feminism
At its core, feminism is the simple conviction that women are equal to men in every regard, and should be treated as such.
The 'Feminist Agenda' in the Modern World
It has become important to dissociate the word feminine with feminism. Over the years, feminism has been given a negative connotation by society. It has been misinterpreted as a fight for a civilization where women dominate men. However, it is important to think logically and realize that this is not the case. Feminism simply means political, economic, social, and cultural equality amongst both men and women. Radical feminism is, a lot of the time, used as a representation of the feminist movement. However, this is fallacious thinking in the sense that we cannot allow unfortunate occurrences to represent a whole movement of individuals, each with their own different interpretation of what this movement means to them while sharing the common idea of equality. Women fear to associate themselves with the term because of the trail of negativity that comes along with it. Modern feminism is complex in every sense of intersectionality. I will admit, I too have thought about the negative implication that comes with the label of a feminist, and have asked myself if that is the message I want to send, and it is. It is because I do not allow popular opinion and ignorance to influence my beliefs in something that is greater than one individual’s perception. Unfortunately, there are several isolated matters that, one could argue, have faulty reasoning and rationale. This does not necessarily mean that all feminists agree, or even tolerate the issue, and that is what is being overlooked. Do not let poor judgment of a situation overcome one's logic and common sense.
By Vanessa Cid8 years ago in Viva
I'm a 27-Year-Old White Male and I've Never Sexually Harassed a Woman
Sexual harassment lately has been overwhelmingly a part of our daily reads, and has made headlines across media sources across the nation. The #MeToo movement will accordingly go down in history as one of the most eye opening civil movements in my generation's days of yore, and rightfully so. Many women across the country finally must no longer be afraid to step forward about the abuse and bedevilment they have experienced from men that they work alongside, live with, or encounter in day to day activities. From politicians, to an overabundance of male Hollywood celebrities, to Olympic trainers; it finally seems as if men of high profile can no longer get a way with petty actions of sexual objectification and perversion, which we should all applaud!
By J.D. stroud8 years ago in Viva
Yes, #MeToo
Will I give out names in this story? No. Nor will I allude to any places or milestones that could be traced back to its characters. That’s not why I’m choosing to write this. I’m not a victim, I’m not a survivor. I’m just a writer, and this is just another one of my stories.
By something wilde8 years ago in Viva
Spectrums, Harassment, Assault, and Sexism
Generally speaking you are born with XX or XY chromosomes. This means biologically and anatomically you are either male or female. However, there is a difference between gender/sex and sexual preferences. As you are developing in the womb, you start out as female. As you develop more you may stay a female, or become a male. The brain develops before the genitals, so it is possible to be born with a male brain but female genitals or vice versa. Hence, the sexual spectrum which we all fall somewhere on to.
By James Howell8 years ago in Viva
Why We Need to Stop Using the Word "Mansplaining"
I am a feminist and I hate the word “mansplaining.” According to Google dictionary, mansplain is an informal verb used to describe a man explaining something to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing. So basically it means a man is explaining something to a woman and she perceives it as being condescending. CONDESCENDING. PATRONIZING. Gender-neutral words. Words that could describe an annoying way of speaking by any gender. Why are we not just using those words? Why have we created a derogatory, gender-based insult specifically for men?
By Jessica Rowe8 years ago in Viva
Women Feeling Less About Themselves
This upsets me the most, having a friend of mine telling me how she doesn’t feel pretty enough or good enough or plain and simple enough, because a guy did not see her worth. Ladies do not ever let any man make you feel less about yourself because he thinks more with his bottom head, then with his actual brain. Believe me I know it is hard to not let a guy get in your head, I have been there, but I am here to tell you that you are not the problem. He was the problem.
By Manhatten J. Spangler8 years ago in Viva
Reprimanding for False Allegations
#MeToo is about letting other women know of their sexual assault tales. But the popular hashtag is causing a ruckus of the protocol in the ways people look into sexual assault. Recently in the news, a physician for the Tampa Bay Rays was given the boot after a 26-year-old woman claims he sexually assaulted her ten years ago.
