Today is International Women's Day, so I guess the implication here is that every other day is International Men's Day. 

When I was younger I was proud to call myself a feminist, but this was before I was truly old enough to understand exactly what that meant these days - I believed in the old school of feminism. 

I believe everyone has a right to equality, it is not one sex, race, religion or ability level it's all people everywhere, there is nothing that makes one superior to another - until we all understand this there will be massive conflict in the world.

However today it seems as though the word feminism means something else, it's a term thrown around by people to support an agenda that has little to do with equality.

Now I don't want people to misunderstand me in my statement that I am not a feminist, I would generally never try to force my views and beliefs to fit into a one word slogan that is meant to represent the entirety of me.

But I can no longer advocate the use of the term feminist because what started out as a term for equality, has now been bastardised to suit an agenda that does not represent me at all.

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcLb8xcmXyzQda3Rd1YXuBQSqd4dX6xoUnKjXgJYzTLRH/image.png)</center>

I do not hate men, I do not think all men are evil and out to persecute me because of my sex, I do not think men as a group are aiming to control me, my body or my rights.

In honour of International Women's Day, my local radio station decided to only have female hosts all day and then they decided to open up the phones for women to call and explain how they have been persecuted by men.

One caller even said "I am at the top of my field and anything a man can do I can do better" now I am not saying she isn't capable but why compare yourself against a man as a measure of capability?

I believe skill has nothing to do with gender so why bring it up at all, you should be saying I am the best in my field.

Nothing else is required, it is almost as though some women wear discrimination like a badge of honour - I survived a sexist attack even if it is just a perceived attack.

How is equality removing men from their jobs for a day? The regular radio team features a woman but today she wasn't on the air either, they brought in other women to discuss only women's issues/topics.

<hr>

There are two main motivations for me finally writing this post, the first is ridiculous in my mind and that is here in Australia we are adding female crosswalk signals in Victoria.

Apparently a Victorian lobby group has managed to convince the government to change traffic light signals to 'female' figures in an attempt to gain gender equality and to reduce "unconscious bias."

Now there are a few major issues I have here, firstly the assumption that a skirt or dress is the only way to represent a woman - does this lobby group not realise women had to fight to gain the rights to wear pants in the first place?

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmfCzodm5jr24TmXayF95WWqq4qaWAA8Q8tnFoYTyUix1z/image.png<br><em><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/07/feminism-worst-female-pedestrian-crossing-lights-stir-debate/">image source</a></em></center>

All this does is force us back to a stage where women had no choice in what they were permitted to wear, it says to be a women and feminine you must wear a skirt or dress - I find this completely insulting and what's worse is I see it as a step backwards for equality.

The second big issue I have is with the cost, to change over 6 traffic lights it cost $8400 they are changing 10 for a twelve month trial and for now it is being funded by the Committee for Melbourne and Camlex Electrical.

However I doubt they will foot the bill to change half of all traffic lights at that cost, which is the ultimate goal of the lobby group is seeking.

How can we justify such an expense for a perceived "unconscious bias" that will still exclude all women who don't wear skirts, when the Australian government is cutting off pensioners and carers and sending massive and incorrect bills to half the welfare recipients in the country.

If money is an issue surely wasting it in this manner won't help anyone least of all women, who are the predominant group responsible for caring roles? 

Especially when you consider the basic fulltime income for Aussies on Centrelink is as low as $14,000 per anum, in a country that has one of the highest cost of living in the world.

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZ4ztX3UDKAqSYitN7qm4fDU86bVThmjVasq3dqk6h8Ue/image.png)<br><em>cost of living map <a href="https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/gmaps.jsp">image source</a></em></center>

Since this news came out there has been serious backlash, this includes people pointing out that the school signs are sexist towards men - stating the blatantly obvious that men take their kids to school too. 

I have to agree and this is the stupid point, I have not found one single case of a woman saying she felt discriminated against by the traffic signals but if we want equality <strong>it has to go both ways</strong> - and men are not fairly represented at school crossings. 

The PC movement is about making waves and everyone crying victim, you may feel you have a right to be offended but that doesn't mean everyone else is offended too.

There are much larger issues relevant to the feminist movement than tackling street sign bias, we should be focussing on the big issues instead of wasting time and money on this.

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbRJkrVQqtKP7U59KP2sAeBBvv72GdQthivXcUmLNLEca/image.png)<br><em><a href="https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17191112_1571082542909616_6457624584820412937_n.png?oh=ccff6d8c6f961b6982854d2cbaf712bc&oe=59686DFB">image source</a></em></center>

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The second thing is also ridiculous, possibly moreso - I am of course referring to the Emma Watson controversy. 

If you are unaware she recently posed for a photo shoot where one of the photos was deemed by many to present the young actress as a hypocrite, for the simple reason that she had parts of her breasts exposed - mind you less than would be visible in a bikini at the beach.

She was slammed for her choice to present her body in this manner, people saying she can't be a feminist and expose her breasts - calling the shot topless which is just inaccurate as most of her breasts are still covered.

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbjecRRfYjMCD9Q3MyMCBuMAn5KkqhwF4LZjNvUKG3rzV/image.png)<br><em><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39177510?SThisFB">image source</a></em></center>

Worst of all in my opinion is the barrage of attacks from women directed at her, women attacking other women over what they wear is pathetic - the whole point is about having a choice to wear what you want. 

To think that you no longer have a right to wear what you want without facing an attack from thousands of women is preposterous, we fought for these rights and now of all people women are criticising her for making a choice to show her own body. 

I am livid at the implications of these statements and views, women have had to fight for generations to gain a semblance of equality and it's still not here - but we have made massive headways.

But when you attack a symbol of feminism for expressing herself freely, you are setting the movement back to time when women had to have their skirts and swimmers measured to make sure they were an appropriate length. 

In Emma's own words "Feminism is about giving women choice. Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with. It’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality."

I fully agree with her words and sentiment and back in the day this is what I believed feminism stood for, however I can no longer align myself with this term because of people like this - using a label to control someone's actions is insulting and controlling. 

No one is saying you have to take your tits out, but don't you dare tell me or any other proud woman that they can't - <strong>that is the true point of feminism</strong>  

<center>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoYL-MEMJvo</center>

<hr>

So to sum it up I do support women's rights, but I also support equality for <strong>all</strong> we need to stop attacking one another for sharing a different view or belief.

We need to empower women not cut them down for having a different view, we need to stop believing that changing a sign will stop sexism.

We need to think before we speak and try to consider others points of view, you may not always agree and that is fine the world will continue to exist - but wasting money and attacking others won't change anything. 

I will stand up for anyone being attacked in this manner man or woman, any sex or sexual orientation, any race, any religion and any person disabled or not - we need to stop thinking anyone person, view or belief is better than someone else and only then can equality truly exist and thrive.    

<center><strong>Do you think the feminist movement has lost it's way?</strong></center>

<center>http://imgur.com/1rTOMBf.png</center>

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