1. Women get life sentences for killing the man who was sex trafficking them.

2. Entire magazine articles are dedicated to women’s ‘ shocking cleavage’ or ‘toned tummy’.

3. Women pay more for the same thing.

4. Girls are expected to do more household chores.

5. Girls are taught to tolerate boys picking on them ‘because he likes you’.

6. Women are constantly pitted against each other or rumoured to be involved in dramatic rivalries with no real evidence.

7. Children are still being forced into marriages with men old enough to be their grandfathers.

8. Women are denied the same opportunities in education and work.

9. Femininity is still considered demeaning.

10. Women are still expected to complete more unpaid work.

11. When a field becomes female-dominated, the pay gets worse.

12. Women don’t have reproductive control.

13. Magazines still write about how to make men want you.

14. Women in the military face widespread abuse.

15. Black women can’t wear their natural hair to work.

16. Less than 1% of rape allegations end in a conviction.

17. Women are underrepresented in politics.

18. Male abuse survivors are mocked.

19. Women are taught to limit their confidence so they don’t seem ‘vain’ or ‘cocky‘.

20. Women are expected to strive to have children.

21. Girls are taught to strive for marriage.

22. Women are expected to look after their partner like they’re a child.

23. Women are expected to provide free emotional labour.

24. Women are expected to care for elderly/sick relatives.

25. Girls are complimented more on appearance than character.

26. Girls have to dress a certain way to avoid “distracting boys”.

27. The paedophile culture of “Barely Legal” pornography, or the sexualisation of underage persons.

28. Women are taught their worth decreases with age.

29. Women have to take precautions to avoid being a victim of rape.

30. Women are exploited by the porn industry.

31. Women’s contributions in history are under recognised.

32. Women face constant criticism for their parenting.

33. Men are taken less seriously if they take an active role in family life.

34. Catcalling.

35. Most movies don’t pass the Bechdel test.

36. Chris Brown and other abusers continue to work.

37. Women are demeaned in music and movies.

38. Men get to make laws about women.

39. Women are told they look sick if they don’t wear makeup.

40. Women are either dubbed “sluts” or “prudes”.

41. Women’s emotions are trivialised (“Are you on your period?”).

42. Feminism is still a dirty word.

43. Menstruation is seen as shameful.

44. Men listen more to “I have a boyfriend” than “I’m not interested”.

45. Women are shunned for breastfeeding in public.

46. Men are denied custody or visitation.

47. Men are discouraged from taking on certain professions.

48. Trans/Non-Binary individuals are continually denied respect and acknowledgement.

49. Women are forced into/out of wearing certain religious clothing.

50. We still call women “exotic“.

51. Men spend women’s Day whining.

52. Asian women are constantly fetishised as submissive.

53. Donald Trump is President despite admitting sexual assault.

54. Boys are banned from crying.

55. Rape ‘jokes’.

56. I can’t go on a date without telling my mum, and my flatmates, and calling them partway through to assure them I’m safe.

57. Women are still stereotyped as being incompetent at driving, or map-reading, or DIY, or any other “man skill”.

58. I’ve been harassed at work more times than I have fingers.

59. An old man (who was a total stranger to me) told me I had a “nice ass” when I was 15 years old.

60. Because I can call myself whatever I damn well please.

To be entirely honest, I could keep writing this list for the next million years, but I think 60 is probably more than enough points. I am so sick of the stigma associated with calling myself a feminist, the stereotype that I must be some ‘bitter manhater’ intent on the destruction of all men. Feminism is about helping the women who don’t have the same opportunities I do and overcoming the challenges that still exist for women even in wealthy developed nations. It also means I want to build a world where my brother can express emotion, embrace fatherhood, and wear whatever he pleases without being shamed for it. It’s not a dirty word, and I’m not ashamed of it.

Eat your veggies, keep warm, take your meds. Until next time, take care of yourself. x

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