Feminism has always been a concept that has completely illuded me. It’s something that I can’t simply ignore, the world seems to be filling more and more with feminists and their individual beliefs are so stretched that it’s one of those terms that just seems to be available to contort, bend and mould to the beliefs that suit the individual.

My interest in feminism comes more from an outsiders perspective – I’ve never once thought of myself as a feminist and the idea of a group fighting for equality just for themselves baffles me, as as a good friend of mine said recently “I don’t support anything that promotes equality for just one group”. But the term seems to haunt me, lurking in newspapers, conversations with friends and family, and I still haven’t quite grasped the concept of it.

The majority of the women that I’ve met so far that call themselves feminists have actually appeared to be rather insecure, blaming outside forces for all the problems they see themselves having, and have decided that, because the rest of their friends have had similar experiences with men, that it must be “something that happens as a women”, gotten annoyed with that idea, and decided “something must be done”. In other words, feminism just hides the fact that all of these women are insecure.

Is this really how we want to evolve as women? Do we really want to completely out all men? I hear many women claim that “all men are bastards” based on the logic that several men have screwed them over in some way. Instead of thinking that “Maybe I’m attracting jerks”, it’s “All men are jerks, men should treat women better.” Isn’t that a little… I don’t know… judgemental? And isn’t that the sort of attitude that the minority of men have that feminism wants to get rid of?

Another thing I see very often is, women who complain that the “poster girls” on the cover of magazines devalue women and cause men to believe that all women should be like that. Here’s the kicker – I’ve yet to find a man who actually believes that all women should be size 10, have huge boobs and whose only goal in life is to prance around to sexually please all men. I’m sure those men are out there, but they are the MINORITY! In fact, the only time I’ve actually heard that belief being said, is when women say it! Not only that, but it’s not actually possible for another human being, who the only similarity you have to them is the right sexual bits and pieces, can effect the way someone views you. If you overcome your insecurities, get back to your core and be completely comfortable with who you are, its gonna change the way people look at you.

I guess my point is, instead of focussing on how other people are affecting your life, and how other people are causing you to look bad, why not try affecting your own life, get yourself out of your own insecurities and try and help the whole pie of equality grow, not just your own slice. Inequality effects everyone in their life somehow, and the only way we move forward with it is to help everyone grow, not just one part of it.

So, this is the end of my first post – I had no intention of breaking the ice with a big fumbly post on feminism, but there you go! Life is full of suprises. Maybe I’ll post about something productive tomorrow, like, I don’t know, actually getting this website full of STUFF?