Some of you might remember Barack Obama’s speech where he walked on the stage and said “For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Michelle’s husband, Barack.” How seriously great was that? I applauded loudly; still do. Feminism isn’t something only females should practice; all of us can be a feminist. And there are some really good reasons for this.
A feminist is someone who understands the need for freedom and equality. Obama’s voice helps get the message of feminism out there. I like that young adults can learn from his behaviour and eventually pick up on this view of equality, of how we can identify in different ways.
We have to work together for equality. And this is for the benefit of us all.
When I think of my dad, I can say that he totally is a feminist as well, and that his liberal view on things gave me the opportunity to be strong and wild and not being ashamed of it. If you have something to say, speak up—this was what I had learned and I’m very grateful that I have such a father.
My dad never said things like, “You’re a girl—you can’t do that” or said that the only purpose for women is to marry and be a housewife. My dad encouraged me to try things, gave me confidence, and picked me up when I fell, probably encouraging me to try again rather than giving up. It’s an attitude we learn when the male figures in our life are feminists.
But not all girls are that lucky. A lot of us have to grow up in households with older ways of thinking, passing that along to the next generation, creating a circle that does not end until we all help each other evolve.
If we address the issues and talk about what we can make better in our society, people of all genders should be included. Because the future is not out of our control—it’s in our hands to make a change.
When your male role models are feminists, you expect that in other males as well, which leads to a different self-perception for young girls. Let’s address stigmas and work on them. Men can do the dishes; women can pay for dinner.
I once bought my friend a beer in a bar and the bartender looked at my friend and said, “You gonna let her buy the beer, dude?!” I was a bit confused and told him that even though I’m female, I can still buy the beer if I want. And next time he’s going to buy it; no problem at all. It’s funny how deeply role models are anchored within our cultures. Being female is not a culture, though.
Once we start changing things, they will change themselves over time. We need to start creating a future where we all can be feminists with pride.