By Heather Wilkins8 years ago in Viva
Don't Miss the #MeToo Point
Far from the idea that women are the "weaker sex," women have exhibited tenacity and bravery for centuries as they fight and die to claim the most basic human rights. In modern years, as the force of liberal ideas grew, women called themselves "suffragette" and "feminist" until critics added the words "man-hating" to the accepted definition. The words for demanding the right to vote or to determine one's own life outcomes have become shameful.
By Alice Moore8 years ago in Viva
I Am a Work in Progress
Since the beginning of my educational career, I have always been drawn to the importance of helping others. Before my mother passed away eleven years ago, I always dreamed about becoming a nurse, but it wasn’t until midway through my college experience that I realized that the medical field was not for me. It was during that time when I found myself being challenged. It was also during that time when I found my true passion, the act of servicing my community, working with young women and girls. I began my research on the topic of beauty representation in the media as well as in society and realized the amount of psychological damage, and psychological harm it does to women and girls starting at a young age. It was at that time that I picked up women and gender studies as a major because I was so intrigued.
By Yvonne Coleman8 years ago in Viva
From Victim to Thriver
Too me, the #MeToo movement has to be the most gratifying thing I have ever seen. You see, the first time I was sexually assaulted I was in ninth grade. The guy I was dating, was slowly working up my trust in him. He came to church with my family, Sunday dinners, and I was at his home often. Finally came time for the Valentine's Dance. We had lots of fun, laughed with friends, and went to his house to hang out for a couple hours before my curfew was up. The next thing I know, I am in the bathroom vomiting. I clean myself up, and his aunt takes me home. The first few days, everything was hazy. I could not remember anything that happened after the dance. I knew I should, I did not drink or do any recreational drugs - my dad was a strict Baptist Gideon and would find out easily in a smaller town. When I was not grounded within a week, I knew I had not done anything against his rules. So it is up to the next weekend, and I am out shopping with my step-mom. We are looking at items for a spring picnic. She shows me several different colored checked picnic tables, and I bust out crying. I did not know why, and my step-mom looked at my like I has lost my mind. It felt like it honestly. I had just turned 15, what was wrong with me? The previous week I was perfectly happy, and now this!? I knew something was not right at all. I went to my best friend, and told her about my memory loss from that night. She decided to help me figure out what I lost. A few days later, she told me she had overheard some guys talking about my boyfriend. When she confronted them, our worst nightmares came true. My boyfriend and his cousin had raped me in the cousin's bedroom. The walls? Black and white checker board print. Just like those tablecloths in the store that had made me cry. To this day, I can not be sure if I was drugged, or my mind just blocked everything out to save my mind from cracking. I choose to believe the latter. This was not my only experience with being abused, beaten, or raped. Just my first. I was far too trusting in my younger years. I was later on married to my first husband, who very quickly became violent. He yelled, screamed, and threatened me. Pretty soon, my nightmares in the past became reality once more. The man I married would do things too me in my sleep. That was a nine-year hell. I finally got out, only to discover the new guy in my life would be slamming me down on beds and couches in our home. This way, I never bruised. This man was my second husband, and he actually sent me to counseling saying there is no way a doctor would agree with my claims of him being "mean" to me. He also wanted proof I was not lying about my past abuses. I was in therapy for nearly two years. It was at that point that I learned the different stages of recovery in my therapist's eyes. He told me there are three in his eyes. Victim, survivor, and thriver. The victim stage is the longest. It is when you think of your abuse and abusers every day several times a day. Nightmares are a nightly occurrence. Then you have survivor. It is everything else. The reality of what you have been through, less nightmares, and less trusting of others. But the final stage my therapist demands....thriver! It is when the nightmares stop, the trust returns, and you are not hard on yourself at all. You have stopped blaming yourself for something that was never your fault to begin with. This is my life now. The life of a thriver! I went to college and got my degree. I found a real man who has never laid a hand on me or threatened me in any way. I have a home, grown boys, and two grand-babies at the age of 41. My life has changed so much, and I am proud to be part of the #MeToo movement! It is about time women had a real voice, and stood up too say "This is my life and my body!! You have no right to touch me without MY permission!!" (Tiffany Allen)
By Tiffany Allen8 years ago in Viva
