Are You a Feminist? Of Course You Are

(Photo credit : MariNaomi via The Rumpus)

I saw this a few days ago and something just clicked in me. Like something i've known all along -but has somehow been confused by the staggering amount of texts with differing opinions on the subject- has finally been brought to light and confirmed.

I am a feminist. Of course. How can I not be?

I think the confusion, particularly here in the Philippines, stems from a basic  misunderstanding of what it means to be feminist. The word is still highly associated with activism, wherein only feminist activists (meaning those who actively take up the cause of feminism by protesting or taking it to the streets) end up being the only ones seen to be truly feminists.

This residual belief from the first wave of the feminist movement back in the '70s, where activism was necessary to advance the cause of feminism, is still much needed today, but along with that, also has the tendency to alienate other women (i'm not even going to begin talking about the men who support the movement), who are already part of a generation reaping the benefits of that early movement, making them feel like they are not part of the cause just because they are not so-called activists.

It also doesn't help that even among feminists there's so much contrasting or dissenting opinions on what it means to be a woman. It's like we fought to have the freedom to be anything we want and yet after we have it we're looking for ways to box or to tie ourselves to a particular identity or to a particular type of woman.

I remember a lot of instances in college where I or other females, in a casual conversation, would say something along the lines of "I don't like guys carrying my stuff for me, hello, I have hands" or "I want to cut my hair short and not look girly girly" and immediately be answered by a chorus of "ano ka peminista?" (what are you, a feminist?) like it's a shameful thing to aspire to become or something. These examples are superficial, but then it also just shows how equally superficial most people's understanding of what being feminist is.

To this I seek the words of Caitlin Moran, from her book 'How to be a Woman'.

Because the purpose of feminism isn't to make a particular type of woman. The idea that there are inherently wrong and inherently right 'types' of women is what's screwed feminism for so long ... What is feminism? Simply the belief that women should be as free as men, however nuts, dim, deluded, badly dressed, fat, receding, lazy, and smug they might be. Are you a feminist? Hahaha. Of course you are. 

So if you ever find asking yourself if you're a feminist, just call this question to mind, "Do I want to have the same freedoms and rights as men do?". Regardless of how you want to practice those freedoms, whether in a sharp business suit with matching perfectly coiffed hair or in a skimpy number with loose, sexy waves, if you answered yes and if you live a life that speaks of those ideals and beliefs, then yes, you are a feminist.  

Live it. Own it.