Feminism!

When I thought about being a feminist, even just before I entered college, I always pictured feminists to be angry man-hating lesbians and/or butch-like women. I never really considered myself to be a feminist because though I am slightly angry, I do not classify myself as any of the preceeding. However, I soon changed my opinions about feminism upon learning more about it throughout my college career, as in high school, the topic was rarely touched upon. I learned that men can be feminists too because feminists simply believe in equal rights for women.... it just so happens they believe women are people too. Through reading feminist authors, I have found that feminists are still enraged today about the lack of equal rights of women. I have also learned .74cents to a $1 a man makes, which is absolutely ridiculous and I also learned that the ERA, or equal rights amendment, has not passed yet, and is still in the works. There are people who are opposed to women havingequal rights as men because of stupid things such as insurance purposes in the work place, making women feel inadequate and less important than their male colleagues.
While writing my paper on feminism in the film Mean Girls, I was picking apart the film and how each woman in the movie was dependant on a man of some form, whether it was a boyfriend or a paternal figure. The girls all wanted, desired and achieved boyfriends. Even the girl who was thought to be a lesbian the entire movie ended up with a boyfriend, disappointing female viewers and demeaning the independence of women.
Feminists are not all angry hairy bra-burning people, and after sitting and considering these facts, I have determined that I myself can be considered a feminist, and I am not ashamed to say so. I will continue to push for equal rights for women.