In one of my last articles “Dear Women of the World: You Don’t have to be a Hot Chick in a Hot Car,” I wrote a line that said I was a humanist/feminist.

I realized I was identifying as a humanist to people please the people who are afraid of the world feminist.

I notice the difference in people when I tell them my writing is about women’s rights, or say the “F” word out loud.

Before the article went live, I went back in and removed the word humanist.

I now identify as just a feminist.

I have a belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.

This week at the UN head quarters in New York Emma Watson delivered a powerful speech on the F word.

She asking for a mobilization of one billion men and boys as advocates for ending the inequalities that women and girls face globally.

With her movement, called He for She, Watson hopes to abolish the “us vs. them” mentality that exists in our society.

She is fighting for gender equality.

She is asking for men to stand up.

“I decided that I was a feminist. This seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Women are choosing not to identify as feminists. Apparently, [women’s expression is] seen as too strong, too aggressive, anti-men, unattractive.

Why has the word become such an unpopular one? I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that affect my life. I think it is right that socially, I am afforded the same respect as men.” ~ Emma Watson

Here, Here.

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Editor: Renée Picard

Photo: Google Images labelled free for reuse