No, I Don’t Burn My Bra!

Bucket list wish #29, check! Inspired by the unforgettable movie, The Bucket List, my friends and I have created a college bucket list that we hope to complete before graduating. We were able to cross item #29 off our list this past Thursday—“successfully crash a party”. Now you might be wondering what my personal bucket list and crashing a party with my friends has to do with burning my bra, or feminism at all?

Let me tell you.

We were attending an event on the third floor of a venue in Hollywood, but on our way to the entrance we noticed a cocktail party on the first floor. Should we have crashed the party? Probably not, but we were urged by our bucket list wish number 29.

Before long, we were laughing and enjoying conversations with business men and women from all over the world.

As the evening came to a close, I entered my last conversation with a seemingly very established businessman. This gentleman complimented my appearance and inquired about my future plans after college. Pleasantly, I shared with him my goals and aspirations, but it wasn’t more than a few seconds after I finished speaking, that this gentleman jumped to the conclusion that a pretty face was all that I had to offer.

How did he feel he had the right to make this assumption of me?

He told me that my looks would only get me so far and that I needed to have something else to offer. I was insulted by his assumption and I assured him that I had more then pretty face to offer, but he did not accept my answer.

He began to question me.

He asked me about my extracurricular activities and interests. What do I do besides go to school? What makes me different in comparison to other women? Etc.

Again, I began to speak, but as soon as the words, “I write for a feminist newsmagazine” came out of my mouth, he mocked me. You’re a feminist? Really? Are you kidding? And he continued to make fun of the idea that I was this radical, women-powered, man-hating, bra-burning feminist.

I was utterly insulted. Being a feminist does not mean that I burn my bra, it does not mean that I hate men, or that I complain about everything.

I am exhausted by the fact that when I identify myself as a feminist, I am immediately stereotyped. I am put into this little box because others are too ignorant to see past the stereotypes that have been created.

I am a feminist because I want equality for women. I am a feminist because even though our world has come a long way in providing equality for both men and women, there are still issues that go unnoticed and need to be fought for.

I am a proud feminist because women have the right to be treated fairly—and no, I don’t burn my bra!