The campaign #HeForShe is defined as a solidarity movement for gender equality that seeks more males to consider themselves as feminists for the benefit of all sexes. The word “feminism” is often reserved and mostly used by women. It is important to clarify that feminism is no synonym to female supremacy or women domination and instead, it peacefully advocates for women’s rights.
As a college student, it still surprises me to meet women that flatly deny considering themselves as feminists, as if it were something bad. Today, a multitude of women are choosing to not identify themselves as supporters of the feminist movement. Why would you refuse to support gender equality?
Misinformation can be the main cause when it comes to why feminism is often related and seen as an aggressive, isolating and anti-man rebellious movement, instead of being considered a step forward for society.
In order to be able to solve other social issues and collectively agree on other things, the proper understanding of the word and its context is key.
Let the facts speak for themselves. In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive cars or ride a bicycle on public roads. In Afghanistan, women are fighting to have access to education. In countries such as China and India, male babies are often more valued than female babies. In countries such as Chile and Lesotho, women haven’t been granted the right to own land. In many countries, young girls and women don’t have the freedom of choosing who to marry and divorce as they please. In Europe, women earn 16.4 percent less than men, according to the European Commission.
The United States is no different, as women earn $0.77 to every $1 men earn for the same amount of work. Currently, women hold 99 of 535 seats (18.5 percent) in the 113th U.S. Congress; 20 of 100 seats (20 percent) in the Senate and 79 of 435 seats (18.2 percent) in the House of Representatives. The United States has never had a woman president. Also, women in the U.S. military account for only 14.5 percent of active-duty force.
Globally, the United Nations also said women do two-thirds of the world’s total work, get 10 percent of the world’s total income and own one percent of the means of production. And, according to United Nation’s Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, one of every three women will experience some kind of physical, psychological or sexual abuse in their lifetime. As of today, no country in the world has fully achieved gender equality.
How can this be possible when women account almost 50 percent of the total world population? Is being physiologically different a justification for others to deprive women from our human rights? Is the fact my body functions differently than men a justification for others to underestimate me? Today, feminists are contributing to change the world and make it a fairer place for women. The word itself is not what’s important, but it’s the idea and ambition behind it and what we are doing on behalf of it that is. In America and around the world, gender equality is still an issue and, until all people – regardless of gender – are equally benefitted socially, professionally and educationally, we can’t say society has succeeded as a whole.
Luisa Sanchez is a sophomore majoring in journalism.
