A friend recently lent me the book Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti, and I cannot believe the immense impact it has has on my views.
Before I even start I know what you’re thinking, “Oh great, a whole book dedicated to hairy man-hating women.” That was my initial reaction too, but by the second page I was hooked, and realized my past image of what a “feminist” is, was completely corrupt.
Valenti does an astonishing job of destroying the horrible assumptions we all make about these men and women who identify as “feminist.” A feminist isn’t necessarily a man-hater, but a lover of equality for all beings. In the dictionary, feminism is defined as, “a belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.” A lot of people (including myself before I read this book) think that the women’s rights movement is dead, and the equality battle has been won. When in actuality, it’s far from over! Every day women are fighting for change.
In the work force, women are still only making roughly ninety percent of what a man can make. No matter what race you are, the salary gap is consistent (there is a link connected to the Bureau of Labor Statistics below). Actually, the Bureau of Labor statistics wanted to stop measuring the gap between men and women salaries in 2004. Why? Maybe because they wanted us to think the separation has ended. Luckily, in 2005 they were forced to start again because some people were smart enough not to let something like that slide.
Before anyone tries to get on the defense, it is important to remember that we are trying to reach equality, not take away men’s rights. And if you don’t believe in equality, then you should probably go back to 1620.
Another point that Valenti makes in her book is that for every child a woman has, her initial pay drops up to ten percent, just because. I’m not sure about you, but for something we are told is “the most important job in the world” that doesn’t seem like the way to repay a working mother.
Personally, I’m upset that I wasn’t exposed to the facts sooner. There are so many things that haven’t changed yet, and are a constant battle. If you aren’t as outraged as I am by now, you’re probably wondering, “Well, why should I care?” You should care because you are the future! That’s cheesy, I know, but one day it’s going to affect your life (or your friend’s, sister’s, mother’s, wive’s, daughter’s life!). Unless we take the steps needed to reach equality for all human beings, nothing will ever change. This goes beyond women, this is for all minorities. We should all be wondering not what we can do, but what we should do first!
In the words of Jessica Valenti, “You’re a hardcore feminist. I swear.”