Many young people today explain feminism with a history book answer: “The feminist movement was an event that took place in the 1970s and liberated women from a preconceived notion of what a woman’s lifestyle should or should not be.” We do not, however, see any impact of this movement on current daily life. The truth is that the feminist battle continues to be fought every day. Without this ongoing war, an archaic mentality would be allowed to determine an unfair status of gender equality now and in the future and could, potentially, condemn us all to an eternally sexist society.
A common argument used by those who feel that feminism is no longer a relevant cause is that there is no real need for such a fight in a society that today sees men and women as equals. However, this illusion of gender equality quickly fades when the topics of gender wage inequality, the blatant over-sexualization of women in media, and the lack of a female president are brought into the discussion.
Despite overwhelming evidence that sexism is alive and well in modern society, many are hesitant to grab their picket signs and join the fight for equality. The reason for this is frighteningly clear. Feminists, despite their justified fight for fairness, are branded as nuisances and bothersome nags, in constant need of picking a “hopeless” and “unnecessary” fight.
In such a comparatively forward-thinking country, as evidenced by recent steps taken towards gay rights and the legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana, it is shocking to realize the overall mistreatment of women. It is true that, comparatively, the women of today fare much better than those of previous generations, but we have far to go. As Gloria Steinem, feminism advocate, wrote in her article, “After Black Power, Women’s Liberation” published in the April 4, 1969 issue of New York Magazine, “Once upon a time–say, ten or even five years ago–a Liberated Woman was somebody who had sex before marriage and a job afterward.” It is necessary to consider the steps that were taken to achieve what was then considered radical, such as the acceptance of career-oriented women, in order to continue progression towards equality today.
When speaking of the word “feminist,” Marianne Schnall of HuffingtonPost.com quotes Steinem as saying, “It doesn’t matter what word we use, if it has the same content, it will be treated in the same way. There are other words; there’s ‘womanist,’ there’s ‘Mujerista,’ there’s women’s liberationist…’ [These] all mean the same thing and they get the same ridicule. I think we just need to choose what word we feel comfortable with that says women are full human beings, and whatever that word is, it will get a lot of opposition. But it will also attract a lot of support. But this is a revolution, not a public relations movement.”
A controversial topic that has arisen as Steinem continues to age is what the new physical face of feminism should look like. This, of course, undermines Steinem’s achievements as it implicates that her success is solely reliant upon her looks and not her intelligence and brazen attitude, a motive which she has fought to end. Steinem’s attractive physical appearance played a role in her ability to break ground in the name of feminism, but it was not her looks that began to revolutionize the world we live in today. Her beauty acted as a stepping stone and made it possible for her to break ground without being labeled as a “man-hater,” which in turn opened the door for everyday women to embrace feminism, while not being afraid of losing their lifestyle. In the 1970s, when the feminist movement was just beginning, beauty was a necessity in order to be recognized as a valid voice. This mentality, of course, is one that has long been disapproved. In an interview with April Simpson of The Seattle Times, Steinem was asked, “What do you think 21st-century feminism looks like?” She responded saying, “It looks like you. It looks like each self-respecting woman in the 21st century. It is not for me to define; the message of feminism is that each of us, as female human beings, define ourselves.”
Feminism is constantly evolving and expanding to adapt to the pressing injustices of today. Granting these causes the attention they deserve will require many, many people…a whole generation…an entire society. It is for this simple reason that every single human being needs to embrace feminism. As for the new face of feminism so many are eagerly anticipating to emerge, there isn’t one, and there is no messiah-esque leader to look to. As Steinem has said, “I’m not passing the torch; I’m using it to ignite others.” It is the responsibility of all people, men and women everywhere, to embrace the ongoing need for total equality to ensure that what began with Steinem continues to grow and evolve every day.