#advocateforequality

[shireconspire]

I am thankful to have grown up as a minority. I am thankful that God put my soul into this body. I am thankful that I grew up into a deeply cultural family in the United States, where we faced our fair share of discrimination together and individually. I am thankful for every racial slur and cruel stereotype that has been flung my way. I am thankful for the unnecessary hardships that have been pressed upon me simply because of my ethnic background. And I am thankful because it means I didn't grow up blind, I didn't grow up detached, and I didn't grow up ignorant. I am thankful because even if an oppression doesn't absolutely affect me, I still care enough to stand up for what is right. I am thankful that I am not okay with being a bystander, and that I am willing to fight alongside people who want their voices heard. I am thankful that the color of my skin is brown, and that I go into battle for that color's worth. And I am thankful that knowing discrimination has made me empathetic to discrimination, and that I don't look the other way when injustice is being done. I am thankful to have grown up as a minority, because that means I didn't grow up easy, but at least I grew up with sight. . . . #wokeasfuck #minority #feminist #advocateforequality #badassmofo

[prashanthhospitals]

It's a day to raise awareness, promote inclusivity, and advocate for the rights and opportunities of people with Down syndrome. Let's honor their strengths and support their dreams.

[lynnegraves]

Coming out in order to live openly isn’t something you do once, or even for one year. It’s a decision that we make every single day of our lives. Being open as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer — STILL MATTERS. When people know someone who is LGBTQ, they are far more likely to support equality under the law. Every person who speaks up changes more hearts and minds, and creates new advocates for equality. #vote #lgbtq🌈 #advocateforequality #loveislove (at Northampton, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGOadDJhxyk/?igshid=498vlfj2qo2c

[papakennmedia]

It may not be much, but I always made sure to post this by my name plate at my cubicle no matter where I sat. Hopefully the small things matter, even if not on as grand of a scale as "the big things". If that makes sense. #equality #equalrights #advocateforequality #humanrights https://www.instagram.com/p/BwKhRd_BO8w/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8peeo1w44y9t

[drcknowledgeandpower]

All for one and One for all, right?

On November 19th, Rutgers HeForShe held a forum on gender based violence and sexual assault in the Douglass Student Center. They discussed about issues regarding gender and its viewpoints. Personally, little by little, I became frustrated with the idea that only specific groups of people are targeted when it comes to violence and sexual assault. Take for example men, who most believe that they cannot be raped because they characterize the essential features of a being a fighter, but men can be and are sexually assaulted. Any man can be sexually assaulted regardless of size, strength, appearance, age, occupation, race or sexual identity. The idea that men can’t be raped or sexually assaulted is linked to unrealistic beliefs that a ‘man’ should be able to defend himself against attack. In fact, any man can be raped, whether he identifies as straight, gay, bi, transgender or fluid sexuality. Rape is an act of force or coercion where someone’s personal choice is ignored. Just as being robbed does not tell you anything about someone’s sexuality, neither does rape. Meanwhile, such rape can also be done in relationships with homosexual men. Through physical, psychological or emotional coercion, some men are forced by their partners to engage in unwanted sexual acts. The fact that the man has been in a longstanding sexual relationship with his partner does not remove his right to say ‘NO!’. Unfortunately, many men within the gay community are reluctant to come forward and name a sexual assault out of an understandable fear that they will not receive appropriate care and support. This again highlights how the problem of sexual assault of men is compounded by societal homophobia.

All these myths all come down to being unhelpful because it makes it harder for men to talk about an experience of sexual assault, to find support, to report an offence to police, and to prosecute someone who commits a sexual assault.  

After all, doesn’t feminism include inclusivity? As ethically traditional women and individualists claim the feminist umbrella, should we clarify what feminism endorses?