Staying Strong

Ever since I learned what Feminism was about I identified strongly with the movement. Feminism is something I strongly believe in and I want to increase awareness of it and what it really stands for. Most days I try to approach life with a positive outlook and I feel good about what I stand for and I’m ready to correct someone when they think Feminism and Misandry are the same thing and I’m ready to fight for women’s equality. And then some days look incredibly bleak and sometimes I just want to give up when I hear the awful things people say. Last Friday I had one of those days.

            Just before my math class was about to start last Friday I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and an article titled “Some local band are sick of you leaving before their set” caught my eye. This article was on the website of one of my favorite magazines, Alternative Press, and I thought this would be an argument in defense of local bands and how people should support more local acts. And it was sort of about that, but what really made me upset was what the band this article was reporting on said. In a Facebook post the band ranted about how people are leaving their shows after seeing the other bands and before they play their own set to which some girl commented “then make better music”. They responded: “Youre a femail. You dont know good music. You literally listen to whatever that one hot guy tells you to listen to.” Obviously this guy can’t even take the time to spellcheck and shouldn’t be listened to, but the upsetting part is that he voices a mindset that many people in the music industry have and the women in music must face daily. I know that if I have heard many people say that women just aren’t good at metal, then the women already in the music industry must hear so much more.

            Although I felt like curling up in bed and hiding after reading this statement the first time, now it just strengthens my dedication to the feminist movement. It can be a struggle for equality every day, but it’s a struggle that cannot be abandoned. Although some people say horrible sexist things, it’s just a reminder that there is a problem that needs to be addressed and my opinions have been strengthened, if anything.

The article referenced: http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/some_local_band_are_sick_of_you_leaving_before_their_set