I believe in gender equality. This makes me a feminist. Here's what I don't like about that word, though:
It makes gender equality something that is only wanted for by women. But gender equality to me means a lot more than equal pay for women and men, it is more about the way society regards both genders. I believe in the abolishment of the regard of women and sexual objects and men as sexual consumers. This on the one hand relieves women from being objectified and on the other relieves men from being regarded as some kind of animal, not able to control their urges ("she was asking for it", "her dress was to short" - These statements of victim-blaming also suggest that men are basic creatures whose instincts take over when they see a women dressed a certain way. I don't think that is true.) This shows that sexism affects us all, no matter what gender, therefore the movement against sexism should be called something that all, no matter what gender, should be able to relate to. My English teacher once told me, that his wife was a feminist, he however was a feminist-supporter. This division seems stupid to me. If they both believe in the same ideas, shouldn't they both be feminist? I don't like the word feminism, because it is a word exclusive to women, when its fundamental idea is that both sexes are equal. I'd rather the word for feminism was a word without an obvious gender assigned to it, and a word linguistically similar to equality. (Just did a quick google-search of Equalitarian; turns out such a word exists. Equalitarian, or Egalitarian.)
e•gal•i•tar•i•an (ɪˌgæl ɪˈtɛər i ən)
adj.
1. asserting, resulting from, or characterized by belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social life.
n.
2. one who adheres to egalitarian beliefs.
(Source)
