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    She has, for eons, been restricted and oppressed in...

    Feminism: Equality of the Sexes

    Firstly, I would like to state that every movement is flawed, because humans are flawed- no movement on Earth is perfect. I am arguing that the overall effect that feminism has globally is positive, despite those who identify as feminists, but who are truly NOT feminists. People who identify as feminists but, for the purposes of this argument, are in fact NOT feminists include: -people who say women are better than men -people who advocate and support women of only certain ethnicities (for example, if people only support white women as opposed to other women, these "feminists" are not in fact feminists- because feminism supports ALL women) -people who say women should be treated differently than men -women who shame other women, whether it is for their clothing, actions, or religious beliefs (for example, if a woman from a Western culture tries to restrict Muslim women from wearing their hijabs, because they believe the veil is oppressive, that Western woman is NOT a feminist) I am arguing for the current definition of feminism, not what feminism was decades ago. Now, today, women are being denied access to education, women are being sold as sex slaves, and young girls are being shamed for what they choose to wear to school. Please keep this in mind when you reply to my argument. Any mention of a "feminist" as defined above (someone who claims to be a feminist but by the real definition, is in fact NOT a feminist) will not be a response to my argument. The most untapped resource on this Earth is the woman. She has, for eons, been restricted and oppressed in varying degrees. Yes, the woman that is denied the right to vote and to drive is oppressed on a higher level than the girl sent home for wearing yoga pants. However, this does not diminish the suffering of anyone who is treated differently because of their sex. I would like to present to you a true feminist organization, the National Organization for Women (U.S.). This organization advocates for LGBTQ rights, and advocates for the end of domestic violence. This organization, IN ITS CURRENT FORM, is a true example of the beneficial effects of feminism. Finally, I would like to state that a "victim mentality" is not what I support. Many men treat women with respect and dignity. Women, in most first-world countries, enjoy varying degrees of almost-equality with their male counterparts. But it is important to recognize the damage of thousands of years, and the damage that is still taking place today. This is not an argument on the topic of male-female interaction. This is an argument for feminism, the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.