"I am a feminist." This statement has caused several kinds of reactions when coming from me, a male. Ranging from an inquisitive if not suspicious "why?" to sweet praise borne not out of understanding, but rather out of amazement if not amusement. And yet the one reaction I've always wanted to hear, the self-evident "So what? Think you're special? Who isn't?", is one I've sadly yet to experience. We are a month away from 2013 now.
So, why am I a feminist? Major reasons include a profound yearning for social justice and equality, as well as the desire for a more pragmatic society which prioritizes merit beyond superficial differences. But I am also a feminist from a male empowerment perspective. The all too common and often times confrontational question "what about men and their rights?", whenever someone is talking about the plight of women, can be very easily answered by "feminism is the solution." So ultimately, I not only want to be a feminist, but as a man I need to be a feminist.
