What Feminism Means To Me

The perfect gift this Christmas

So, the time of year has come when I start Christmas shopping and along the way treat myself to a lot of things as well., I can't be the only one who does this, surely? Anyway, this year I found myself buying a book that has only recently come out. This book is called 'Feminists Don't Wear Pink and Other Lies'. This book is a compilation of pieces written by various women in the public eye about what the 'F' word means to them. I've been reading it furiously and it got me thinking, maybe I should discuss what feminism means to me.

I make no secret of the fact that I am surrounded by women who constantly inspire me and surprise me by their strength. Closer to home, my mum and my sister are prime examples of women who are incredibly hard working and all round amazing people. I have so many female friends who are out there doing their own fantastic work and I am always so proud to see what they are achieving. Further afield, there are so many female celebrities who are paving the way for future generations. A few examples of mine that spring to mind include Zendaya, Ariana Grande and Zoe Sugg, all of whom have shown me it is now more possible than ever for women to be successful in society. I love all of them so much.

Growing up female, I have been constantly been exposed to the double standards women have to face. The shocking pay gap makes me furious. I look back in admiration at the Suffragettes, who gave us the right to vote, and whenever an election comes around I urge all the females in my life, if they can, to get out and vote. We're lucky to have that basic right here in the UK, there are still women out there who don't. I've seen plenty of examples of women not being taken seriously, being called 'emotional' or 'attention seeking'. These things still happen. Which makes me realise the importance of speaking out in this day and age, and I try to at every opportunity.

But let's look at the flip side. I should acknowledge the males in my life. My male friends have shown me that, whilst things might be a little easier, things aren't completely peachy for them. This may seem controversial to a lot of people, but some part of me feels like the actual term 'feminism' has been twisted to be all about women, and that doesn't sit all that well with me. As well as my friends, there are also a lot of male celebrities that I look at and think, 'yeah, the world would be a little bit sucky if you weren't in it.' I've seen the astronomical problems of mental illness in males, often just shrugged off and men told to 'man up'. This makes me shudder in disgust. I love the males in my life just as much as I love the females in my life.

So, I suppose I'm trying to say is that I'm not big on using the word 'feminist' to describe myself. I prefer to describe myself as a believer in gender equality. I'd like to think I'll live long enough to see a world where there are no judgements made based on someone's gender. I know some people will say this far-fetched but I like to think it is possible.

I'd highly recommend picking up the book this Christmas. It includes pieces written by the likes of Jodie Whittaker, Jameela Jamil, Emma Watson and Saoirse Ronan as well as many more. It's an incredibly thought provoking book and maybe it'll make you consider what the 'F' word means to you.