Feminism.

Yes, we're going there and yes, I'm as terrified as you are. Last week I sent out a little SOS on the blog's Facebook Page (link up there if you haven't already liked it- shameless self promotion, I know) and Kieran requested I do a post on feminism and LGBTQ+ issues. Now I feel personally that LGBTQ+ and all of it's surrounding topics really deserves a complete post to itself so I'm going to separate them and give both of these topics the in depth love they deserve.

Starting with feminism. Oh god help me.

There is a very big reason why I am so nervous to discuss something like this and why, on previous blog posts about equality, I haven't really touched it. And that is because feminism, while massively important, is so divisive and gets such a backlash from people who don't quite understand it. But, like the brave person I am and with a wealth of experience as a left winger under the control of my wealthy overlords, I'm going to go there. Eat me alive, I dare you.

Do I identify as a feminist? Short answer would be yes but it's not as simple as that. I agree with feminism as an umbrella for thoughts, like a literary text can be interpreted so can feminism. You can go hardcore if it pleases you and yes sometimes that's how we make change. We wouldn't have got the vote without the drastic actions of women who wouldn't take no for an answer. Feminism, in my opinion, is always at it's most powerful when it is quiet. The pen, as they say, is mightier than the sword. You can make big waves with small motions (sounds less cool) and for me writing is the best way I can promote my thoughts on the matter.

But remember I said it's not as simple as that. Feminism gets attacked maliciously by people labeling them as 'man haters' and 'nutters' or 'psychos' or similar words. Feminism doesn't mean hating men. A lot of men are feminists and support feminist ideals, it wouldn't make sense to hate others- they're simply supporting the other sex. Because as crazy as this seems men don't have equality in certain areas of society either. I touched on this in a post way back at the start of this blog but men still have fewer places in certain university course, higher suicide rates and are less likely to get help with their mental health.

So what I'm essentially saying is that yes, I am a feminist but I also support equality as a whole and various issues that impact on both men and women and those who are non-binary or genderfluid. I just support people, is that so hard to understand?

Moving on, how does feminism affect me? In ways I like to think of myself as a pretty confident, self-assured and disciplined young woman. I run my own blog, I'm doing my own degree soon and I market myself in the best way I can. All of this I try to do without emphasis on my gender or sex. I am a writer and I'd like to think my words speak more volumes than what I have between my legs.

Sometimes I feel tempted to write posts that you may identify more with feminine/female bloggers- those stereotypical girl issues and I always hit the same brick wall where I can't do it because I feel like I'm putting my work at a disadvantage- like I'm narrowing my readership. Will people judge my work differently if the topic sways towards either a specific gender or sex? Will you have already clicked off this post because feminism is too divisive for you or too radical? Will you be more likely to read a post on a non-gender specific issue than if I mentioned makeup or skincare or prom dreses?

Yes I'm not that kind of blogger and those kind of things would never cross my mind as blog posts but I still shouldn't feel that way.  If at anytime I wanted to change the direction of my blog I should feel at ease doing so. I tried running a similar kind of blog to what I've mentioned but I couldn't fit in with the stereotype I felt like society imposed on me.

So that's feminism to me. Take from it what you will but most important please don't bite. I am merely the messenger.