Anna Senneff

Hillary Clinton’s outspoken feminist attitude has gained her a significant amount of public support. She’s publicly backed Planned Parenthood and has been endorsed by NARAL, a pro-choice Super PAC. Hillary has strongly advocated for abortion rights and has expressed an unwavering passion for women’s rights as a whole. And she’s not alone in her views.

Feminism is something that has spread through my generation like a wildfire. It’s a noble cause at its core, however, I can’t help but feel that this third wave of feminism has gone too far. The general idea being projected is that if you care about human rights, you have to be a feminist, and if you’re not a feminist, you’re wrong. It’s become almost dangerous to voice disagreement with feminism, and I was definitely hesitant to post this. But that’s exactly why we need to talk about it. I am not a feminist, and here’s why.

Because I think that despite men having a more privileged role historically, men’s rights and issues are something we can’t ignore. Because I don’t want to identify with a cause that has built its foundation on the idea that as a woman, I am a victim. Because I don’t think I can affect real, lasting change while holding on to a victim complex and internalizing the idea that in this day and age, I am inherently disadvantaged everywhere I go and in everything I do. Because I don’t think trivial things like “cat-calling” and “slut-shaming” should be considered legitimate social issues. Because I think that young boys being abducted and forced to fight as child soldiers in Africa are equally as important as young girls being forced into arranged marriages in the Middle East. Because I’m pro-life. Because men and women are, in fact, very different, and “equal” doesn’t mean “identical.” Because I know the textbook definition of the word feminism, but rarely do I see it being lived out. Because it is wrong for me to claim that I am among the disadvantaged party in an advanced, affluent, first-world nation and to push for more privilege for myself. Because I won’t be told that I’m being mistreated and oppressed, when I’m not. Because this is the 21st century. Equality exists in this country, and women have taken advantage of it. I am grateful for the rights that historical feminism has granted me, but it’s run its course. Because I won’t perpetuate gender inequality by pretending it’s still as big of an issue as it was a hundred years ago. Because I shouldn’t have to constantly justify my decision to not identify as a feminist, and be insulted and looked down upon as a result. Because we can’t afford to divide the fight for social justice and equality on a basis of gender. Because injustice is something that reaches much, much further than male and female.

I base my political views off of my personal beliefs and values, as well as what I believe is in the best interest of the country. Feminism doesn’t fit into that. I know I’m among the minority here, but I firmly believe that an outdated, corrupted, gender-based ideology like modern feminism isn’t what this nation or the world needs to correct the injustices in it. We need real equality.

Disagree? I’d love to hear why. Let me know.

Anna Senneff is a student at Ankeny High School. She's involved in her school debate team and works as an intern with her church's youth group. Senneff finds politics endlessly fascinating and has become familiar with the political process and current events, largely through her experience in debate.

To read more from the 12 Iowans who are writing about their experiences for Our Caucus, visit https://medium.com/our-caucus.