The concept of ‘feminism’ has been greeted with animosity since its earliest incarnations in 1879. The dictionary definition of feminism is “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.” Regardless, many view feminism as an anti-male movement and judge those who identify as feminists as man-hating extremists. This stigma is so deeply ingrained in many people’s brains that oftentimes you’ll hear them say things such as “I’m not a feminist, but I believe in equal pay,” not understanding that this belief in equality is the only qualifier to consider oneself a feminist. So why the hate?

The common consensus on why the mass majority of people cringe at the mention of feminism is that this discomfort is bred from a misunderstanding of the true principles of the movement. There is a distinct difference between feminism and misandry, though many who practice the second choice often hide behind the guise of ‘radical feminism.’ The term ‘misandry’ is the male-oriented equivalent to misogyny and is defined as ‘dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against men.’  Despite the fact that misandry has absolutely no place in the true feminist movement, there is a radical minority of ‘feminists’ that believe that women are inherently better than men and preach this sentiment under the guise of feminism. However, the majority of feminists strongly disagree with this belief, saying that it goes against the principle that all people deserve equal and fair treatment, regardless of the gender that they identify with.

The purpose of feminism is not to bring men down, but to lift women up, a point that often gets lost in translation. Feminism seeks to provide better opportunities for the entirety of the human race, allowing everyone to feel equal and safe in our society. Gender equity would benefit each and every one of us, and the quickest way to achieve it would be to let go of our prejudice and stop condemning those who are truly fighting to pursue it.