Feminism: Shift Towards Inclusivism

Feminism defined is, “the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.” During International Women’s Month, feminism is a recurring topic of discussion. Being that the month is an international holiday, women all around the globe are being celebrated.
Despite the intentions of the month being inclusive to all women, feminism is sometimes criticized for a lack thereof. The poster woman for feminism is far too often depicted as a blonde-haired, young, white woman fighting the wage gap and urging others to “free the nipple.” While this may be a small part of what feminism is meant to represent, the picture is much broader than many perceive it to be.
In the fight for equality, no woman should be left behind, hence the need for inclusiveness. A lack of inclusiveness creates a lopsided imbalance of feminism, where only the privileged reap benefits. True and righteous feminism must be representative of women of all races, lgbtq+ women, those in impoverished countries, young and old women, both the conventional and unconventional woman.
While feminism in its current state lacks some inclusivity, with international progress slowly but steadily being made, that is sure to change. More specifically, as far as international advancements go, a recent changing of laws now permits women in Saudi Arabia to drive. More abstractly, pro-life vs. pro-choice conversations also play a role in expanding inclusiveness in feminism. Both sides of the coin may have moral and sound reasoning, other than being an issue of perspective. However, to be pro-choice is to stand for the rights of the woman, while being pro-life is to stand for the right of the state’s.
On the other hand, inclusiveness also entails respecting women as women regardless of lifestyle choices. A self-proclaimed feminist cannot both fight for the equality of women and simultaneously judge a woman for her sexual orientation. Similarly, a feminist cannot judge a woman for her religion, or body shame her appearance. Womanhood is not something that can be given or taken away by the judgment of another.
Inclusivism in feminism simply means that all women deserve equality, and not only those for which it is the most convenient. In order to achieve this, it is vital that freedom of expression and self for all women is taken into account to progress.
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.” -Maya Angelou