[Apparently I'm in the mood to adhibit a plethora of swear words tonight. You've been warned.]
I am a feminist. I know, people hear the word "feminist" and it brings up all sorts of different ideas: some good, others... not so good. It's a label, and like any label, it carries with it a certain amount of baggage. The tricky thing is, that baggage is different for each person. Every label we invent suffers from this. We use labels to clarify and categorize and communicate, but they tend to confuse and complicate and confound just as often. We can spend time creating new labels for ourselves, and maybe that will make a few of us feel better, but what is really needed is some serious communication. That takes a lot of hard work, of course. But there really is no other way. There's no magic pill, no quick fix, no miracle cure here. We need to communicate as clearly and concisely - and as often - as we can.
We need to keep it real. No one's going to know what you're all about if you don't tell them. Yeah, some people won't get it. Some people will let the baggage they bring to a label influence their thoughts and control their reactions. You're not going to win 'em all. Best you can do is keep talking, keep explaining, keep on keeping on. Don't hide behind whatever label you like to use. A label is a tool, and like any tool, it can serve a purpose, but no tool can be the right tool for every job.
And don't defend labels. At least, don't waste too much time defending labels. Don't like the "feminist" label? Fine. Don't use it. Doesn't fucking matter. What matters is whether you think women deserve equal rights and respect. What matters is whether you think women have the right to do what they want with their own bodies. What matters is whether you think women deserve better than to be treated like objects or like they're some sort of subhuman entities. What matters is whether you think women should be able to wear whatever the hell they want to wear without being treated like shit. What matters is whether you think the idea that a rape victim was ever "asking for it" is a crock of shit. What matters is whether you think a woman should be able to have as much - or as little - sex as she wants, with whomever she wants, without fear of judgment or shame. What fucking matters is whether you understand that no person should be judged by one's sex, gender, age, height, weight, skin color, ethnicity, class, religion (or lack of religion), orientation, body type, or culture, and every person deserves the same rights and respect, regardless of differences.
Was that clear and concise enough for you? I'm just keepin' it real. Now (hopefully) you have a better understanding of what *I* mean when I use the "feminist" label. If you don't like a certain label, then don't use it. I know, people go flipping nuts for labels. They love 'em. People wear their favorite labels like happy little ID tags, and get excited when they meet other people wearing the same ID tag. "Oh, you're a __________ too? OMGLOLRSVP! Me too! Squee!" Yeah, I get that. But if someone - for whatever reason - isn't comfortable with a label, then so be it. It's just a label. Remember, labels come with baggage. That's just how they work. And the tricky thing is, that baggage is different for each person. We bring the baggage to the label. So pick the labels you like most, and allow others the same freedom to choose as they see fit. If you come across someone wearing a different label, chill the fuck out. Talk it out. Play by the rules.
Keepin' it Real.
