#feminism. intersectionality

By Jessica Morgan, a senior majoring at University of Alabama. Everyone should read it. So, please share ;) 

We all have heard that feminism focuses on achieving equal political, economic, cultural, personal, and social rights for women, but many do not know what that actually mean. We all have heard that feminism is embracing difference both biological and physical, in addition to emotional. Feminism, specifically intersectional, is me.

Feminism is recognizing the intersection of race, gender, class, and sexuality as part of a person's complete sociopolitical identity. Feminism is the realization that not all women are simultaneously white, middle-class, cis-gendered, and healthy. Feminism, according to Sonja D. Curry-Johnson, is the weaving of your multiplicities of identity to incorporate all facets of women's lives into the broader interpretation of true feminism. Feminism is disbanding the myth that women are sexual objects and voiceless robots that should adhere to the will of men. Feminism is helping people who suffer from white privilege withdrawal to understand that in order to help marginalized groups stand against systems of oppressions, you must first recognize your own privilege. Feminism is promoting intersectionality.

Feminism is embracing a woman's choice to do what she pleases with her body because a woman's body does not belong to the legislature. Feminism is walking into a women's health clinic without feeling ashamed of the services that you are choosing to do. Feminism is supporting reproductive justice regardless of whether you choose to utilize these services or not. Feminism is respecting a woman's choice to do what she wants with her body, in spite of your personal oppositions. Feminism is ensuring that the 77% of men who are anti-abortion activists do not regulate reproduce justice legislations because 100% of men will never conceive. Feminism is the personal is political, but it is also not letting the legislature's personal beliefs hinder the privileges, immunities, and rights of another person since that disrupts the political process. Feminism is choice.

Feminism is the understanding that the prevalence of rape culture is not the fault of the victim, but rather the fault of the perpetrator. Feminism is recognizing that friend zoning does not enable men to put kindness coins into women until sex falls out. Feminism is the belief that you can be sexy, but understand that catcalling further promotes a sexist culture. Feminism is ensuring that the rates of domestic violence and sexual assault on Alabama campuses are minimized to recognize that women are not punching bags, sexual objects, or toys. Feminism is supporting initiatives such as We Are Done and It's on Us in order to bring awareness to taboo issues that many people feel do not exist. Feminism is understanding that these issues affect not only your daughters and mothers, but also everyone that you meet.

Feminism is the understanding of the power of patriarchy and how that has been engrained into our American culture and state legislature. Feminism is not misandry, but rather an acknowledgement that women deserve the full and equal rights that are granted to men, more specifically white men, in the Constitution. Feminism is echoing that all men and women are created equal, and that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Feminism is promoting free speech for those who support feminism and even for those who oppose feminism, but holding all opinions accountable for their actions.

Feminism is being body confident and frowning upon body shaming in any way, shape, or form because fat is a feminist issue. Feminism is ensuring that magazines and pop culture do not judge you based on your outward appearance, which is doomed to change as we age or "mysteriously improve." Feminism isfeeling sexy, regardless of whether the media deems you sexy or not. Feminism is ensuring that these body politics and the politics of desirability do not translate onto young girls who are influenced by media on a daily basis. Feminism is not letting sexist humor self-objectify the perception of your individual identity. Feminism allows you to not seek validation in the minds of others, but to feel validated in your worth as a strong and empowering woman.

Feminism is respecting individuality and not discriminating on the type of sexuality that people have. Feminism is not speaking on behalf of marginalized groups that you do not identify with, but helping them to have a voice to stand against the gender binary and conformity. Feminism is a human right and the disapproval of the way that the LGBTQ+ community is viewed as nonreligious or a failure to humanity. Feminism is realizing that your personal opposition to the LGBTQ+ community should not dictate the government's legislations against the LGBTQ+ community.

Feminism is increasing gender parity in positions of power, especially in Alabama's state legislature where marginalized groups of people tend to go unrecognized. Feminism is rewriting the dominant ideology to include minority men and women as part of society's equation. Feminism is increasing racial and gender parity on campuses such as the University of Alabama's campus and other campuses across the state.