For this, I responded to an old prompt that I found asking for a moment that shaped my learning experience. 

  

             One moment in particular that had great influence on who I am today took place in London nine years ago, at the age of seven. I was visiting my first cousins, who at the time resided in the city. On that particular day, we decided to visit the Museum of Natural History, which turned out to be an absolute blast. After an exciting visit, I was waiting on a bench while the rest of my family used the restroom. Bored, I craned my neck, looking for something to take up my time. Soon, my eyes fell on a framed Egyptian scroll, resting on a wall about five feet away. I curiously strode towards it and since there were no barriers in the way, I soon ended up nose-to-nose with this artifact. As my eyes scanned the scroll, the thing that fascinated me was not the intricate detail of the figures, nor the age of the scroll itself, but the brushstrokes plainly visible on the paper. The sheer fact that a mere sheet of plexiglass separated me from the brushstrokes of artisans thousands of years old made my jaw drop. That, I can say with confidence, is where my love for history started. Ever since then, history and social studies in general have been by far my most exciting subjects, and also have helped me figure out what motivates me academically. Because I found history to be one of my main passions, I branched off and discovered that political science and language pique my interest as well. Since my passion extends into those subjects, I have become an active participant in classes pertinent to my interests, and engaged in exciting and interesting dialogue with students and teachers alike. If it had not been for that encounter with the brushstrokes of the ancients, I would not be the intellectually curious person I am today.

5 Questions for 'Women Against Feminism'

5 Questions for Women Against Feminism

            Many people have probably heard of the budding social movement known as “Women Against Feminism”. I know, it’s crazy, right? These women seem to think they’re being oh so brave and bold and different when in reality they’re only hurting themselves. Here are a few questions I have from these “trailblazers” that I am dying to know the answers to…

1) Do you even know what feminism is?

   Many of the women state they are against feminism because “modern feminism doesn’t fight to be equal – it fights to be superior.” Okay, well there’s the first (of many) problems we will encounter on this exploration. Why preach against this awful, victimizing movement called feminism when you don’t even fully understand it in the first place? The definition for feminism is “the movement to achieve social, economic, and political equality between men and women.” Doesn’t that sound great? Or would you rather be marginalized for the rest of your life? Right, I didn’t think so.

2) Do you like women? 

This is where the problem enlies. Not only are women in our culture being oppressed by men, but other women are against women as a whole as well.  If women came together instead of perpetuating negative stereotypes about powerful females, then maybe there would be more equality in our culture. Feminism is working to empower women, not working to take over the world. Granted, there are some feminists who would like to take over the world. That would be pretty bad-ass, but I digress.

3) Are men and women really equal? Really??

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 10-15 years, you have seen an ad on TV or the internet objectifying women.  A woman’s body is seen as a tool for selling cars, alcohol, and even books. Women are not on this earth just to please a man, that’s not our only job. Granted, we’ve come a long way from the 50’s housewife era, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. I think feminism will no longer exist when a woman doesn’t have to walk down the street at night in fear of being raped. When a man doesn’t see a cat call as a compliment. And lastly when a woman can be valued because of her brains and not just the cup-size of her bra.

4)  Do you consider yourself particularly egocentric? 

Just in case you didn’t know, which I’m sure you didn’t little miss anti-feminist, feminism also works to empower women all around the world, not just you. So even if you feel you are equal to men, the world doesn’t revolve around you, while you’re sitting on your priveledged thrown, women in developing countries don’t even have the right to use condoms. Great for you that you have not had the same awful experiences of women across the world, that doesn't mean you should portray those woman as victimizing themselves or "feminazis". Each person has had their own unique experience with misogyny and no one has the right to criticize them. 

5) Do you enjoy voting, your ability to choose about your own reproductive health, and getting a sufficient education?

Well guess what?? If it wasn’t for feminism, you wouldn’t have any of those things. Take THAT!

If anyone has an answer to these questions please contact Kelsey Aaron. Otherwise, take some time to think about your actions and reconsider your stance on feminism. Please, for the love of all things good in this world.