The 'F' word

By Mia Wells

Feminism; why do I need feminism? What even is feminism? It’s the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of the equality of the sexes. Keyword: equality. Feminism is not about women being better than men nor is it men being better than women. But as a young female, I have lost before I’ve started knowing I likely will not get the same opportunities as a privileged male.

Society’s skewed ideology that women are somehow inferior to men as been ingrained into us from the outset; I have grown up with a male-dominated government and it was a running joke for me to seen and not heard. They wanted me to be submissive, subordinate, subservient. They wanted wallpaper women, what good to them is wallpaper that speaks?

I need feminism, because I am still answering to the boys, men- and women. That think my skirt length, defines my self-worth. That CATCALLING on the street is a compliment, when it feels like a threat. My femininity is not a privilege; it’s a badge of vulnerability, inferiority. We have apps designed to walk us safely home and the tagline of my achievements is my gender- “Wow! You’re pretty good- I mean- for a girl” or “Good job! But you kind of run like a girl” When was it decided that being female or having feminine qualities was degrading?

A boy in my class once laughed at me for supporting the feminist movement. He didn’t know that he was laughing at the six million girls currently out of school. He was mocking the eleven year old girl in Texas who was attacked by eighteen men and all the media could talk about was… her clothing. He was laughing at J.K Rowling; told to use her initials, because being a female author would obviously be less appealing. He was mocking me, because feminism taught me to love myself, that self-care and self-validation comes from me and that in itself is okay. He is dismissing the benefits it will bring him, feminism is deconstructing the gender roles so that we may have a world where a boy can cry or show emotions without the repercussions or “breaching his masculinity”, that I know I can live in a world where I am not discriminated or defined by my gender. Addendum: feminism means equality and social justice for everyone. This is what a feminist looks like and you are what a feminist can look like.

A Dead End in my Path

by Nyah Kauders

Our brains have paths that lead to infinite possibilities, which will unveil a new light. Shining on a sign with a combination of arrows pointing to various directions, the sun leaves you with insatiable anticipation, deprived of limits as you wait to commence your journey. Then, with a crack, a roar and a growl the sky cracks and water cascades viciously down the bleak clouds; the rain of self-doubt has now entered your mind and is washing away the destinations which the arrows on the sign were pointing to. Are  you scared to continue your  journey on your own volition? Or have you been emaciated by self-doubt and a shortage of confidence?

Humans need fuel which energizes them to fulfil their success: a feeling that they are capable able to achieve anything to our unqualified wonder, that they’re able to beat anyone, be better than anyone and that they trust themselves in what they are doing. Abhorrence towards others never build up inside these people when they see success surrounding them, but they feed on this determination in order to rise to the challenge.

‘The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you’, soliloquised William Jennings Bryan, which absolutely true! The only way to build confidence and abolish self- doubt is to throw yourself into awkward situations and strive in them.

So, meekly you’re standing contemplating whether your melancholy should be replaced by a surge of excitement as you place your shaking foot forward. Although you wish to turn back and procrastinate, you can’t help but continually notice your heart is thumping against your ribcage- trying to pump out the despair that was once circulating your body. You ignore the rain of self-doubt! In fact, imprudently you saunter forward until you have reached a mile.

With mud in your face,

tears in your eyes,

the cold air gnawing  at your heart,

you take this pain for pleasure knowing you can reach your goal…