Like a Girl

       The showing of Always' “Like a Girl” ad during the Super Bowl put the word “feminism” on the various timelines and feeds of Americans, but further, it put it in our minds. The ad forced a lot of people to ask themselves what feminism really is, and I think Always did a good job of helping viewers paint that picture for themselves.

       The word feminism first came into existence in the early 20^th century. Originally, it meant a women's “freedom for full personal development”. At a women's suffrage rally in 1914, Marie Jenny Howe said, “We intend simply to be ourselves, not just our little female selves, but our whole big human selves.” As I watched the “Like a Girl” ad, and as I read about women's suffrage in my AP US History textbook, I started to piece together my own definition of feminism.

       Feminism is not simply lobbying for your rights as a woman. It is not just tweeting hate towards so called “meninists” (even though they are, admittedly, completely awful ideologically). Feminism is not only being a bad ass bitch and expecting the world to respect that. It is not merely spewing statistics about rape and sexual harassment.

       While these are all parts of feminism, it doesn't stop there. Sure, people need to be aware, and other women need to be encouraged, but I think the key to achieving anything in this “fight” is to act like we've already won.

       To me, feminism truly is the “freedom for full personal development”. It is being smart, and beautiful, and passionate, and driven. To me, it means being capable. It's knowing that if you can't do something, you have the power to learn, or you have the power to try, and fail, and try again. It is setting goals. It is taking advantage of opportunities. It is being the type of woman you're proud of, and knowing that you have the power to become that person.

       The “Like a Girl” ad promotes that same ideal. It empowers us to be like that handful of nine year old girls, because as far as feminism goes, I think they have its foundation figured out. When it comes to the specific, heated issues, women know how to handle them “like a girl”, and feminism exists as a platform to inspire us to do so.

       To be a feminist, is to know that you are capable, despite what the world tells you. To be a feminist, is to live out each day “Like a Girl”.