What is a "Feminist" Anyways?

fem·i·nism

ˈfeməˌnizəm/

noun

1. the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

   
   

One of the latest reads that I was truly inspired by was titled We Should All be Feminist by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.  This was an excerpt of a speech that she gave at TedXEuston.  If you ever listened to Beyonce's song Flawless, there is an intro to the song that was taken from Ngozi's speech.  This speech was given to spread the idea of feminism and why everyone should become a feminist.  

As I was reading this book, I was developing ideas as to why men ridicule women and why the superiority role belongs to males.  Chimamanda talked about how in her home country Nigeria, women were not considered independent and are always to depend on males.  She presented a few scenarios that she was involved in.  One scenario is when she was staying at a hotel.  When she walked through the hotel lobby, a male employee came up to her asking if she was visiting someone (a male), what is the reason for entering the hotel without a male escort, etc.  The male who was asking her these questions was implying that she is possibly a prostitute.  To make the assumption that a woman's reason for entering a hotel is for prostitution is completely absurd.  Why is it that a woman has to be escorted into places by a man?  Women should be allowed to go to places alone.  However, this idea of male supremacy is carved into people's brains, believing that women have to depend on men.  

Another scenario Chimamanda experienced is when she went out to town with a male.  She explained that in Nigeria, specifically in the city, Lagos, that there are people who make money by parking your car.  She continued with the incident, how she gave the man who was parking their car, ten dollars, and the man decided to thank the male who she was with.  Even though she is the one who gave the guy ten dollars of hers, the man did not thank her. Since she is a woman and it was believed that the man who she was with, is the one who provided that ten dollar bill.  This dialogue basically made Chimamanda invisible out of the conversation because she was a female.  It also made it seem like she cannot pay someone with her own money because she has to depend on the male to pay.  Not in every single situation, the male has to pay.  

The adversities of females in today's society is developing more and more each day because people don't believe in the idea of feminism.  Women fought so hard to be equaled to men.  We fought for our rights as women, we fought for our positions, we fought for our freedom, and we fought for our purpose.  What did men ever fight for?  It seems like men were having things handed to them with a silver spoon.  What was given to women without a second guess?  This idea of feminism has to be carved into our minds instead of the societal expectation that men are dominant.  There should not be a superior vs. inferior debate referring to gender.  Women nor men should be dominant over the other gender, in my opinion.  We all should be equal and have an equal outlook on societal expectations of the two genders.  No female should have to be escorted by a man.  No female should have to be doubted or ignored if they offer to pay for a male.  No female should feel ashamed of being a female. 

This idea of mine, developed from this motivational book written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.  As I explained two scenarios she has experienced dealing with lack of gender equality, I have quoted an excerpt of her speech referring to her experiences of being a female teacher.  What do you ladies think of this social issue?  Do you understand where Chimamanda is coming from based off of what I explained? 

"The first time I taught a writing class in graduate school, I was worried. Not about the teaching material, because I was well prepared and I was teaching what I enjoyed. Instead I was worried about what to wear. I wanted to be taken seriously.  I knew that because I was female, I would automatically have to prove my worth. And I was worried that if I looked too feminine, I would not be taken seriously. I really wanted to wear my shiny lip gloss and my girly skirt, but I decided not to. I wore a very serious, very manly, and very ugly suit.  The sad truth of the matter is that when it comes to appearance, we start off with men as the standard, as the norm. Many of us think that the less feminine a woman appears, the more likely she is to be taken seriously. A man going to a business meeting doesn't wonder about being taken seriously based on what he is wearing—but a woman does.  I wish I had not worn that ugly suit that day. Had I then the confidence I have now to be myself, my students would have benefited even more from my teaching. Because I would have been more comfortable and more fully and truly myself." --Chimamanda Ngoizi Adichie