Define Yourself, #mindofmyown
By The Policy Circle Team
If you allow it, society will stick you with a label. Feminist. Climate Denier. What do these stereotypes even mean?
While on vacation in Brazil for a friend’s wedding a few years back, an enlightening thing happened…
A late night conversation among friends turned into a discussion about whether or not I am a feminist. Interestingly, I wasn’t a main participant in the conversation. As the debate took off, I became a fly on the wall while two long-time friends debated my street-cred as a feminist.
My female friend was adamant that I was clearly a feminist. Her reasoning: I am an independent, strong-willed, and career-minded woman who believes that women are just as qualified as men for high-level positions. That regardless of whether a woman wants to spend her days raising kids, cooking meals, starting a business or leading the boardroom, the sky’s the limit and the decision is her own. With hard work and the right support network, I still believe that there is a way to have it all – at the end of the day, I have a bit of idealism that inspires my otherwise realist approach.
My male friend was SHOCKED to hear such a full-throated defense of my feminist nature. He didn’t disagree with any of the attributes she outlined – but he in turn pointed out that: I hadn’t supported the same political candidates that he had (that both of these friends had). These were the candidates that he felt cared the most about – and promoted the best policies for – women. So, if I didn’t support those candidates or similar ones, I couldn’t be a feminist.
Equipped with facts that supported their arguments, they still came down on opposite sides of the debate. In the end, they reached an impasse on determining if I deserve the feminist label, neither willing to give in to the other’s beliefs of what a feminist truly embodies.
For me, one thing became clear – I don’t fit into a box that allows me to be easily defined or easily categorized.
Labels attempt to apply a black and white approach to life, but true progress occurs through shades of grey.
By researching the issues we face as a society, I develop my own beliefs on what is the most productive path forward. I take pride in breaking apart your average stereotype, I have a #mindofmyown.
Want to celebrate making up your own mind? Check out the store!
Do you pride yourself on having a mind of your own? Share what a #mindofmyown means to you on Twitter and be sure to tag @thepolicycircle so we can see it!
Kristin Jackson serves as policy editor for The Policy Circle. Kristin is a middle-of-America native with a decade of experience working on policy in our nation’s capital.