Feminism?
Feminism.
A word I wouldn't have used to describe myself until a matter of months ago.
As Miss Caitlin Moran once said:
"Put your hand in your pants.
a) Do you have a vagina? and
b) Do you want to be in charge of it?
If you said 'yes' to both, then congratulations! You're a feminist."
And yet it's still a term women use with apprehension. A phrase with an air of taboo. Why is that? Are we embarrassed by the Pankhurst sisters? Ashamed by Nightingale? Humiliated by Bodichon? No. No. And no! And if you say yes: FUCK YOU! These women built a society against all adversity. Moulded it from a heap of immorality and inequality into the society they wanted, they needed.
Womankind has come a long way from throwing themselves under horses or tying themselves to fences, but despite the legalisation of the vote and other such pleasantries the simple fact is sexism hasn't gone. It hasn't disappeared. It's adapted. Just like our technology and eating habits. Sexism has evolved with the times. Are the accomplishments of all our predecessors, really worth so little?
Ask yourselves this:
Is it wrong for a woman to not have children?
If a woman has children is it wrong for her to let someone else raise them while she works?
If a woman is raped is it because of the way she dresses?
Is it acceptable for a woman to abuse her partner?
Do all successful attractive women sleep their way to the top?
Should men be the bread earner in the relationship?
Is it wrong for a woman to be interested in football?
Answer 'no' then thank fucking god. Answer yes, then question yourself: why?
Is it her place?
Her job?
Her reason to be on this earth?
It's in her DNA?
Because she's a woman?
You, my friend, need to take a good, hard look at yourself in the mirror.
Sexism is subtle. It is insinuated, handed from hand to grubby hand down a dark urban alley. A serpent, slithering through the grasses of our society, poisoning all it comes across and worrying those it does not.
Sexism is alive and well in the 21st Century. But why is it seen as not as serious as racism?
Why has it got to the extent where individuals dismiss sexism as 'humour':
"Sexism wouldn't exist if women were as intelligent as men"
So that's ok? That's acceptable? That's funny? But what if three words are altered? Three small, insignificant words in an unoffencive humours sentence...?
"Racism wouldn't exist if blacks were as intelligent as whites"
NO NO NO!! That's racist!! You can't say that!!
What's the difference? Where's the line?
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying racism is ok, that it doesn't exist, that it isn't a problem. It's not, it does and it is. But why is it that when it's an issue of skin colour there's a problem, but when it comes to whats down your pants everything ok. It's all just a joke.
"I'm sorry, I mean't it in a 'funny' way."
God help black women.
And yet it seems the problem, with both racism and sexism, is the minority.
25% of the world's population is Caucasian, I'm not stating that all Caucasians are racist or that all racists are Caucasian. But coming from the United Kingdom, a predominately Caucasian society, the hate crimes against other denominations is disgusting. And it is the Caucasians that are the ignorant ones. You don't see the Asians attacking the Polish. Or vice versa. During the 2011 London riots there were minority on minority attacks, majority on minority attacks but no minority on majority attacks…
This is mirrored in the world of sex. In a society where women outnumber men at 52% why is we who should cook the meals? Clean the house? Raise the Children.
Well fuck that. And fuck you.
