As a feminist, I like to let people know my beliefs on how the world works for females as a comparison to how it works for males. I was having a conversation with a boy – from an all-boys school – about some of our views and I mentioned that I was a feminist. He immediately stated that he was a chauvinist and that him having a preference of gender should not be a crime.



It is not a crime, it is just quite awful. He began to say that feminism is being used to advance women above men. I argued back saying that feminism is the belief that women are EQUAL to men and not that women are superior to men. He then said there isn’t a need for feminism now that women have the right to vote and the right to a contraceptive pill which men do not have the latter. He fails to remember that condoms are used as a contraceptive method.

This debate had me thinking: is feminism still necessary? It led me to develop 12 reasons why the human race still needs feminism:

– We teach women how to prevent rape instead of teaching people not to objectify women.

– In the United States of America, a woman is raped approximately every 2 minutes.

– There is a pay gap of at least 23% between men and women.

– Women should be able to choose to do what they want career-wise and have the same opportunities as a man to get there.

– Although education is a basic human right, over 20 countries do not allow women to receive an education.

– More than 120 countries don’t have laws against marital rape and allow child brides as young as 6 years old.

– In situations where domestic abuse occurs, the question, “Why did she stay?” is asked rather than asking, “Why did he abuse?”

– Saying to a young boy that he throws or kicks like a girl, is an insult.

– Using words such as bitch, implies weakness.

– McDonald’s still offers toys on the basis of your gender.

– Women AND men can and are able to take care of their children.

– Anyone, whether female or male, can make a damn sandwich.

This is not a gender issue, it is a humanity issue. If you are a woman having doubts on how great our gender is, listen to a song by Love Unlimited called, “I’m So Glad I’m A Woman.” If you are a man arguing that men are superior to women, I invite you to come argue with me.

Feminism: the radical notion that women are human beings.

Melissa