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Thanks to a book of compiled essays and articles [which I cannot find at the moment otherwise I'd type the title] I have been relieved of my ignorance regarding feminism.
It really made me realize a number of aspects concerning sexual separation and I chastise myself for not empowering myself with these realizations before. So, here are my "before & after" thoughts regarding feminism.
B e f o r e :
I thought most feminists were a bunch of men-hating women who cut their hair like boys, wore boyish clothes, snubbed other non-feminist women, and didn't want to shave to try to prove something. I didn't see the logic behind feminists exploiting their bodies or having loads of casual sex, either.
A f t e r :
But really, feminists are comparative to philosophers, with similar, qualified, and even contradicting ideas to one another as individuals. To define feminism lies within the person, and has essentially to do with equality of women, love of women, and revolutionizing society's skewed, condescending standards of women.
One of the most patronizing perceptions has to do with beauty. Society has set the standards and everyone has flourished their support in them. The "original waif," or Kate Moss, is idolized as beautiful. But is she really beautiful? Maybe to you, but you know that it is mainly because someone decided this bony, lanky woman of almost transient skin and flat, conventional features was going to be "the standard beauty" for our society. So, if you aren't beautiful like her, YOU'RE APPARENTLY FUCKING SCREWED, YOU UGLY BITCH. Of course, I am not in any way degrading her looks, because she is in fact beautiful in her own way. But is not anyone beautiful in our own way? We have become blind to our own beauty because all we see is the lack of comparison with our bodies to hers, or other models/celebrities. And they are only other human beings of equal anatomy.
Also acknowledged was the patronizing views of sexuality. I was always annoyed by boys who criticized girls for their sexual promiscuity. Now, I'm realizing how annoyed I should be. It's incredibly disgusting, not only for men to do so, but for other women to do so too! Sexual promiscuity is apparently not gross for a boy, of course, in fact it's "way natural," but for a girl, what a slut. Women are avoiding that in agreeing with these men their sexuality is being insulted as well.
Another example is the objectivity with women. Pornography, modeling, standards of being a "wife," etc. It's being used to sell; exploit; patronize.
There are endless examples of the pathetic views of women in society. But of equal importance and condescension is that few women, even intelligent, capable ones, are not taking any steps to rebel against these suffocating standards. The basic step would be to stop accepting these fucked-up standards. Like idolizing the Olsen twins and wishing you were them, since they're so brilliant and inspiring with their eating disorders and loads of "hard-earned" money from their genius acting skills, and all. Idolizing them is like living off of garbage, and so many people do it, and are being joined each day by the conforming masses of girls seeking to be an "idealized" girl. Because we all want to be the best we can be, of course. And apparently it's being a characterless twig in fashionable clothes and swimming in undeserved wealth.
Of course, most women are too ignorant to realize that they are being pathetically cheated from their sense of worth. I was before. And by who? Society. Yes, another corrupt aspect of society to shove down your throat. But maybe you should take interest, because for once it may directly concern you.
Eating disorders, insecurity, negative sense of self-worth, depression; it plagues a large number of females with problems stemming from none other than society's standards of women. The ideal woman has a womanly job (secretary, nurse, etc), is neat and organized, never genius, overly reliable, sexy, yet ghastly thin, and always glamorous (the only way to be beautiful). Women are accepting these idiotic ideals, and yet wonder why they feel oppressed.
Girls need to understand that in their slave labor to society's standards, it is only strengthening and nurturing these oppressive, unjust ideals.