A Guide to Being a Feminist

Forget the stereotypes, being a feminist isn't about having short hair, or refusing to wear dresses. It's not about trash-talking, bashing or otherwise hating men. Feminism isn't based on any kinds of strict, crazy principles like refusing to use a razor blade or protesting pornography. Anyone can deem herself a feminist without giving up her love of makeup, her super long locks or throwing out her favorite pair of stilettos.

Love Yourself. First things first, a feminist believes that all people, male or female, should be treated equally. This includes you, you savvy college miss! It's easy to believe that women as a whole need fair treatment, but that starts with each of you individually. So take a look in the mirror. Embrace your womanly curves, your precious derr'iere, your overabundance of freckles, your pale skin-whatever! Forget about making fitting into that brand new pair of skinny jeans your top priority. Learn to love yourself, regardless of your flaws, because it's those little things that make you unique as a woman.

Love Your Sisters. Women are all in the fight for equality together, from your too-smart-for-her-own-good English professor to that girl you love to hate in your Sociology class. It's easy to let nasty words (think "slut", "whore", etc.) slip into your daily conversations when speaking about other women. If women talk about their own gender this way, what progress is really being made? Make an effort to stop gabbing and tearing down other women with unnecessary gossip.

Be Assertive. Imagine the most amazing woman you know. Odds are, she's bold, but not bossy, calm and collected, but still gets her message across. Being able to speak your mind in a respectable yet dynamic way is one quality no feminist can go without. Take a stand when someone around you demeans women in any way, especially if that woman is yourself. Make an effort to emulate women in society who have made an impact, like burlesque dancer turned punk rocker Kathleen Hanna. She simultaneously shocked and delighted the world with her involvement in the Riot Grrrl movement and the in-your-face music stylings of her feminist super-groups, Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. Women like Hanna show that it's important that your voice be heard, whether you're scribbling it on paper in your own homemade 'zines or screaming at the world through lyrics. Don't let anyone, male or female, degrade you because of your gender, or any other superficial trait, or tell you that you can't make a difference.

Get Involved. Move over, Uncle Sam. In such a patriarchal society, the first step to total equality is making sure women are in positions of power where they can make important decisions which involve women. Research candidates in our local elections to see if any of them are strongly feminist and exercise your right to vote - which women in the past worked very hard for! Show your passion for women's rights by joining feminist groups on campus, across the nation and across the globe. Surf on over to http://www.feminist.org to join in on and support plenty of feminist action - from projects to empower Afghan women to resources that teach about how to protect your reproductive rights as a woman right here in the United States.

Being a feminist doesn't mean you have to burn your bra. Just make sure to love yourself, love each other and head out into the world with an attitude that will knock the socks off anybody who tries to stop you.