These past few days have been a sensitive subject for many people, especially females. There have been countless protests and of course many marches.
Long before these crowds began I knew I would not partake in them. I was content with the president elect and I felt and still do feel, confident in where women currently stand. Of course there is progress to be made, but as a 21-year-old female, I am proud to be where we are right now.
But the thing that bothers me the most after these past few days is not the fact that other females chose to protest and march. It is the fact that those females who chose to are now bashing on the females who chose not to.
There is a divide in the same gender. The same gender that is supposed to united as one to fight against the unfortunate.
Well, for all the female protestors out there who think just because I didn’t march means I don’t have respect for myself – let me explain a few things to you from my perspective.
I heard how awful of a person I was when I supported Trump, even though I was aware of his vulgar remarks reported. Let me start by clarifying this: I NEVER HAVE OR NEVER WILL support what he said about women. I think he was wrong and disrespectful to ever have those words come out of his mouth, but in regards to politics my decision stayed the same. Do I think he made a mistake? Yes. Do I think those comments were disgusting? Yes. But did I still personally think he was a better candidate? Yes.
I heard it when I decided not to march. I know that most people are going to tell me that the march had nothing to do with Trump and that it would still happen regardless if he won. They tell me that marching was to stand for women’s rights as a whole and that I must not care because I didn’t attend. Let me tell you, I do care, I care a hell of a lot but that’s not the way I choose to show it. I care about how far we’ve come but know there is still room for improvement. I choose to show it by being 21-year-old woman with a kick-ass job, climbing the latter to prove that a woman can be just as successful in the work place. I show it by teaching the younger girls in my life that strong is the new sexy.
I still hear it when I continue to say that I do not identify as strongly with being a feminist as most women do. Like I said, being a feminist to me used to mean fighting for equality for women and men. What it’s now turned into is fighting to take men down and hurt other females who don’t feel the same along the way. It’s become nothing but a competition which is more than controversial to what they preach.
Here’s the thing: being a feminist has become so much more than it initially started as, it’s almost a trend right now. In the beginning it was that women wanted to be equal to men. It meant equality and it was straight to the point.
Now, it’s a competition, it’s anger, it’s hate. It’s become so much more than wanting to become equal to the other sex, it’s become survival of the fittest.
So, my question to feminists who don’t consider me one, if you are all fighting against us and causing an unnecessary divide between women, doesn’t that defeat the purpose? We’re supposed to stick together, different opinions or not.
My point to feminists is that I still support us. I still stand for us. I care just as much as you do, I just choose to show it differently.
I may not want to march to show my rights but let me tell you, I am proud as hell to be a bad ass woman fighting the stereotypes.
Let’s stick together. Let’s stop taking each other down. Let’s end this unnecessary divide.