Raising a Feminist

Feminist jokes and anger toward the term only mean that there is yet to be a full understanding of who a feminist is. Simply put, it is someone who seems both genders as equal. The operating word is here is equal, not the same. Our bodies in themselves are different mean that we cannot be same in a lot.

Therefore, equal here speaks of what we get with re regards to advantages in the workplace and society, including the right over one’s body. Demonstrate to children what equality looks like that an early age. That includes not making gender reference when mentioning specialized jobs like an income tax lawyer Toronto-based or even a driver. Call the title what it is, not according to whom society expects to own it.

Be an active feminist

The female body is perhaps one of the most picked apart things on the planet. Raising children to view the female body as a topic of debate places them in a context where, like many women today, endure injustice in silence because of the existing culture. Girls pick up from a young age that there is a shame attached to the packaging they were born in, and boys will do everything they can not to do anything “like a girl.”

One would think that raising feminist children means giving them a lecture on Feminism 101. They think it means insisting in all the ways that there should be equality between the male and female. If you’re a mother, raising a feminist child begins with you. Do you inherently believe that you are equal to the males around you, including your partner? Preaching water and drinking wine doesn’t only apply when talking about vices. Children imitate what we do, not what you tell them to do.

Don’t body shame

Be careful how you talk about your body, and those of other women, around your children. When you mention words like “fat” around them, you create an unhealthy awareness of the female body. It is in the same way that we should call the “vagina” what it is and introduce it to their vocabulary early on. It eliminates the feeling of shame that washes over a girl when they first hear the word, especially from another boy or someone out to take advantage of them. In the same way, if they see breasts or other body parts, be honest about their purpose- breasts are where children get their food before they can learn to eat food by themselves. It is not a sexual object.

Teach boundaries early

The main issue that the feminist conversation is raging on (and will continue to) after decades is because there is a lot of “not listening” taking place. It is not just women that don’t get listened to; it is also how we treat our children from a young age. If they feel that their boundaries are respected (not forcing a child to public speak especially if it’s something they genuinely dread), they are more likely to be attuned to the needs of others. Showing them that their wants and needs are valid, a “no” in the future will mean just that.