Dear Glasgow: What Does Feminism Mean to You?
By: Alisa Oden
March 13, 2021
Feminism. Who knew one word could have so many different meanings? By standard definition, feminism is “the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.”
For many people, there is so much more to it than that. What does feminism mean to you?
In a survey sent out to Glasgow students, the majority considered themselves feminists.
“To me, feminism means fighting for the equality of everybody no matter the race, gender, age, etc. It means you believe that every human being is equal and no one is superior,” said 8th grader, Saron Amdemeskel. 7th grader, Maclain Monsky said, “Feminism means creating an equal environment where everyone feels safe and respected.”
“Feminism is about equality. It’s about giving everyone a choice,” said Sofia Hemmens, an 8th grader. “Everyone should feel free to be sensitive and strong. It’s about being able to do what you want, with your words and your body. Feminism means no one is left behind. Trans women are women, and all women deserve equal rights, both by legal protections and widespread social acceptance.”
Some people said that while they don’t consider themselves feminists, they do support women’s rights.
On the other hand, others don’t believe in feminism at all. Some have said what they have seen out in the real world is much more aggressive than what it is on paper. To Ledesi Nikpigi, a 7th grader, his experience with feminism is, “Annoying ladies on the internet making crazy claims.” 6th grader, Heran Eyobe said feminism is, “People who are racist and think you are different because of your skin color.” Others stated that they believed feminism was wrong because of their religion and what they believed in.
Feminism in itself is a choice. Just because someone doesn’t consider themselves a feminist, doesn’t mean they are against everything it stands for. As seen here, feminism can mean different things to different people, and it’s not for everyone. Regardless of whether or not you are a feminist, it’s important to be respectful of everyone’s beliefs and experiences. You never know what the other side of the story is.
Alisa Oden (she/her) is an 8th grader at Glasgow Middle School. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but has lived in Virginia for most of her life. She enjoys dancing, singing, theater, and playing the violin. Some of her hobbies include sewing and baking, but one of her favorite things to do is paint. She is very passionate about engineering and STEM. This is her third year writing for the Panther Post.
Ruth
Mar 18, 2021 at 10:37 am
Love this article, Alisa! It was so well written!
Raine Jeff
Mar 18, 2021 at 6:30 am
This article is very well written, great job Alisa!
Trevion
Mar 16, 2021 at 3:42 pm
I love how you explain the different types of feminism!
Diana
Mar 15, 2021 at 3:04 pm
Great Article! You really showed all sides of the story, really interesting article 🙂