It’s International Women’s Day! Hurrah!
Many argue “Why is there an International Women’s Day and not an International Men’s day?”
Many argue “Why is there an International Women’s Day and not an International Men’s day?”
To answer, whilst women in many other countries are still unable to purchase their own property, vote or even wear what they want. And even in our own ‘liberated’ country there are less than 30% of women’s faces in our Government. It is this reason entirely why there’s a need for feminism and an International Women’s Day.
Feminist. It’s often a word which is tarnished with negative connotations. Those who brand themselves a feminist are open to critique from people who describe them as “men-haters” or “feminazis”. But in a surprising turn of events, in 2014 especially, we saw a new wave of people who sold the word as a beacon of pride and not a source of embarrassment.
It was only a few years ago, I found myself in a lecture with almost a hundred others. The lecturer asked the entire group to “raise their hands if they considered themselves a feminist.” I, who undoubtedly considered myself one, looked around to see not one person with their hand raised. Embarrassed, I kept my arm to the side of me.
I unknowing of the answer, feel if the same question was put to the large group of us now, there would be a dramatic shift in hands raised.
As in 2014, Emma Watson, Beyoncé and Lena Durham are just a few of the many who stood up for feminism last year and made it seem – in a sense – “cool”.
Cherie Smith an artist from Halifax says, “There’s probably a fashionable aspect to feminism but I don’t think it matters because it’s so wonderful to see that energy being put towards something so positive.”
Millions of women now hold the term feminist as a badge of pride, and as explained earlier there is still a definite need for a belief in equal rights, when so many women around the world are suffering under repressed laws.
Even if it may seem ‘cool’ to be a feminist, there are worse trends to follow. Like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge which encouraged thousands to join a trend for charity giving: if it’s positive then who cares what the act is labelled?
I for one just hope the energy put towards these positive trends carries on for a long time.
What do you think? Is it now fashionable to be a feminist? Comment below to have your say.
Feminist. It’s often a word which is tarnished with negative connotations. Those who brand themselves a feminist are open to critique from people who describe them as “men-haters” or “feminazis”. But in a surprising turn of events, in 2014 especially, we saw a new wave of people who sold the word as a beacon of pride and not a source of embarrassment.
It was only a few years ago, I found myself in a lecture with almost a hundred others. The lecturer asked the entire group to “raise their hands if they considered themselves a feminist.” I, who undoubtedly considered myself one, looked around to see not one person with their hand raised. Embarrassed, I kept my arm to the side of me.
I unknowing of the answer, feel if the same question was put to the large group of us now, there would be a dramatic shift in hands raised.
As in 2014, Emma Watson, Beyoncé and Lena Durham are just a few of the many who stood up for feminism last year and made it seem – in a sense – “cool”.
Cherie Smith an artist from Halifax says, “There’s probably a fashionable aspect to feminism but I don’t think it matters because it’s so wonderful to see that energy being put towards something so positive.”
Millions of women now hold the term feminist as a badge of pride, and as explained earlier there is still a definite need for a belief in equal rights, when so many women around the world are suffering under repressed laws.
Even if it may seem ‘cool’ to be a feminist, there are worse trends to follow. Like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge which encouraged thousands to join a trend for charity giving: if it’s positive then who cares what the act is labelled?
I for one just hope the energy put towards these positive trends carries on for a long time.
What do you think? Is it now fashionable to be a feminist? Comment below to have your say.