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The "F" Word
by Cindy Kuzma, 05.14.04
"My definition is that I believe in equal rights for women and men." |
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What do you think of when you hear the word feminist? Do you think of women you've read about in history class who rallied for the right to vote? How about women in the 1960s who burned their bras to protest gender inequality? Or more recently, you might remember the March for Women's Lives in April, when a million women (and men and children) gathered in Washington, DC, to support a woman's right to make her own decisions about her body.
Who's a Feminist?
"I'm a feminist by my definition, and my definition is that I believe in equal rights for women and men," says Carly Timm-Bijold, 13. Carly is part of the girls' editorial board of New Moon, a magazine by and for girls ages eight to 14. She also participates in a program called Turn Beauty Inside Out (TBIO), which works to encourage healthy body images in girls and expand the definition of what makes people beautiful.
Tia Koonse participated in her first feminist action when she was 16. When her Catholic high school invited an anti-abortion group to speak to her class, she organized a walkout. "I am so lucky that I started thinking of myself as a feminist as soon as I started thinking of myself as a person," says Tia, who is now the young feminist vice president for the California chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Tia believes women should have the power to make their own decisions and act on them.
How Did Feminism Start?
Back in the 1800s, women wanted two main things: the right to vote and the right to own their own stuff. They joined together to fight for their rights, and feminism was born.
Women didn't get the right to vote until 1920 — that means it took almost 150 years for women to get their fair say in our government! Later on, feminists focused on a woman's right to make decisions about her sexual and reproductive health by demanding access to birth control and abortion. Eventually, most laws against birth control were struck down, and in 1973 the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade made abortion legal nationwide.
Feminists still fight for birth control and abortion rights today because governments around the world are trying to chip away at these rights. In some countries, women have no reproductive rights at all. Feminists also work to get all women access to education, jobs, and health care, regardless of their race, class, or sexual orientation. And feminists involved in programs like TBIO challenge negative images in the media and empower girls and women to make their voices heard.
Why Do We Need Feminism?
Some people say that we don't need feminism anymore — that because women have the right to vote, work, and own property, we've achieved equality. But Tia and other activists will tell you that we still have a long way to go. "The statistics are overwhelming that sexism exists in this country," she says. For instance
- One out of every six women has been raped or has been a victim of attempted rape in her lifetime — more than half before age 18.
- Eighty-one percent of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat.
- Women who work full time make 77 cents for every dollar men make.
- While 51 percent of the U.S. population are women, only 13 percent of the members of the U.S. Senate and 14 percent of the members of the House of Representatives are women.
What Can I Do?
So, you've decided that not only is feminism cooler than you thought, but deep down, you might just be a feminist yourself! What now? Tia thinks the first thing girls who want to get involved should do is read about the history of feminism. (And the same goes for guys — you don't have to be a girl to be a feminist!) Check out the Web sites of these feminist organizations to start:
Carly thinks it's great if you can find an organization that has the same values as you to help you get started. But the most important thing is to take action in any way you can. "We are a voice for change," she says, "but if you don't use that voice, nothing's going to happen." |
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