Feminism

I'm very happy that our class discussion is moving towards sexism and gender politics. This is a very important issue to me, as I feel it should be for all of us. I've considered myself a Feminist for a long time now. In the past few years, as the debate over reproductive rights has grown more divisive, I do think that it has gradually become less of a bad word. When I would identify with Feminism in high school I think a lot of people still related the movement to the bra burning anti-men stereotype. Saying I was a Feminist was sort of controversial. Nowadays the 21st century iteration of the movement is more alligned with a pro-choice (not unilaterally, of course!), equal work equal pay, anti gender binary type of agenda, and I'm seeing more women my age identify with Feminist ideology. This is a positive progression!
I see Feminist thought manifesting in my life through both my actions and my worldview. Part of being a Feminist, in my opinion, is not allowing what society thinks you should be as a woman dictate how you carry yourself in the world. Being a woman is important to me. I'm proud of my femininity. But, I don't want to let social institutions and other people's expectations tell me what being a woman should mean to me. This can take many forms. I see friends of mine who chose not to shave their underarms. I have a lot of respect for these women, because they are making a choice based on their character, their own personal preference, not on the behaviors that are assigned to them as women.
While shaving may be a sort of small and superficial issue, it is a micro example of a bigger idea. I also admire women who take leadership roles, engage in physically demanding work (peddicabbing or carpentry, for example), speak assertively, and are self-reliant. But then again, there's nothing wrong at all about a woman who speaks softly, wears makeup, practices ballet, or anything else, if that's who she is! It's about defining ourselves as individuals and not as our gender. I guess I feel the same about any physical trait or social group we can belong to. One has the right to dictate to what nature and extent that aspect of themselves will influence their being; they should not have to be defined by it.