An Equalist, Not a Feminist.

Note: This article is ironic because Feminism is basically Equality.

“A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.”

- Gloria Steinem.

“Equality is the soul of liberty; there is, in fact, no liberty without it.”

- Frances Wright.

I hate tags. I hate boxes. I do not like to be categorized. I do not have a personality type. You may call me divergent. Due to the aforementioned, I am not a Feminist. Don’t attack me yet. I am feminine in every sense of the word. I support Women’s Rights, Human rights.

You know what, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane.

According to the Oxford language dictionary, “Feminism can be defined as the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of sexes.”

In that sense, I am a Feminist. There are however various dimensions to Feminism and I do not necessarily agree with all of them. And so, in that sense, I am not a Feminist.

I am an Equalist. I believe in equal rights for both the male and female genders and equal rights for everyone regardless of ethnicity, race, status, gender etc. I believe every individual should have access to their human rights. I don’t know if Equalism is much of a thing yet but I do know that I am an Equalist. It is a broader spectrum than Feminism and although I’m not quite ready to fully delve into the subject matter, I think it is of great importance that I inform you of where I stand.

Still, on Feminism, we might as well go down historical lanes too.

Feminism incorporates the position that societies prioritize the male point of view, and that women are treated unjustly within those societies. Efforts to change include fighting against gender stereotypes and establishing educational, professional, and interpersonal opportunities and outcomes for women that are equal to those for men.

Feminist movements have campaigned and continue to campaign for women’s rights, including the right to vote, hold public office, work, earn equal pay, own property, receive education, enter contracts, have equal rights within marriage, and maternity leave. Feminists have also worked to ensure access to legal abortions and social integration and to protect women and girls from rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Changes in female dress standards and acceptable physical activities for females have often been part of feminist movements. Feminism first came about in the 19th century with the introduction of First-wave liberal feminism. Then came the socialist and radical feminist schools of thought. There is also black feminism and intersectional feminism. Like I said earlier, there are various dimensions to feminism.

Now, In Nigeria for example, Misandry is often mistaken for Feminism. A lot of women use Feminism as a cover-up for their poorly disguised Misandry. Misandry, according to the Oxford Language dictionary, is the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against men. Misandry may be manifested in numerous ways, including social exclusion, sexism, hostility, gynocentrism, belittling of men, violence against men, and sexual objectification. A lot of people do this and claim that their Feminists. Now, in a place and time where these terms are easily misconstrued, do you think I’d like to add that tag when most people who use it do not even understand what it means or even the surface of what Feminism truly entails?

I believe that women should be given equal opportunities as men.

I believe that women should be accorded the same level of respect as men.

I believe that women should be non-conforming to societal ideals.

I believe that women should support other women in the struggle for equality.

I believe that women should not be objectified.

I believe that women should not be given double standards.

I believe that women should be able to stand for whatever they believe in without judgement or fear.

I believe that women should not be scared to speak their truth without being ridiculed.

I believe that women shouldn’t have to be afraid to speak up about rape and rape culture without being blamed for it in the first place.

I believe that women should be able to pursue whatever career goals they have.

I believe that women should be able to decide whether they want to get married or not.

I believe that women should not be defined by their ability to be domestic or to cook, or clean or how good they are in bed.

I believe that women are warriors and should be treated as such.

I believe that gender-based violence is an abominable act.

I believe that a woman’s worth should not be based on her physical appearance.

I believe that sexual harassment of any person is a real issue.

My name is Daraayo Daniels and I am an Equalist.