If I’m honest I never really thought about the word ‘feminism’
or what it was to be a feminist before reading ELLE’s ‘Rebranding Feminism’ debate
November last year. But when I think back to school PE days I realise it has always
been something that I’m silently questioning.
It was the dreaded ‘Bleep Test’; a test of endurance and
speed. Whilst still in mixed PE classes, the boys were all on board for the
test, challenging each other, spurring each other on. Take one look at the
girls and you could see that the interest was limited. The test begins, slowly
the bleeps get quicker and you must run faster to reach the line before each bleep.
By the sixth bleep most of the girls are out (mostly by choice and lack of effort) and sitting at the side of the hall, watching the boys and giggling.
Far more interested in admiring these young athletes in the making rather than challenging
themselves and their own strengths.
Down to the remaining few, the ratio of boys to girls approximately
3:1, maybe three of us girls still going, amongst the supposedly far stronger
and more competitive boys. It wasn’t that I wanted to beat the boys, it was
that I wanted to take part and I wanted to compete with the class; both boys
and girls. I didn’t see the difference, why shouldn't the girls fight against
the boys in a test of strength and endurance? I think if you were to ask the other girls running with me
they would agree that we were competing to beat ourselves, each other and the
boys, all in one fair swoop. Not trying to create a divide between the sexes.
So why as we move up the school years are we segregated into Football for the
boys and Netball for the girls? Why separate two sports by gender? To me it created a stereotype for sports - netball for girls, football for boys; prompting a generalisation of:“Let’s not ask the boys to play
netball because that’s far to ‘girly’ for them to play”; “Oh the girls won’t
play football because they don’t want to get muddy”; I'm sure the school system had it's reasons behind class distribution but I do wonder - Did anyone think to
actually stop and ask what we wanted?
Flash forward to my years at University. A clear time of ‘labels’
and achievements. If a man has a successful night with various women he is
applauded by his peers, branded a ‘Lad’ (which apparently they see as a
positive status) and receives high-fives. Now what happens if a woman brags
about her rendezvous? She receives a ship-full of negative comments, vicious stereotypes
and labels that brand her as tainted and unwomanly. Or in some cases the phrase
“trying to be one of the boys” is voiced, as though our actions are to fit in
with the boys and not to fulfil our own desires and passions. It’s a very
childish reaction and to me it just showcases the different platforms that
women and men are put on, they’re not equal, if both sexes are doing the same
thing they should receive the same reaction.
I could probably continue recollecting about what I have
witnessed in gender equality in my life so far but I don’t want to keep looking
back at what was. It is time to look forward at what is to come. I want to
applaud ELLE for their fantastic December ‘The Feminism Issue’, which includes
powerful and inspiring women as well as intelligent and thoughtful men. Because
we do love men, we do want them in our lives, we want them to be a part of our
world as much as we’re a part of ‘The Mans’ world’. We want one world where no-one
questions your sex or sexuality on a form or questionnaire. Together is the way
forward, there’s no need to ‘man-bash’ we all need to nurture one another and
tell each other what we need and why. For men to be emotional and passionate
and women to be strong and determined. Let’s get rid of the gender inequality!
My last note is to Emma Watson and her work for #HeForShe. Her
speech at UN Headquarters in September was powerful, filled with emotion,
informative, honest and captivating. She is a role model to me, with her beauty
on the inside and out, her confidence is something that I want to achieve. To
believe in something and to stand up for it and fight. Whether it’s for
personal dreams or for a bigger cause. I will have a voice and I will always be
the best I can be, in high heels or bare feet.
