What is Feminism?

A few weeks ago I read this article. The article claims that our foremothers’ feminist fights are being lost because this rising generation has seen a return to domestic ways. She feels feminism, in a way, is lost. She cites a few fictional “role models” as what we should be aspiring to. I won’t go into those, but let’s just say I would prefer if my daughter not be the matriarch of a violent motorcycle gang. I have to say, I disagree with the author.

First, let’s talk business. I’m talking about all the businesses that fabulous women all over the world are starting. Some sell their own handmade items (that hardly look “handmade”), while others have turned their blogging skills into money. And it goes further than that. Opportunities are endless. Social media has become a force to be reckoned with. These women are powerful and strong, even if they’re not CEO’s of a Fortune 500 company.

Also, most of the creative bloggers I know out there could easily go toe to toe with any man when it comes to power tools. They cut, sand, nail, screw, you name it. Did you know I even used to teach teenage boys (and the occasional girl) how to use power tools when I taught Tech Theatre? Yep.

And if you want to argue that women these days are going no longer strong and will take criticism lying down, you have another thing coming. Women may not feel the need to show off how much they can lift, or how many push ups they can do. Their strength is on the inside. I know so many women who are “just” (I hate that word) stay at home moms who are the strongest women I know. I also know some women who are the girliest people I know, and yet can stand in the face of the toughest hardship with the bravest face.

So this brings me to my point, what exactly is feminism? To me, the women who fought so hard for our rights as women didn’t mean for us to be power-hungry ladder-climbers…unless that’s what we want to be. That’s just it. They fought for us to have a say and to be able to do what we want, even if what we want is to be a cupcake baking mom (I’m one of those). We now have the right to choose and the right to everything we want. We can have our cake and eat it too now. You want to be a high power lawyer? Awesome! You want to be a small business owner? Right on! You want to be mom and wife of the year? More power to you! Because that’s your right. Because of suffrage, we have a voice. And we can choose what we do with it.