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Adriana Alvarez
Mr.Choi
English, Per. 5
February 00 2016

Equality for All

A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.
Gloria Steinem

The correct definition of feminism is the advocacy of womens rights on the grounds of
political, social, and economic equality to men and all genders. Although we all should try to
reach equality for all, we are far from it. Women are still treated unfairly around the world. In
some cases men earn more money for the same job as women, only 17% of the seats in congress
are held by woman, over 60 million girls worldwide are married before the age of 18, and 603
million women live in countries where domestic violence is not yet considered a crime. This is
something that has to changed so future generations know they are equally respected as everyone
else.
I am a proud feminist. Why is it when someone states that fact it's considered to be something
big. Why has the word feminism gotten to have a negative connotation. I think it's right I should
get paid the same amount as male workers, I believe it's right that males should be able to freely
express themselves without being judged. No one should be ashamed for being a feminist, for
standing up on an issue that affects many people all around the world. Its an issue that cannot be
ignored nor denied, it's real. In Emma Watson's speech on Gender Equality at the UN on
September 20, 2014 she said If not me, who? If not now, when?. I ask myself this question

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when I doubt about my abilities and what I can actually do and found that every one is just
person yet have the power to effect the world in incredibles ways.
In the society we live in today female rights have came a long way since the past but have not
reached equality. I want to say that I am proud to be a feminist and right now one of problems I
personally face is gender stereotypes. Examples are how women are supposed to stay home and
do house chores and care for the children and males to be working and having the education.
Even men, gender equality is your issue too. Unfortunately not one country right now can say
they have achieved gender equality. As all humans we should have the right to be able to reach
our dreams without being discriminated or be discouraged for gender or race.
In the society we live in the United States women's rights have came a long way but I cant say
that for most middle eastern countries. Unfortunately those countries are ruled by men, laws are
made by men, and their for men. While 14 million girls under the age of 18 will be married this
year, 38 thousand today, 13 girls in the last 30 seconds. Those girls will be taught to stay home
and care for the children, most likely they were apart of the 66 million girls out of school
globally. These statistics prove that we have hardly reached equality world wide. But even
though our society has more female rights there are still flaws that need to be addressed.
Everyday in advertisements we see women being used to draw attention. But not in the way of an
intellectual human but as a female with what a society considers perfect figure. It uses women as
an object of advertisement rather than who she is. Also be mindful of who looks up to this type
of advertisements, young girls look up to what the form of a perfect body should look like
according to society, not from her known self perspective. This could also lead to serious mental
conditions later in the future for the female. Now the phase like a girl in society is used to
signify doing something weak. Somehow taking an action like a girl is something you should

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be ashamed of, but really it's not. I am proud to do things like a girl because I am in fact a
female. It's not wrong to do something like a girl buts it wrong by the way it's interpreted to
others. Similar to the phrase man up meaning to be brave and courageous but when wanting to
say this to a women it should be women up for women can too be brave and courageous.
I am a proud feminist and I say that this issue is to be fought by both sexes. Both genders should
be allowed to freely feel sensitive, both should be allowed to dress or look as one pleases, and
both should be equality respected as humans with human rights. So I ask you now to stop gender
inequality and start reaching for a better future. And really ask yourself if not me, who? And if
not now, when?