Feminism - Stereotypes = Equality

Recently I've seen a lot of articles and posts about being a feminist, "10 celebrities you didn't know were feminists" "Everybody needs to see this act of feminism" and it really is an amazing thing to see how much attention it's getting and how much of a difference it can really make, but (there's always a but) when does it stop being an empowering movement and start becoming a hate spree!

I believe that being a feminist you should feel empowered! Hell! Just being a woman! A gay man? Why the hell not! Y'know, one step further, how about being a human?! Is that not the whole point of most activist groups? Going through the tears of people insulting you for something that can't be helped, it's just genetics after all, and even after that still fighting just to be seen as equal? Gay rights? Women's rights? Racial rights? Essentially all it is people are fighting for is to be treated equally compared to the next person. And why shouldn't anybody want that? Maybe to some, we're too pushy? I believe being a little pushy is a good thing, some people need that push. I think the big problem though is that some activists are confusing the passion of wanting something, with aggression. Don't get me wrong a little bit of positive aggression is perfectly fine, and to me falls under being passionate but then there's hating on the people you are trying to convince to get on your side. Now you may think I'm talking about men when I say people, and for the majority I am, but I'm also talking about women. Yes, women need to convince women to fight for women's rights! I have read posts where women with good intentions sometimes over step the mark and start telling women what they should and shouldn't be doing and sometime I agree that there are people who let down our side but isn't that exactly what we're fighting against? People who tell us what we should and shouldn't be doing because we're women? You may be trying to enlighten women and even men with the "You don't need to wear make up" and the "You don't have to be a housewife" and that's fine. I enjoy wearing make up, and I love that silky feeling of shaving my legs, and yes I do it for myself but I also do it for others to show a good representation of myself. I feel at my most confident when I think I'm looking good, but to me that's not a bad thing. If you're a person who feels at their best when they're fresh faced than that's what works for you! We should be living by what makes us feel the most comfortable. Some women are at their happiest when they fall into what the 'stereotypical' woman want and no you don't have to but there's also nothing wrong with wanting that either! Women shouldn't feel belittled or left behind in the fight for equality because they do want what other women don't! The whole point is that we want to be treated as individuals and not Be a proud mother, be a proud student, be a proud CEO but at most importantly be a proud 'you'. Enjoy what makes you exactly what you are and remember don't criticize those who don't necessarily fit into what we believe our 'ideal' is. If we want equality we have to fight together and help those back up and not push them down further. We can be better if we're all confident in who we are and do it together! I want equality, not advantages. 

Future Me

Dear Future Me

Wow! I wonder if you'll even remember writing this and how bloody tired you was! Aha :) It's Sunday/Monday the 2nd/3rd of March 2014. It's nearly two in the morning and here you are writing a letter, to yourself. Did you really have nothing better to do? Like sleep? I seriously don't get enough of that! And then sometimes too much of it? Enough about me, for now, what have you been doing? :P Have you found your calling in life yet? So far I've gone through about a million different "THE dream jobs" for you! You're difficult to please and I'm far too fussy! Right now I'm at the Beehive, I hope you're not there still! Of course you're not... Right? Whatever I choose for you I hope you still enjoy it! I'm not sure you can tell but I'm a bit worried about you as of recently! After my trips to and from Ghana it's made me realise that I'm capable of so much more, but it'd be helpful if you let me know what exactly that is? Whatever it is I hope you're doing what you enjoy because you deserve it! Talking of Ghana, are you still banging on about it? Haha! I really hope so! Or have you managed to drag your butt to other countries and go on about them instead? I hope for that too! I guess I just hope you're happy! 

Have you stopped bloody smoking yet? If you have then CONGRATULATIONS!! If you haven't then I'm disappointed in you! It's not big and it's not smart you know? And it's really not good for you but you already knew that! I hope you don't drink half as much as I do! It really is a waste of money! But you better not have given it up completely you've always been a laugh when you're a little tiddly! Have you started being healthier yet? Because if you haven't you should really start now. You should have started years ago! Which reminds me, do you have a family of your own yet? And if so I can't wait to meet them all! How does it feel? Because right now you're seriously lacking in responsibilities! Don't be jel! Do you remember that was a saying in 2014?

What else is going on right now? I'm obsessed with Buzzfeed and Vine because they're both super hilarious! Did you forget? You probably did! Aha! But that's fine because I guess you've got more important things to think about! But please don't forget to smile, because I know you love to laugh! Even if everyone else doesn't want to hear that cackle!

I'm starting to get quite tired now so I'll finish this here but there's a few things I want you to remember;

Believe in yourself! You have more to offer then you realise.

Just breathe if it gets too much. You can get passed whatever it is!

I've already said it but I want to emphasize the "Don't forget to smile" Because you really do enjoy laughing. And I think everyone else secretly does too!

But in conclusion I just hope you're happy and that I've done you proud!

Lotsa lovings

Jes(sica) xxx

Been A While...

So it's been over a year since I've wrote anything here! I'm a tad dissapointed in myself that I couldn't even stick at it longer than just the one introduction post. I wish I had recorded my year as some of it was so busy I feel like I missed a majority of it! :/ But I also feel like I did a lot of growing up and had a lot of change in my opinions, as well as my goals and future plan. For once I feel like there is a plan! Not one of much organisation BUT a plan none the less. The plan you may ask? It involves more volunteering in my favourite place (Ghana!) and then fingers crossed 2015 will be the year I start a University Education studying Social Sciences, specifically International Development. I've played on the idea of the subject for a few years. I don't want to be another young adult who gets themselves in debt over choosing any subject because it sounded good at the time. I want to make sure I've had enough time to know and to be able to fully understand what I will be getting myself into with the commitment and debt! I just want to be doubly sure :P But I feel that it's time to put it as a definite on the future plan!

As I think about what has happened in the last year since I last wrote this and there's only been a few things. One that was inevitable to leave a memory or a thousand was heading back to Ghana. What a trip! But I knew it was going to be anyway! I've also celebrated my 21st since and celebrated it in style in Ghana! But when I try to think back to the rest, nothing sticks out and it's right now writing this that I feel I need to make a change. I would rather not go out for a couple of weeks and go to a gig. Or save and go out for a day, a weekend or a week. No mater how small, I want to start making my days more memorable and almost start living. I'm also not afraid of my opinions and of wanting to express them whether it be a close matter to my heart or whether it be a flying though across my mind. Instead of this being a place where I document my life fact by fact, I'd rather act a bit more free and throw my thoughts out there to the rest of the world (If they so choose to read it :P). But even if not this is a place where I can be me and I'm open for debate! I don't believe that your opinions stays the same for every subject if you're open minded. It changes with experience and new knowledge! I just want to expand on my knowledge and even find opinions about subjects I didn't even realise I had! So I'll completely disregard my first post but keep it there as I did have some sort of intention. But this won't be on a time schedule just as and when I want to share something because this isn't about getting the views on my blog it's about sharing with you and you sharing with me. So if you had read this maybe throw a subject at me I'm all ears... Maybe eyes and fingers would be more appropriate for a blog :) I look forward to hearing from you! But I may throw the odd song in there! Just cus I like them :) So here's to a good new year!