Feminism.

What does that word bring to mind? Perhaps you thought of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady for women’s suffrage. Or Kate Chopin, whose groundbreaking novel of the 20th century, “The Awakening,” delved into the realm of female independence.

I would like to first applaud all of the women throughout history, who have stood up and fought with everything they have to give us women today the rights that we have. But in today’s society, have we begun to forget what it means to be a woman?

Being a female in this society is just really difficult sometimes. It is hard to be who we are anymore, because we fear the rejection from our “friends.”

I am not the size of a toothpick, I don’t like to wear dresses, and I don’t wear makeup. And for that, I can feel the silent criticisms being made about me, from strangers and from friends.

Now I would be a hypocrite if I said that I have never judged someone, especially a girl, before in my life. I have, and it’s not something I’m proud of. But the society we call home is just plain vicious.

The women I admire so much fought for us to have to freedom to be whoever we want to be, dress however we want to dress, and live however we want to live.

It aggravates me how women are seen as an object of desire, desperate and lusting after the attention of any male who will give us the time.

We are constantly being portrayed as weak and needy, incapable of living without a male companion. But, I believe we somewhat have ourselves to blame. While I am a huge fan of Lana Del Rey, after listening to her songs a little more closely, I’ve begun to see the problem in our female population. She sings, “I’ve nothing without you, all my dreams and all the lights mean nothing without you.”

While I may be taking it all too seriously, it frustrates me that girls listen to lyrics in songs like these and take them to heart. Some girls begin to believe that they can’t be happy and strong without the company of a significant other.

We need to open our eyes and pick up our self-confidence that we seem to have dropped momentarily. Let’s follow in the footsteps of powerful women like Tina Fey, Melissa McCarthy, Lady Gaga, and yes I’m going to say it, Miley Cyrus.

I am somewhat ashamed in my fellow women, criticizing a girl who is simply being who she wants to be. Her performances may be a bit too risqué and her outfits could use a little more fabric, but who has the right to judge her? She is expressing who she wants to be and is unashamed to do what she wants. I admire Miley Cryus, and I hope she continues to be her true self and ignore everyone who doesn’t like who she is.

Ladies, let’s stop criticizing our fellow women, and come together. Feminism to me is women getting to be who they want to be in a male dominated world. How can we be ourselves, if we are afraid of being judged by other women? Ladies, let’s stick up for our fellow gals and be proud of who we are: women.