Feminism

For my English essay, we were asked to create a speech about something you're passionate about. Here's mine, some opinions and feedback on it would be amazing.

What is the biggest issue troubling the world right now? One of the most current and well-known issues in the media lately is feminism. It has different meanings to different people. In the dictionary, the meaning is “the belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way”. Society has come a long way into achieving equality for the sexes in the last 100 years. The most well-known breakthrough is the votes for women act which was achieved in 1927 as all women over 21 could vote.

However we’re not finished yet. In fact we are far from it. Women earn on average £140,000 less than men over their working careers. We have had a woman in charge of the country as a prime minister but we don’t pay women the same as men? Unsurprising, as globally only 22% of the government are women. 

Many companies are beginning campaigns. For example: Always. The company have begun a #Likeagirl campaign which encourages girls to have more confidence while they’re growing up. A common insult to boys and girls is ‘Like a girl’. For example: ‘You throw like a girl ‘or ‘You run like a girl’. When has doing something ‘like a girl’ become an insult? Who wouldn’t be proud if they could compete in sports like Jessica Ennis, who won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics? I personally, along with many other girls, have been insulted using the term ‘Like a girl’ before.

The label ‘Feminist’ is now often seen as a bad thing. It’s seen as a group of women who hate men and believe they are better than the opposite sex. When in fact, Feminists can be men and women who want genders to be seen as the same; not better and not worse off than each other. When  women say they are not a feminist they’re saying they don’t believe that women should be treated the same as men, that they should not be paid the same amount of money as men or that they’re unable to do the same jobs as men. When in fact: they are. Many women start beginning to receive negative comments about their sex at an early age in life.

Gender inequality also affects young girls just as much. The right to an education is a basic human right yet 65million girls are not allowed the chance, purely because they are girls. Many of the most influential humans alive are women. How do we know that one of the 65million girls doesn’t have the potential to find a cure for cancer or an end to hunger? Girls need a chance at education, why are they being denied it purely because they are a girl?

                                                                                                                               

When gender equality is achieved the world will be a better place. There will be more chances to fight vaccinations for diseases. There will be more doctors, nurses and scientists. There will be a better, brighter future.

So what are we waiting for?

Let’s end gender inequality and be a greater world.

You can help.

Thankyou.