A View of Feminism in 2020

Feminism is a popular word in today’s political climate.

I often feel confused as to how I define myself as a feminist. Feminism is classically defined as the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of equality of the sexes. Undoubtedly, I have a fierce passion for women’s rights, closing the gender pay gap, and demand for improvement in the treatment of women across the globe socially and economically. However, I’ve come to realize my view on feminism may not be the same as another’s and perhaps there is no concrete definition of feminism.

Feminism can be defined for every woman differently.

I can choose to have a soft nurturing personality that is true to myself while climbing a corporate ladder, yet respect and admire the personality of a more direct assertive woman. I can choose to adopt a clothing style and lipstick color based on my mood of the day that brings me joy, while admiring how confident another woman feels in another. I can identify myself as a cisgender woman while recognizing the beauty of all people on the gender spectrum and that some days others express feminine energy that may look different than mine.

I can practice my own spiritual values while recognizing that someone else’s spiritual values may look different than mine and my initial thoughts on what women should believe. I can educate myself on how privilege and race can play a role in how feminism has been advantageous and detrimental at times to other women, and how some races are underrepresented in the feminist movement.  

I can recognize that feminism means supporting other women however they want to live and not pass my judgments on them.

It doesn’t matter your stay at home status, work, personal styles, religion, or preferred relationships. We can all be feminists supporting each other to build the lives that we want to live through listening, education, and advocacy. We can be patient to listen to one another when we want to be quick to disagree. We can try and walk in each other’s shoes before we tell each other to feel differently. We can recognize each other’s different conflict management strategies and try and learn from each of them. We can be voices for change about systemic racism in today’s society that affects our peers and not accept the current standards. Together, supporting each other, we can achieve more.

With An Open Learning Mind,
Andrea