We hear so often these days that feminism is dead or that it is no longer necessary since women have the right to vote and work en masse. This is absolutely not true. We need feminism today just as much as we ever have in history, because we still have a long way to go until we have a more equal society. Racism, sexism, and every other form of bigotry are still prevalent and affect all aspects of our lives, from education to business to politics. Feminism seeks to address these issues as best as possible, although we know we cannot change the world overnight. It is going to take time and a good deal of effort on everyone's part to begin to see progress being made on eliminating oppression. We need to acknowledge that feminism is not a dirty word and not a movement that represents fringe groups but rather an all-encompassing push for equality among all groups. Regardless of gender identity, race, class, orientation, or any other identity, feminism is working in some way to make people's lives and the world better.
Check out these messages made by people of different walks of life on why we still need feminism. Change starts at the individual level, and hearing from one's peers on why feminism is necessary is a lot more powerful than hearing it from largely intangible academic sources. Tell your friends why feminism is important. Make it real to them. Educate yourself so you can be better prepared to address their questions and your own questions and issues. Most of all, work toward being a better person than you were the day before. We've come a long way thanks to feminism, but the journey is not over yet. The road is ahead of us, and we cannot afford to waste any more time.
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