Being a feminist is hard in a world that tries to make "feminist" a dirty word. Being a feminist is hard in a world where people dub themselves humanists, even though humanism is and has been a thing for a while that has nothing to do with human rights and equality (peep the actual definition. Being a feminist is hard because there is still so much that needs to be done.

The feminist movement is not over, nor does it appear that it will be for a long time. It’s not just America, or the Middle East, or Africa, or China, or Mexico that needs feminism; it’s an entire world. Because of this dark reality it’s important, and I mean very important, that feminists continue to do the work that they do and continue to open people’s eyes about the importance of standing up for women's rights.

Teens and young people, being naturally gifted in tech and media, have immense power in this global movement, so below are four ways that you can be an even better feminist in 2016.

1. Speak up / Have Uncomfortable Conversations

The power behind feminism is not mainstream, nor is it powered by capitalist interest — which is to say major corporations rarely (honestly) sell or promote feminism as a common business practice. What this means is that everyday people, who are passionate about fighting for equality for themselves and others, have fueled nationwide and worldwide feminism, up to this point. And what that means is that your role in the movement is significant.

Feminism doesn’t start with petitions, writing, activism, protests, and rallies, it starts with people having conversations that shake up the status quo and challenge people to think outside of the box in which society has imprisoned us. Gender norms, as one specific topic of focus, are nothing more than standards created by people who wish to control behavior. They are not, in any way, natural. Without feminism, we might all continue to blindly accept gender norms as natural — that, among many falsities, women belong in the home and men belong in the workforce. Starting discourse on these topics that make people uncomfortable, is a powerful thing.

Challenging folks can be incredibly intimidating, particularly when the person you’re talking to is a friend, romantic partner, family member, or figure of authority. In speaking up we open ourselves to criticism and backlash from those who benefit from the many systems that feminism fights. In the video game industry, for example, men are dominant in both representation and control of products, despite the fact that women and girls are making up more and more of gaming consumers. They care little about how women feel, because the gaming industry is good to them (men), and if they admit that there are problems, like the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of female characters, (see: Feminist Frequency) then they may be forced to give up the privilege that they either consciously or unconsciously enjoy.

The world won’t change without people speaking up. Those who oppress either don’t care or don’t know about the realities of those whom they oppress. So whether you’re challenging your sexist uncle about his stereotypical views this holiday season, or talking to school administrators about problems facing female-identified students in your school, it all matters. Your voice matters.

Feminism doesn’t exist without that first step of talking to people, whether that means person to person, over the phone, through email, in an article, or through Morse code.

2. Read, Read, Read

It’s so important for you talk about the important issues in the feminist movement, like #BlackLivesMatter, fighting transphobia, and equal pay. But it’s equally important that you know what you’re talking about.