Amongst many feared foul words, the F-word stands alone in creating rifts in families and causing distress nation-wide. I am going to drop it. The much feared F-bomb.

Feminism.

Just as there are many genres of music, there are many stances women take in regard to feminism. Unfortunately, the media shows the femi-nazis more than any other group. Typically the people who fall into this category are the ones who give the movement its poor reputation. These women portray men as the enemy.

Contrary to popular belief, that is not how feminism works. The word for word definition of feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. Men and women. Equal rights. It is misunderstood by many that feminism, (though I admit, the name is misleading) is also the advocation for men’s rights, as well as women’s.

Despite this seemingly understandable political movement, being a modern feminist is just about the most unappealing thing a person can be. Feminists are viewed as man-hating individuals, who are in a constant state of fury about “trivial issues” present in our society.

Yes, America has come leaps and bounds from where we used to be in the area of women’s rights. Though we are not throwing ourselves in front of horses liked famed suffragette Emily Davison, there are still a myriad of problems that need to be solved.

Women appear in magazines as sexual objects, while men are celebrated for their success. That would be a feminist issue. Girls across the country are raped on college campuses and the universities will not lift a finger to punish the aggressor in the name of maintaining an appealingly low crime rate for future applicants. That would be a feminist issue. Modelling agencies go to anorexia clinics to scout for future talents. That would be a feminist issue. Crimes of sexual or violent nature against men are neglected and looked over. That would be a feminist issue.

It is also important to bear in mind that feminism is a global movement, not just an American one. While it would be nice to see a magazine’s front cover announcing a woman’s accomplishments with her clothes on rather than off, there are bigger fish to fry across our globe.

There are girls on the other side of borders who are getting shot for trying to attend school. That would be a feminist issue. There are girls as young as six years old getting sold into marriages to men decades older. That would be a feminist issue.

I am not a feminist because I hate men. I am a feminist because often times fathers are setup to fail in child custody law suits. I am not a feminist because I am blaming my fears on society. I am a feminist because rape still holds one of the lowest conviction rates across not only in America, but also worldwide. I am not a feminist because I think I am playing the victim. I am a feminist because girls are growing up and seeing women fighting for equality ridiculed and mocked.

I am not a feminist because I want to be. I am a feminist because I have to be.