Feminism and Women's Suffrage in the 21st Century

Some have described me as a feminist simply because I prefer to open my own doors. For starters, let's examine the coy dictionary definition of a feminist: "a person who supports feminism." Descriptive, dictionary, thanks. Now we look at the definition of feminism: "the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men."

Some have qualms with only one word in this way of thinking: equality.

Now, those people might be confusing equality with sameness. The word appears alongside the dictionary definition for same: "identical; not different; unchanged." Not the same thing at all, now is it?

It's illogical for a woman to want to be exactly like a man. However, there's nothing odd about a woman wanting to have the same rights as a man.

That being said, I now get into the actual matter at hand: women's suffrage.

"But didn't we, like, settle that issue like, a long time ago?" About 90 years ago, yes. That being said, women's suffrage is still being brought into question. Shocking, right? John Derbyshire of the National Review found it perfectly reasonable. He recently released the book "We Are Doomed: Reclaiming Conservative Pessimism," containing a section called "The Case Against Female Suffrage." In an interview, he agreed that the U.S. would be a better country if women could not vote, and stated that while he acknowledges it's "a hope I do not realistically nurse,"* he hopes female suffrage will someday be repealed.

Did anyone else find themselves banging their heads against the wall at that last paragraph?

Considering that we're one of the freest countries in the world--FOX News might disagree with me on that one--it's a little sad to see anyone saying that the U.S. would be a better country if women were no longer allowed to vote. Repealing women's suffrage essentially says, "Hey ladies, we like you and all, but you're not intelligent enough to have a say in the goings-on of your country. Sorry!" I'm sure that would go over well.

Granted, ladies, we could afford to be a little more on the educated side, and that doesn't mean you should drop this and pick up the latest issue of "People" or "Vogue." Sure, trashy tabloids and fashion magazines are fun; sure, I'm speaking in generalities. There are plenty of strong, educated women in this world. I hope, anyways.

But doesn't society tell you that you have to be pretty and popular to get anywhere in life? Doesn't it want us to be skinny and stupid, to leave the more pressing matters to the menfolk?

Don't fall into that trap. We might not be as strong, or as tall, or as imposing in person, but that doesn't mean we can't be the breadwinners for once.

Ladies, we have brains: we have to use them. Always.

*http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/30/derbyshire-female-suffrage/