Dissecting Everything I Know About Feminism As An Unapologetic Feminist 

By: Aneesha Mahapatra

Feminism isn’t a “hateful” word like some people may believe. It’s not about disliking men or craving power over everyone else. It’s about equality for women. Yet, even in today's world, the thought of a woman asserting herself, demanding respect, and confidently pursuing her goals makes some people uncomfortable. The patriarchy is very much alive, and it’s time we stop pretending like it does not affect us.

Look at Taylor Swift, for instance. She’s dominating the music industry and breaking records nonstop, yet she constantly faces backlash. Why? Because she’s a woman that is too successful, too smart, and too influential for society’s comfort. If a man were in her shoes, he’d be praised as a hero. But Taylor is labeled as “dramatic,” “a snake,” or “too emotional.” And the worst part is, most of these random trolls criticizing her are men. Even Donald Trump felt the need to come at her for her political stance and at the Super Bowl LIX, which further proves that men who are in authority feel threatened by truly powerful women.

 Remember Barbie? An entire movie about feminism and how the male patriarchy should not exist because it limits everyone including women, men, and society as a whole. It showed that breaking down barriers leads to equality, freedom, and growth for everyone, but remember how the song “I’m Just Ken” won an award, but the movie itself didn’t? Can’t be a coincidence, especially in Hollywood, where women’s stories often get disregarded. This further proves the point of how women and their work are often overlooked, even when it is culturally impactful.

The truth is, the patriarchy teaches us that women shouldn’t be too outspoken, too driven, or too bold. And when they are, society tries to bring them down. It’s tiring and misogynistic, and I’ve been over it for way too long. Let’s take a closer look at how feminism is looked down upon from time to time. 

The Unfortunate Reality of Women Supporting Trump

What’s really heartbreaking is seeing modern day women support a man who has repeatedly made misogynistic comments and fought against policies that protect women’s rights. It’s hard to understand how any woman can vote for someone who once said, “Grab ‘em by the p*ssy,” and brushed it off as “locker room banter.” 

The thing is many of these women genuinely don’t see the problem with this or the fact that he’s sexually assaulted multiple women and is a convicted felon. They’ve been brought up in a world that teaches them to be agreeable, to avoid confrontation, and to trust older and uneducated male figures who don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s not entirely their fault (but it also is because Google is free). It’s also the result of traditional views and growing up in a space where you only see one side and stick to it. 

I’ve talked to women who actually believe they’re supporting a man who will make America a better place. And even though I love women and will always be there for a woman, you cannot catch me ever feeling sympathetic for a Trump supporter. Because voting for Trump wasn’t about aligning with certain political views, it was about seeing the results his presidency would do for women in the United States and everyone else who wants a chance at a good and healthy life in America. Voting for Trump was a vote against colored women, LGBTQ+ women, and the basic reproductive and human rights of women. 

These people don’t realize that by voting for Trump, they’re sacrificing their own rights and the rights of American women. While it might not happen directly to them, they chose it to happen to others, which is a simple word called privilege. They’re supporting a system that keeps women unequal, and it’s anti-feminist at its core because feminism is about equality and respect for all women. After all, they chose a man over a highly qualified woman… Supporting a man who proudly diminishes and makes vulgar comments about women is the opposite of empowerment.

Personal Opinion: I will never be apologetic for standing up for women’s rights and choosing my female, LGBTQ+, POC friends, family members, and underprivileged people over some “lower grocery prices” which obviously did not even happen. 

 Women Aren’t to Blame

Feminism is also about protecting women from sexual assault, harrasment, domestic violence, and more. It’s frustrating when men act inappropriately, then blame women for their actions. For example, when a woman is free to dress however they’d like but then a man who catcalls her or invades personal space says the woman "asked for it.” Women shouldn't have to change the way they act or the way they dress because of a man who cannot keep it in his pants. 

As women grow older, society tends to hold them to higher standards of accountability, yet men often get a pass for their unacceptable actions. It’s truly disgusting that some believe this justifies men’s abominable behavior. Women shouldn’t be expected to deal with men’s behavior or attraction. Feminism advocates for women’s right to live freely and confidently and pushes back against the male victim blaming mentality and their lack of self-control.  

What Are “Fake Feminists”? 

Then, there are the fake feminists. They act like they support women's empowerment when it's “trendy”, but switch up when a man is around them. You know exactly the type. They'll repost feminist stories on Instagram but laugh when a woman decides to speak up for themselves. They’ll say they have your back when it’s beneficial for them, but just as quickly will stab you in the back if their social status is at risk.

Unfortunately, we live in a world that constantly pits women against each other. It’s not easy unlearning that internalized bias. We’ve been taught to seek male approval, to downplay our intelligence, and to compete with other women from a young age. It’s similar to how we see female friends fighting over a boy which ends their friendship or women always choosing their boyfriend over their girlfriends. How about when people see a woman they don’t like, normal or famous, and start saying things about her that you know a man would just to seem “cool”. We pretend like it’s okay, when in reality, we are once again choosing to pick the man over the woman. 

If you’ve ever found yourself playing dumb or changing your opinions or laughing at a sexist joke to fit in, don’t blame yourself, we’ve all been there. But please don’t stay stuck there either. Feminism isn’t about being perfect. It’s about recognizing the problem and making the choice to be and do better.

Why I’m Proud to Be a Feminist

I’m a feminist because I will never accept a world that punishes women for being themselves. I will never apologize for wanting equality. I will never apologize for standing up for women’s rights. And I definitely will never apologize for calling out the corrupt systems and the “higher” male people that are somehow admired.

If that makes people angry, I literally do not care. It’s funny to see when a powerful woman affects a man so much, he cannot function in life anymore without finding a way to ruin that woman. Well, women aren’t staying quiet for anyone, because our voices, our rights, and our courage deserve to be heard and treated fairly.