APRIL 2014
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Which brings me to my next point about the "Feminism is girl power" answer: feminism isn't just for girls. Feminism is about equality between genders and sexes, so it goes for male, female, and everywhere in between.
It's about the complete elimination of gender norms and standards based on gender. So, for example, it is just as sexist to bully a boy for expressing himself through theater as it is to bully a girl for pursuing science. This is for a number of reasons. First is that it enforces gender norms: boys should be breadwinners and girls should be docile, etc. Second is that it reinforces the idea that for a man to be "feminine" is a negative thing, and thus delegitimizes girls in more "masculine" settings. It's socially acceptable for a girl to wear a t-shirt and jeans, just like it is for males. But it's not as acceptable for a boy to wear a pink dress to school. Why? It's seen as feminine, an inherently bad thing for a man to sink to. This furthers the idea that women are somewhat inferior to men, and gender-based discrimination will continue for women in men's fields, and bullying towards males acting "feminine". (Though, it is worth saying that these issues tend to dissolve after high school, and men are still way better off in the workforce in almost every industry, even "feminine" ones.)
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