Why is feminism such a scary word?

Many women and men will quickly identify themselves as advocates for equal rights, but refuse to identify as feminists. Feminism is the belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. If feminism is fighting for equality, then why the fear in calling yourself a feminist?

I consider myself a feminist, and I have never felt any type of fear of judgment in doing so. Fear tends to scare people away from choosing to associate with the word.

Men fear that being a feminist means being unmanly or lacking in power. But a man who acknowledges the equality of the sexes is the bigger man in any case, because they understand feminism is what’s right. Equality is the state of being equal in status, rights and opportunities — it does not necessarily mean being the same.

Women, on the other hand, fear the judgment that can come along with calling themselves a feminist. Too often, feminism is equated to man-hating. I do not hate men just because I believe I should be equal to them.

I have personally tried to understand the reason why women choose not to be a feminist. I cannot fathom exactly why women contribute to their own oppression at the expense of making men more comfortable in their patriarchy. Indifference can be just as poisonous to a movement as ignorance.

As a feminist, it is my job to fight for the rights of all people — specifically women who cannot speak for themselves and those who choose not too. There are still several issues that amount to gender inequality.

Just two nights ago, at the 87th Annual Academy Awards, Patricia Arquette used her speech after winning Best Supporting Actress for Boyhood, to voice the issue of unequal pay in the United States. Women are still paid 77 cents for every dollar a man makes, and that is a problem that must be addressed.

I deserve to have equal pay with a man for doing the same work as him. Gender equality is not just a women’s issue — it is an issue, period. Women of all races and backgrounds are discriminated against in the workforce. If this continues, how can women ever be equal?

Patricia Arquette is among the group of women and men using their power to fight for equality. Emma Watson’s HeForShe UN campaign launched the conversation of gender equality in this country and around the world. Several male actors at the Oscars wore HeForShe cuff links in support of the cause, including Steve Carell and Jake McDorman. If all men showed support for this issue, just imagine how much could be done to combat this injustice.

Declaring yourself a feminist may appear to be daunting, but is — by all counts — rewarding. If, someday, I have a daughter and I can tell her in confidence she is equal to a boy, then that is when the world has reached gender equality.

When the young girls who wish to go to school all over the globe can attend without threats or acts of violence, that is when equality reigns. Feminism is not just for women who live in a first world country with unequal pay, it is for every single women on Earth.

It is time we start this conversation. So if you believe that you do not need feminism, then consider this — feminism needs you. We all need to unite universally in this fight for gender equality.