Radical Notions

I’m sure it’s rather obvious, but I’ll go ahead and say it anyway. I’m a feminist. Wait, where are you going? That’s not as bad a word as it seems. No, really, come back, I won’t bite (hard). Good, now let me start over. I’m a feminist. I believe in the equality of women and men, the right to equal pay for equal work, the right to choose what to do or not to do with my body, and so and so forth, yada, yada, yada. That doesn’t sound so scary now, does it? No, it doesn’t.

Now, that you’re not so afraid of me, allow me to correct a few notions people seem to have. I’m not some raging bitch with a vendetta against all men, only a select few, and I assure you, they deserve everything they get. Stop looking at me like that. I’m not out to overthrow society as a whole, only the inherently oppressive aspects of it. Wait, that is all of it. Okay, ignore that last part. I’m not a dyke, although I occasionally may dress the part, a femi-nazi, although I won’t hesitate to confront someone about his actions, or a battered “domestic engineer.” I carry a knife, but that doesn’t mean I’m radical and violent, just like carrying a book doesn’t make people necessarily smart. And I’m sure you’ve met people who’re great examples of just that. I’m just a woman like all the rest, but I decided I didn’t feel like taking shit.

See, feminism isn’t nearly as frightening as it has been made to sound. It’s just that oh-so-radical notion that women are people. So, help spread the word, the idea, and the facts about how women are entitled to everything men are. Or do I have to add a few of you to my list of grudges?