Feminism is NOT a bad word.

If you have been on social media recently, chances are you have read something that you have disagreed with. I have read many things today that have really hurt me that people think a certain way about people that think the way I do. My political views are what make me the woman I am and I would like to take a second and address something very important to me and so many others today. Over the past year I have witnessed things that make me question the world we live in and question the things I believe in.

It's 2017 and I am my own person with my own opinions. I want to take a second to talk about what happened this weekend (January 20th 2017- Inauguration Day of Donald Trump, and January 21st 2017- Women's March)

I've seen a lot of negative reactions on social media in response to the Women's Marches that took place all over the world, and it's mainly by other women.

I don't want to go into depth about why the Women's March was so important to women across not only the nation but the WORLD, what I do want to take a few minutes to say is this: It's not a bad thing to support other women.

These women came out from city to city, country to country, to stand up for not only ourselves, but for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Do not silence us, do not invalidate our feelings. This is not about politics, this is about people caring for one another.

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Feminism by definition is: the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.

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If you're not okay with feminism and the idea of gender equality as a female, then who will stand up for those in not ideal situations? Being a feminist does not mean you hate men, quite the opposite, the presence of equality does not have to result in oppression for a group of people. Feminism has done so much for women and it's what gave us everything we have today, do not diminish the work of them with a photo of girls with their tops off. And just because we are one of the leading countries for women's rights does not mean there are not still those being oppressed. Acknowledging the fact that others aren't as privileged as you is a step towards equality, even if you are not directly affected certain issues does not make them any less of issues to other people. Feminists speak up for LGBTQ people, minorities, male sexual assault victims, and any one else who needs a voice, we don't see females as the "better sex" we see ourselves as equals to males.

I am a feminist and I will not get offended if a guy holds a door open for me, because that's called being polite, and you know what polite feminists (or people for that matter) do when someone shows a nice gesture, they reciprocate the gesture! Do not tell me that feminists are man haters, or want women to be the only gender, or any other bullshit that is spread around. Feminists do not see abortions as a form of birth-control like people make them seem, and just because you're "pro-choice" doesn't mean you can't also be "pro-life". Feminists just believe that no man, woman, or government has the right to tell you what you can and cannot do with your own body.

To those people who say we don't "have the right to complain", guess what, that's exactly what we have the right to do. The US was founded on complainers who didn't sit around and wait for things to happen but got in the streets and made sure their voices were heard, which is exactly what was done this past weekend.

To those people who have said, "Why are you women even marching? I don't understand what there is to march about." We march to show we are stronger together. We are here for WOC, LGBTQ, and all people. We march because we have a president who has shown he does not care about women, minorities, LGBTQ, or anyone besides himself. He has bragged about sexual assault and that is scary for women AND men who have been sexually assaults first hand or anyone who knows someone has. This was a march for equality, showing that we care for each other and we will stand together. Not everyone will be directly affected by things he says or does, but we will stand up for those who are affected. I did not have the opportunity to march with the 5+million men and women who marched across the world Saturday, but I am so proud of those who did and spoke up for what they believed in, because although not all of us believe in the same things, that's what makes America great. Diversity is what makes America great. Protests are at the foundation of this country and we witnessed history this weekend.

We don't want this country to fail, that's far from it. We want to continue to grow together. We accept the election results, what we do not accept is hate from the oval office. If in order for the president to succeed he must follow through with the hate inspired ideas that put him where he is, then I hope he fails miserably.

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"Privilege is when you think something is not a problem because it's never been a problem for you."

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To those people who have said, " #notmymarch " or "Trump is your president, either shut up or leave the country." I want you to know that we can disagree on politics, but if your politics turns into me loosing access to affordable reproductive healthcare, my same sex friends not being able to marry or adopt, my WOC or any other women being treated unequally compared to a male, or ANY other form of oppression, WE WILL SPEAK UP, WE WILL STAND, because united we stand, divided we fall.

And that is what feminism is to me.