The Feminist Movement… Seriously, We Just Keep Moving

Recently, the Paycheck Fairness Act was blocked by the GOP.  For those of you who don’t know what this act is, it was supposed to be “A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes.” (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s3220)  I thought I should take this time to discuss an important element of the feminist lifestyle:  Feminists are not crushed by their setbacks.  It might be because there are so many setbacks that we became used to it.  We might just be fueled by our outrage that something as simple as equal pay is being blocked.  Either way, once we’re in… once we see what state the world is in, and how many women are suffering… we can no longer close our eyes to the pain.  We can no longer close our mouths when we are told to stay quiet.  We can no longer stand idly by as the women around us are being destroyed.

Feminists have been called stubborn, and for good reason.  We are constantly acting toward our goal, and feminism as a whole demands that we never be passive.  The feminists of the world are multi-taskers, building up skills that our title asks of us.  We have to learn how to write, debate, speak up, support, be witty and creative, and lead.  In any group of feminists, there are few followers.  We stand up when we have to because we’ve already stood up against so many others who fear feminists and their lifestyles.

Sometimes, feminism seems like too much to handle.  The entire world is in dire need of help and answers, and we don’t have near the amount of resources it would take to solve any major problem.  We listen as the stories pour in from everywhere, bashing us with the reality that at this very moment, something terrifying is happening to a woman or a child.  Each moment we spend is precious time toward any goal that we might have.  We can’t back down because we’re already losing ground in the everyday battle.  We say we’re fighting for equal rights, but sometimes I doubt it.  Sometimes I feel like we’re fighting just not to be one of those horror stories in the news.  Fighting to be treated well enough that we won’t be subjugated entirely.  I fear for women.  And that’s why I keep going.  That’s why any feminist keeps going.  Because she’s scared of what might happen.  What is happening.  What would happen if we stopped fighting.  Call it stubborn, call it determined, call it passionate.  I just call it my life.