#InternationalWomensDay Why I Am a Feminist

Back in college I was introduced to feminism in my first Women’s Studies class. I remember my professor clearly because she was a little red-haired lady with perfect red lipstick, who wore the cutest dresses and shoes. She literally looked like she was cast out of the 1950’s and landed at the University of Delaware. We learned about the Feminist Movement, about burning bras, and marching on Washington and demanding equal rights. I saw the injustices that occurred in the past and continued to occur today. It bothered me immensely.

Why should I get treated any different just because I wear a bra?

And having said that…why should I burn my bra? I like my bra. I want to wear it with pride. I want to rock black eyeliner and red lipstick and go to work and be respected no less than if I walk in wearing a suit and tie.

I was equally as bothered by the girls in my class who had been forced to take this course as part of their multi-cultural requirement. I would hear them say, “Oh I’m not a feminist. No. Not me. This class is so dumb, I know. Isn’t it stupid? I just want to get my 3 credits and get out of here.”

Wow. Feminism had come a long way.

The concept of feminism was completely lost on these girls. They felt they needed to reject the cause to show how cool they were. But what they didn’t understand was… we are ALL feminists. How could we not be?

I mean we all want equal rights, equal pay, respect as individuals.

And yet we still live in a world in which women are not paid equal to their male counterparts.

Did you know for every $1 that a man makes, a woman makes $0.75 in the same position?

 Legislation passed by the Federal Government of the United States in 1963 made it illegal to pay men and women different wage rates for equal work on jobs that require equal skill, effort, and responsibility and are performed under similar working conditions.

People see this kind of legislation and assume it is all fine now. However, this inequality still exists today, even though it is illegal.

One blog cites: “A new report released by the ITUC for March 8, International Women’s Day, has revealed that the pay gap between men and women worldwide may be much higher than official government figures. The report, “Gender (in)Equality in the Labour Market”, is based on survey results of some 300,000 women and men in 20 countries. It puts the global pay gap at up to 22%, rather than the 16.5% figure taken from official government figures and released by the ITUC on March 8 last year.”

Why should we make any less than men? Is this fair?

Women - It's time to stand up for our rights. If we work together we can make a change. This year the Women's March on Washington warmed my heart and showed me that women are ready to stand together to demand fairness and equality.

As a woman I know I am a hard worker because I juggle being a wife, a mother, a coach, and a full time 40-hour a week job! I think about all the women that came before me and all the sacrifices they made whether as a mother or as an employee. I hope in my daughter's lifetime she will live in a world in which women are respected and treated equally.

Ladies - we can do this. I don’t believe in “I can’t." I believe in “I will.”

But then again, I’m an feminist. So what can I say?

And that’s my 75 cents.