REAL Feminists.

It saddens me that people simply do not know the true meaning of the word “feminist”. When I say I am a feminist, immediately I am accused of hating men, and pursuing a world dominated by women. No, that’s radical feminism, and only a minority of so called feminists fit that category. (Although frankly I don’t think anybody with this point of view has the nerve to call themselves a feminist, it’s not what it’s about, and it gives the rest of us a bad name.)
Ok so feminism is the idea that women are equal to men. This definition itself gets criticism, namely from conservatives, because “men and women are different, therefore they cannot be equal!” to be perfectly honest I fail to see the logic in this. Perhaps you have forgotten that “equal” and “different” are two completely different words with different definitions? We are all different, no two people are the same, but we can still have equality. It’s a pretty simple concept, and I am quite surprised so many people use that argument when it is hardly rocket science to allow diversity and equality to coexist. But I’ll explain what true feminists mean when they campaign for “equality”.
First, let’s take employment into consideration. Suppose we have two people, their gender is irrelevant, but one is qualified to be a plumber and the other has a degree in primary teaching. Both are unemployed. Let’s say there were to be a shortage of teachers, and both people applied for a teaching position in a primary school, obviously, the person who has the degree in primary teaching will get the job. They are both different but in the eyes of the employer, they are not equal, because the graduate has the appropriate qualifications to be a teacher, while the plumber does not. If they both went for a job as a plumber, then the plumber would have the advantage. HOWEVER, both the plumber and the teacher are allowed to vote, are allowed to get married, and enjoy the basic human rights that the law offers, because although they are different, their salaries are different, but they are both equal in the eyes of the law, just not when it comes to applying for a teaching position.
Ok, now let’s say we have two people, a man and a woman. Both are doctors, both studied medicine at the same medical school, both have the same number of years experience, both specialise in the same area, with the same ability both work in the same hospital. Therefore, both should receive equal pay. A feminist is someone who would look at this scenario and would agree that it would be discriminatory and unfair for the hospital to pay the male doctor more.
Their careers become irrelevant when it comes to other basic human rights, such as the right to vote. It doesn't matter whether a woman is a doctor or a housewife, she should still be allowed to participate in democracy, and she should be allowed to have all the opportunities that men have and so on. She and other women are all equal in the eyes of the law. Her gender should not get in the way of her human rights or her career prospects. That is what I believe, and so I am a feminist, as are those who believe the same. I do not hold the opinion that women should have more privileges than men, which is not feminism.
While we’re still on the subject, I do not believe that men are “objectifying” women, the media is responsible for that, and the media consists of both men and women. I also understand that men are naturally aroused by the female form, and as long as they don’t actually treat all women like objects, which the majority don’t, then I have no problem with lad’s mags like FHM, since they are merely the male equivalent of their female counterparts. Generally speaking, men tend to be interested in similar things, the same with women. I don’t necessarily think that is down to gender stereotypes, it’s down to our hormones and our brains, which is where it starts to get a lot more complicated, but that’s the basic idea.
I also disagree with encouraging girls to stay at home (which, thankfully, has been greatly reduced in the last century). However if I was a mother, I wouldn’t force my daughter to apply to university and get a career that pays lots either, I’d let her decide for herself what she wanted to do, and if that includes finding a husband and staying at home being a mother, then so be it.
So this has hopefully not just explained what I believe and the true meaning of the word "feminist", but also why feminism is important, and people should be a lot less sceptical about it. Do not be afraid to call yourself a feminist, because chances are that those who criticise it are unaware of the true meaning, or not worth your concern.