You Know You're a Feminist When...

If I had to admit it, I would say that I really started calling myself a feminist when I entered the workforce and noticed elements of gender disparity that had not been apparent to me as a high school or college student.

Since then, I have come to embrace the feminist label as a proud badge honoring those who have come before me and as a political statement about my personal belief system.

Additionally, I embrace the label because I want to be an example of what a feminist can be. Too often I hear the baseless stigma fueled by the conservative movement that feminists are "bra burning bitches" or some other distasteful description. (I like my bra just where it is, not in the fireplace, thank you very much).

Why can't the world see feminists as dynamic women and men, who can be successful in business, education, politics, science, math and art careers? Women and men who are thoughtful friends, your sister, your brother, your daughter or son, a creative writer, a musician, a chef, a fashion designer and most importantly - a person who genuinely strives toward greater equality in the world?

For those who may hesitate from calling themselves a feminist, I dare you to think about the ways in which you may already be living and breathing the values of feminism in your daily life.

I wrote this piece today because I still find many women and men who shy away from the feminist label because of false stereotypes. I want them to embrace the movement for all it can do for them and others around the world.

I challenge those (women and men) who can't embrace the feminist label to take a look at the lifestyle you grew up with, the issues you care about, the music you listen to, the books you read, and the achievements you strive toward. You may find that you are in fact a leader in the women's movement without the label. But if not now, when will you call yourself a feminist?

Lifestyle

Were you a little girl or boy who liked to play with Tonka Trucks and Malibu Barbie? I personally loved Ninja Turtles and Legos, in addition to the Care Bears and Polly Pocket. My parents didn't force gender stereotypes with my toys or activities - I was just a kid having my own version of fun and using my own imagination.

Also, I played a lot of sports as a child which helped me grow up with a "can do" attitude, more confidence in my own abilities and the physical strength and talents to literally play along with the boys. My parents didn't care what sports I played as long as I was doing something. So when I didn't like ballet, I did Kung Fu. When Kung Fu got boring, I did swimming. When swimming didn't appeal to me, I took hip hop classes. These experiences helped me realized that it didn't matter what I played with or what activities I did, I could still be a girl and enjoy doing "boyish" things.

I didn't realize it at the time, but being free from strict gender roles helped me grow up less aware of what things a girl is "supposed" to be and instead I learned how to be the best version of me.

Issues You Care About

Have you ever felt an impassioned interest in fighting for justice and equality? I now realize that my interest in community service, helping the homeless and the poor at the age of 13 was the first step toward being an activist for women's rights. In my willingness to step beyond my boundaries and educate myself about the disenfranchised I became an advocate for groups that seemed to be getting the "short end of the stick." Over the years, I was able to translate this interest into a variety of causes such as the anti-war movement, animal rights, immigration and drug trafficking victims. It is no surprise that I now write about the sex worker industry, women in poverty, the fight over reproductive health, the AIDs crisis, and gender based violence to name a few issues. When I look back on my life, I realize that have been inspired to be a voice for the voiceless from an early age and being a feminist was a natural next step.

Music You Listen To

While I have always enjoyed the likes of many male musicians - Bob Dylan, Oasis, Green Day, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones, Jack Johnson - I also had a serious cadre of hard core ladies rocking out on my stereo from a very young age. The messages broadcast into my subliminal consciousness from bands like No Doubt, Republica, Sheryl Crow, Nikka Costa, Erika Badu, Salt N Pepper, Garbage and even the Spice Girls may have been the first stirrings of feminism for me as a young girl. It's interesting to think about how some of these female singers shared the power as well as the plight of women with me when I may have not even been thinking about my place in society. In a lot of ways, these songs and artists subsequently gave me my first understandings of the women's rights movement.

What have been your moments of feminism? Did you realize it when they were happening? How do you embrace feminism today?