Kristy Williams J.

Rohan Honors 1100 October 14, 2013 This I Believe If you havent heard Blurred Line, I wouldnt recommend you rush to do so right now. For our sake, its more important that you understand the discussion and debate that surround this song, which became a smash hit over the summer. I havent paid very much attention to the radio lately, but a few weeks ago I began to see the criticisms of the song emerging. Many were calling it sexist and chauvinistic, which are two words that immediately peak my interest. I looked up the lyrics online and found that they appear to be about a man who continues to pressure a girl who has already refused him. In a world where females are already hypersexualized in the media, this theme crosses a line that is anything but blurred. Yet its a popular song, and many people continue to ignore the message in the lyrics, that suggest a mans needs are somehow more important that a womans. This is why I believe in feminism. Because every voice needs to be respected and recognized. My parents unintentionally raised me to be a feminist. Gender roles in our home werent exactly solidified the way that they tend to be in society: both of my parents worked full time, my dad did most of the cooking, and my mom was the major bread winner. I wore frilly dresses sometimes, and others I wore dirty sneakers with baggy blue jeans. I played with Barbies, and I threw footballs with my cousins on Sundays. For years I was convinced that I was going to be a fireman when I grew up, and my parents bought me toy fire trucks so that I could fight imaginary

fires on my living room floor. They werent exactly pushing boundaries with their ideas, they just let me and my siblings grow and do as we pleased. Of course, if you were to ask my parents, they would probably just give you a sideways look and say no, no theyre not feminists. What Ive found today, much to my dismay, is that many people reject the term feminist because its associated with the stereotypical bra-burning, unkempt image of a female chauvinist. Though, I cant blame people for feeling this was, because thats just what our society does; it takes anything bold or that goes against the flow and assumes that its all negative. It makes people afraid to associate themselves with an idea. In all honest, there is a negative side to feminism, but its no worse than any other stereotype. The female chauvinists make up no more of the movement than the Tea Party members make of the Republican Party; theyre just an outspoken minority. They form the exciting and controversial side of the issue. But feminists dont have a certain look or resentful personality. They arent limited by gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation. They come in all sizes and colors, and from different backgrounds across the globe. Their goal is simple and beautiful: for every person to be respected and treated as an equal, whether they be male or female. I believe in feminism because I hope that, one day, my daughters wont have to know a world where theres a glass ceiling to break through. I want them to have female politicians, entertainers, authors, and bosses who are treated with respect because of their success as people, and not as women. I want to live in a world where women can wear what they please and do what they want without being called a slut or a whore. I want women to be able to speak for themselves, make their own decisions, and not have that sort of strong attitude be associated with someone being a bitch.

The movement towards equality isnt just going to happen with a few people. Everyone needs to work towards respect and acceptance. Women need to support women, and men need to support women. Women also need to support men, and men need to support men. Feminism isnt the fight for one gender to dominate the other. This is a movement for the best ideas to be supported and nurtured no matter who might come up with them.