Frankenstein Feminist Quotes

Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein and The Modern Prometheus wrote during her life in the eighteenth century. In this time she turned the phrase, “I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.” These words were far before the modern twenty-first century movement of feminism. Long before her time she foresaw the problems with the movement and perceptions of it. This quote simply states, women do not need to have power of men but they need to have power over themselves. This quote is true and speaks to the purist nature of equality that true feminists strive for, equality for gender and not one gender over another. To be a feminist like me means to be for nothing but equality. Women and men need to be equal. This does
not mean giving women a pass; instead it means to give the woman the same opportunity. Female sexual assault victims are not more important than male sexual assault victims. As a feminist I believe, I should be just as likely to get drafted into the military as my boyfriend. I am strong and capable of serving my country and yet I do not have to fill out the selective service card when I get my license. I do not believe, mothers should be given grace in relation to criminal sentencing when fathers are not. I do not believe it is right for mothers to keep custody of their children so easily when fathers have to fight tooth and nail for every visit. I think that wives abusing their husbands should be held to the same social and legal standard as a husband engaging in the same abuse. A large misconception about feminism is, we want all of the benefits of equality without the kick back and it is not true. I believe that the current state of things in America specifically is on the path to greatness but we still struggle. Daughters are given play make up and dolls as children and in doing so we teach them their purpose is to be pretty and make children. We give boys trucks and science kits teaching them to reach higher. Boys learn their purpose is to provide. This causes a double standard against males. There are few people so looked down upon in respect to occupation as stay-at-home dads are. All my life the men in my family and those around me were pushed relentlessly to “get a hair cut and get a real job.” My brother was required to carry at least a part time job after he turned seventeen. I got my first job at age seventeen to pay for my college. My boyfriend has worked a career job since he was sixteen and it is hard manual labor. There is an incredible emphasis on men to provide. This emphasis is not mirrored in my life and that is unjust. This, in my opinion, became the root for the need for a feminist movement. I do not want to be raised to a pedestal above men I just want to be raised eye to eye with them. It is about time we remove the systems that allow men to look down on women. In the future if this quote is practice I see more support for men and women. Men would no longer need to toughen up and women would no longer need to soften up. To be a feminist is to want equality, not superiority. There could never be any negative to come from a mind set like this.