The F-BombThe F-word. A word that most are too afraid to use. A word that many are judged for saying. A word with extremely negative connotations. That's right, the F-bomb: feminism. A word so full of meaning. Few people identify with such a seemingly extreme label. The common stereotype of a feminist is that of a radical man-hater who burns her bra. But is this really true? First we need to define the word feminism. Feminism is simply the belief that men and women should be treated equally and given equal opportunities. This can refer to equality in the job market, in the media or simply in everyday life. This denotation is a common definition found in most dictionaries and reliable sources, yet the word feminism has been so disproportionately used that the current generation of young women are harassed, bullied, and shunned for associating themselves with this terminology. . A feature article in the April 2014 issue of Seventeen magazine addresses the etiquette of feminism, recounting the stories of many girls who have been mocked for standing up for equality. One girl featured in the article, LaTonya, started an equality club at her school. Instead of creating a more inclusive environment and raising awareness, it ended up making people angry and losing a lot of his friends. Another, Valerie, was mocked and bullied after confronting a group of guys who were making jokes about domestic violence (Seventeen Magazine). Feminism is not something to be afraid of; Yet the new generation of teenagers has learned that the world around them is no place for feminists and that contempt is encouraged. Feminism is what we need in today's society to help girls become empowered, ...... middle of paper ...... S&M is not something you need to be afraid but rather something that promotes awareness of women in America today and helps a new generation become better versions of themselves and empower themselves through respect, hard work and equal treatment. I need feminism for generations to come, for my future children because I want them to grow up in a world where equality really means equality and where gender is not a distinguishing factor, where there is no separate section on Netflix. for films with a "strong female protagonist" and where I don't have to feel embarrassed or apprehensive about choosing feminism as the subject of my American ID card. As a prominent businesswoman, Sheryl Sandberg said, "I'm a feminist because I believe in women...It's a heavy word, feminism, but I don't think we should shy away from it." I am proud to be a feminist” (Cosmopolitan).