BEING A FEMINIST!!!

I have always been passionate about my rights first as a human, as a woman, as a worker and any other role or title I have been in. I have been a member of NOW (National Organization for Women) for over 3 years now. Unlike some less educated folks out there think, NOW is not an organization bashes men. We do not meet to sit around to bash men or put men down. Mostly we do not even talk about men because there are so many issues at hand for us to tackle at any given moment. NOW is dedicated to making legal, political, social and economic change in our society in order to achieve the goal of ending all forms of oppression and sexism against women. Last meeting I have attended was on breast health and alternative health care options for women.
I do consider myself a feminist, yes! because I like being a girl, and there is power in feminine as well as masculine. I enjoy my gender and embrace it, therefore feel obligated and privileged to support its place among the masses. For me; as long as there are still little girls being forced to marriages in exchange for a goat somewhere around the World, as long as there are little girls being sold to sex slavery, as long as there are equally qualified women making less than their counterparts, I will be a feminist. It is not an option for me to ignore the plight of women. As long as there is struggle, oppression and inequality, there needs to be support and action, be it a non-violent one which I have always supported, but there has to be an action.
So my friends, for the ladies out there, go ahead and gather your power and move in the direction of you dreams. Along the way pick up your girlfriends who are down and suffering. For the men out there, do not be intimidated by the strenght of your wives, girlfriends, daughters, sisters or mothers. "Do not walk in front of me I will not follow. Do not walk behind me I will not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend." We do not need you to take care of us, we need you to be just be your own wonderful selves, so that we love you for who you are and not what you do for us...
As for both genders, we are the equal parts of the whole. Let's embrace each other's differences instead of ripping each other apart. Let's eliminate expectation, need , or fear and meet somewhere in the middle in a state of self-sufficient wholeness. Let's face all situations with a loving openness, impeccable in thought, speech and action.
150 years ago, slavery was legal in United States. 100 years ago, women could not vote in most states. 80 years ago, there were no laws in the United States against any form of child abuse. 50 years ago, we had no Civil Rights Act, no Clean Air or Clean Water legislation, no Endangered Species Act. But now, there are...This is what happens when the human spirit is activated. We need both men and women to achieve these amazing things. So just try to be gender-blind and embrace each other. We can do amazing things together.
May all be fed. May all be healed. May all be loved...Namaste..