Feminism Males Can Be Feminists

Feminism

Males can be feminists too because feminism is the radical notion that women are people. The popular feminist slogan suggests that feminism is not about fist-thumping radical politics and women who won't wear bras. Rather, feminism means putting an end to ridiculous practices and conditions plaguing women all around the world. For example, women still receive lower wages for equal work in the United States. According to the Census Bureau, "For every dollar a man made in 2003, women made 75.5 cents," (Hagenbaugh). Moreover, men can be feminists because of the wider implications of the feminist movement. For instance, feminism has been linked to other movements of social justice such as civil rights for minority members of the population. Any man who believes that women should be treated fairly in any and all situations can proudly call himself a feminist.

Being treated fairly means receiving equal pay for equal work. Fairness also entails the elimination of the glass ceiling in business and politics, as "a glass ceiling continues to halt the progress of many women who strive to reach top management positions," (Gwynne). The glass ceiling plagues female politicians in the United States as well: although the number of females serving in the American Senate and House of Representatives has risen since suffrage, only 14% of Senators are female and only 18% of Representatives are female ("Women in Office"). Being a feminist is the radical idea that about half of all politicians at any given time should be women. Feminism is also the radical idea that a woman can serve in the White House: a situation that still seems farfetched in the 21st century.