“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”  -Gloria Steinem

As many of you will be made aware by your social media feeds, today, March 8, is International Women’s Day.

This is a day to celebrate the strides women have made, as well as to remember that we are “not there yet.”

Until there is an Equal Rights amendment passed, and those same rights extend to not only women but everyone, we still won’t be “there.”

I try not to bring up politics or social causes in polite conversation. It’s not that I think my views would be offensive to anyone–frankly, if you find them offensive I will probably find you offensive–but this is something that I am passionate about.

Everyone should have the same rights.

It is as simple as that.

Why we are even arguing about it at all baffles me.

We shouldn’t need feminism. We should never have ever had to experience things like “#NotAllMen but #YesAllWomen.”

Feminism is simply “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.”

That’s it.

Equal rights for everyone.

And yet feminists are often berated for their beliefs. Usually with that ever popular term: “Feminazi.”

I don’t think I need to tell you just who coined that “gem” of a phrase.

Feminism has absolutely nothing to do with Nazis.

I feel like I shouldn’t have to explain that, but there you go.

And yes, there are radical feminists. Every single “-ism” humanity has had throughout history has had a radical faction. But can you blame folks for being angry? Can you really?

No one should have to apologize for wanting equality.

No one should have to stomach the vitriol that is hurled their way by internet and real life trolls when all they are asking for is the sort of equality that other people take for granted every single day.

And everyone goes through discrimination of one kind or another, and most people also enjoy some kind of privilege in comparison to others.

The older I get, the more I understand that, just because things have “always been a certain way,” that doesn’t mean we just have to accept them and try to move on.

We can change the status quo.

And it starts with speaking up.

So I am a feminist. An unapologetic, slightly angry, but very optimistic feminist.

And lest you think this post has absolutely nothing to do with books: where do you think I got my ideals from?

Broaden your horizons, learn a little about your fellow humans, and maybe you’ll see that equality is not something we should ever have to argue over.

Happy International Women’s Day.