What it means to be feminist at uni

You read the title and immediately sighed, didn’t you? This is all I get whenever I tell someone that I’m feminist. It’s as if you just expect that I am going to go into a rant about why I hate men. But guess what? Feminists don’t hate men – we just hate inequality. It’s literally that simple.

We just want equality at uni

Being a feminist at uni doesn’t mean that I chain myself to the union and spout hate mantras. It’s the subtle things that really need to be noticed more:

What feminism means on a night out

When I go on a night out, I tend to just dress down. This is not just because I’m lazy (admittedly though, it’s a massive factor) but I don’t feel as if I should be obligated to make effort, especially when guys just float around Viper in jeans and a polo shirt. Obviously, the media has had a massive influence with regards to the objectification of women so it is difficult for us to wear certain things without being stared at or catcalled or accused of “asking for it” when it comes to sex. We shouldn’t have to feel like if we wear a short skirt or a low-cut top on a night out that we’re just looking to get with someone – maybe that’s just what some of us feel confident wearing and we shouldn’t get called up on it.

Recently, I heard that some guys think women shouldn’t go out clubbing when they’re on their period because this is just leading all men on. Imagine this for a second – a woman might want to go on a night out solely to have fun with her friends and to forget the stress of uni. Oh, she doesn’t want to get with you? Probs because of that polo shirt bbz.  Clubs are not just a “meat market” or somewhere that you can only go if you’re single.

What feminism means on your course

I study Law and I can safely say that over 60% of my year are female and there is a fairly even split of male and female lecturers and tutors that teach the degree. This doesn’t mean that women are more intelligent than men, but it is evidence of how far society has changed.

What feminism means in your relationship

Chivalry seems to be a big thing with women these days. It’s true what they say though – chivalry is dead. It’s just polite to keep the door open for someone, regardless of gender. It’s not chivalry, it’s basic manners and everybody in a relationship (or just in everyday life) should expect it.

Why is there also this view that sex is just for the benefit of men?  It should be a team effort and not just a means in which a man can just blow his load and then go to sleep. It also shouldn’t be that women are prudish for refusing to do certain things or a slut for wanting to do others. I mean,  why is there no male equivalent of a slut? Why is he a “lad” or a “player”? “Slut” is met with someone shaking their head as it is seen as derogatory but the masculine terms are met with a chorus of “dude I totally got some last night” and a high-five.

What feminism means for your appearance

Due to the media, there are expectations that come with being a woman and how we should groom. Miley Cyrus recently posted a picture of her with unshaven armpits, which sends an incredibly strong message to women. Although this is not for me, I am so supportive of those that on principle, refrain from shaving.

What feminism means for feminists

We don’t hate men. Sometimes we just hate their attitudes towards women. Equality shouldn’t just be an ideal or aspiration, it should be a basic human right.