Men and the Women's Movement

In history, Feminism was a concept used for the upbringing of equal opportunity for women. This is still the case today but with a broader definition of equality, as it used now for both men and women. In today’s evolving world, men are seeking equality just as women did and still are, whether it is at home or in the workplace. Many men have become open to the idea that women are held equal to them in many aspects of life, as it should be. Men have and are more supportive to the idea of Feminism today than what has been traditionally the case in the past. For example, men are just as capable as a woman are in taking care of a household, as women are just as capable as men in the work place. This is evident in the increasing percentage of today’s working mothers and stay at home dads.

To add more to this gender role subject, men have been teaching for some time now, and it has become more globally accepted. So why should men stick to only certain topics? Men can teach any subject, including the subject of women’s studies, just as women can teach any topic their hearts desire. I believe that men can bring a fresh perspective to this course and would be just as effective in teaching it as a woman. Many may argue that they couldn’t because they didn’t experience it the way women did, which can be said the same about the newer generation of women who teaches it now and are just as effective. It will also bring more diversity on term “Equality”, as it is dominantly used for just women. I believe that we should expand the term to races and classes as well, but not lose sight of where it started from. But no matter what, Feminism will be a concept that will always be up for interpretation by the individual. As for me, Feminism used to be the word to describe the emancipation of women but is now the term used to describe equality for all (gender, race, class, religion, etc).

As mentioned, I am more than just drawn to the idea that there shouldn’t be a division between genders, class, or race but any other classification that can holds us unequal to one another. The Women's Movement should move from it being just for women to the Movement of Equality for All. We should hold true to what our Founding Fathers once said “that all men are created equal”; even though it wasn’t upheld back then we can still uphold it now. This term “men” shouldn’t be seen as gendered anymore, as we are far more educated now, but as “mankind” itself, as it should’ve been intended for. And mankind knows no color, gender, class or religion, so let’s not turn it into a hierarchal system.