Feminism has remained a term open to a plethora of different interpretations.

There is no singular or specific way of being a feminist. To speak in general terms, feminists are those who support and actively participate in establishing equality among all people regardless of gender.

Feminism concerns equality for all people in every aspect of life, whether economical, personal or social equality. The acknowledgment of the systems of oppression against the equality and success of women since the beginning of time is crucial to understanding the feminist movement and ideology.

All of society is forced to acknowledge the oppression of women in one way or another, written directly in our history textbooks, discussed in daily life and even prevalent in our Twitter feeds. Acknowledgment is essential to understanding how the feminist movements have cultivated throughout history and in present times.

In contemporary society, acknowledgment is a step but not a piece of the puzzle in the establishment of equality. To achieve equality amongst the sexes is to actively advocate and pursue the principle that women and those who identify as a woman gain the opportunities, respect and equality to that of men.

With this necessary and realistic notion, those who identify as feminists have and even continue to receive negative judgments, harsh criticisms and stereotypes.

Negative connotations and stereotypes have been attributed to feminists since the origin of the feminist movement. Feminists are said to be those who take an “anti-male” stance.

This is simply false; feminism is not about bringing a gender down, it is about empowering females and ensuring that they are treated and seen as equals to that of their male counterparts.

This is the feminist movement: a movement that has made strides throughout history, in contemporary society and continues to propel forward in the aim of equality.

The feminism movement plays a vital role in the United States current affairs. The Women’s March on Washington was a movement that created an enhanced wave of feminism.

This movement, which took place worldwide the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, brought forth an intense and positive mission for equality among the sexes. The post Women’s March on Washington impact remains strong and the fight for equality is more powerful than ever with the number of people who are participating in this pursuit increaseing daily.

Feminism is about telling our sisters, nieces and daughters that they will be afforded the same equalities as men and be both successful and comfortable in any role, job or leadership position. When society has found complete confidence in what we are telling these young girls and women to be truthful, gender equality will occur.