Conservative Feminism

Feminism. The first thoughts that come to mind are feminazi, man-hater, the women's march, abortion, the anti-Trump movement etc. Those are all stereotypes. Of course, for the majority that identifies as feminists, that’s reality. I want to break the stereotypes and misconceptions that feminism is exclusively appointed to liberal ideals.

Identifying as a feminist is difficult. It’s difficult because as a feminist, I want to prove that I can do everything a man can. For example, I’m going into the United States Air Force, my dream career is to be a Pararescue. But as a realist, I have to realise that this is one of those gray areas. I have to take a step back and understand that realistically, I might never even make it through Pararescue training. Now Patrick J. Buchanan, a Republican politician, states that “Sending women into combat on equal terms seems also to violate common sense. When they reach maturity, men are bigger, stronger, more aggressive.”. Which the latter is true. He goes on to say “In the Revolutionary and Civil Wars….women were not in combat”. Which is simply not true at all. There were dozens, if not hundreds of women fighting in both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Women have been on the front lines for thousands of years. These radical liberals, and unfortunately some feminists, that are so against the military don't realise that it could only help our case to prove men like Buchanan wrong. Moving on, in an article by Zoe Zorka, she says that male birth control could be up for retail as soon as 2017, and, that it supports true feminist ideals. She goes on to say that yes, there are dead-beat dads, but also that there are women who would lie or deceive her partner about her birth control regulations in order to have a child to receive something from the father. Whether it's child support, or to make the man stay. This is a prime example for feminism. That we fight for those who use it to their advantage or are exactly what we fight against. Zorka ends with “We have empowered woman to fight this fate (becoming unwilling mothers), so now it's time that we extend the same right to men. Yet many “feminists” refuse this ideology to say that men should take it just to level the playing field. Is that going to make men want it? Not at all.

Recently, as many of you know, was International Women's Day where thousands of women went on strike to prove that society couldn't handle life without us. Personally, I see this as another excuse to whine. But for many, it's a chance to stand up to men, to show them that women don't exist to satisfy their every need. To give men a taste of what life would be like without women. Mrs. Barrett, came to school regardless of the strike and said “I’m here for you guys. To do my job regardless of being a woman.”

Many feminists are Democrats or radical liberals. Feminists fight for abortion rights, immigration rights, birth control, gay marriage etc. They fight for these controversial issues because it's not only their right as citizens, but also as women. If a woman became pregnant after being sexually assaulted, she should have the right to an abortion yes? If a woman has a lifeplan, doesn't plan on having children until she's reached her goal of success, then shouldn't she gave the right to birth control? These are the very real personal issues held against women on a daily basis. These are also the issues commonly debated about in politics, the Democratic party being all for them.

Now allow me to give you another perspective. What if, for example, I’m against abortion after the first 14 weeks of pregnancy? What if I’m opposed to legal immigration and the over-utilization of welfare? What if I’m not a Democrat but I still identify as a feminist? Do I still have claim to the feminist movement? No! According to mainstream feminists I’m a privileged republican. And maybe I (even though in not a republican).

Mainstream feminists believe that women have been put in a cookie cutter by society. We see the Victoria Secret models and think “oh maybe if I look like that he'll like me.”. Girls who are naturally a bit of a tomboy are told “boys will like you more if you smiled/word dresses/wear makeup.”. We’re supposed to cook, clean, take care of the kids. This is definitely to get mad about right? It sure makes me mad. But what mainstream feminists don't understand, is that by refusing anyone else's opinion, by telling everyone who doesn't agree is wrong, feminists have put themselves in a whole other set of cookie cutters.

In Susan Chira’s “Since When is Being a Woman a Liberal Cause?” she quoted Cleta Mitchell on “Conservative woman say don't put me in the feminist bloc because somehow it’s emblematic of a whole set of liberal issues that may have nothing to do with promoting women.”. This idea that all feminists are inherently liberal is ridiculous. I want to be able to stand up and say that I’m both an Independent (which should hold no bearing) and a feminist. I want to be a Pararescue woman to prove myself. I want to be paid the same wage as men. I want to feel safe while walking down the street. I’m a feminist. But I also believe that Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton would be in disgrace if they saw what their movement has become today. With women turning against each other just because we don't all have the same opinions.

There was so much more I would've liked to cover, this is just age tip of the iceberg. But implore you to look at feminism in a new light. That not every feminist is a liberal, we all believe something different. Women are more than a cookie cutter. In any aspect.