As a 13-year-old teenager, who had just started exploring the real world, I must tell you I wasn’t impressed.   

This is my story, about how I came to become a feminist at just the age of 13.    

It all started when one day I was scrolling through Instagram and I saw several videos, addressing the murder of George Floyd by three white policemen.   

I wasn’t sure what had exactly happened, so I decided to search a little bit about this issue, and I came across Racism.    

But I thought “this isn’t my problem” because I have never been discriminated for my skin colour.   

Then a few days later, I noticed a lot of influencers rising on this issue and just as I blinked, I found that there are riots in America right now due to this racial discrimination. I couldn’t help but search for a little issue and that is when I realized that THIS IS MY PROBLEM.   

  

I may have never been differentiated for my skin but there are millions of black people being murdered for no reason, there are people mocking Asian cultures, bullying because of colour in India too and use of the “N-word” which is very commonly said by millions of teenagers without them caring about the fact that it is a slur towards black people (saying it as a joke is wrong too)   

  

Then, I found myself scrolling through Instagram once again. I saw posts about people mocking the singer, Lizzo, for her body. I surfed through the comment section and saw people saying things like “It’s just a joke” “She should exercise” and honestly, I was disgusted that people didn’t care about disorders, body dysmorphia or maybe even that fact that people starve themselves just so that they avoid these jokes.  

  

A few days later, I was going through YouTube and came across a video, wherein, people were debating over the concept of abortion. Half of them were pro-life and half of them were pro-choice. And as usual, I did a little research and found myself so amazed by the fact that people were discussing WOMEN RIGHTS! I was filled with questions: Why would someone even become pro-life when you are trying to take control over a women’s body by saying she is “killing” her child and yet you guys let those kids in poverty starve? I asked and asked but I was answered by no one.    

  

I kind of gave up with a little curiousness in my head and then again here was on Instagram. I discovered a singer, a singer called Harry Styles and he amazed me. I saw a guy painting his nails, wearing whatever he wanted to, putting on makeup, etc. People bullied him for acting “gay” and I was surrounded by questions once again: What’s wrong with painting nails? What’s wrong with boys with skirts? And why are they using “gay” as an insult?          

Going deeper into this, I saw people cyberbullying people who are a part of the LBGTQ+ community, people sexualizing women for wearing shorts, media ignoring rape situations and as I went deeper, I found an Instagram account called “@feminist”.   

And that was it. I knew I had found my people. Most people today think that a feminist is against men, but feminism clearly means “the belief that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men”.  

I knew I was a feminist the moment I saw that account, you know why? Because I was against normalized racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, body shaming, double standards etc. and that is what feminism is all about. We want EQUALITY; feminists never said they want to be as good as men, they just FIGHT for the inequality faced by ALL.   

Ever since then, I have ALWAYS stopped and educated anyone including my family and friends to not make offensive comments, participated in online rallies, signed petitions, and encouraged my own friends by teaching them about the right thing.   

So, I may still be a kid, but I am still proud of the fact that I am someone who cares about everyone and doesn’t ignore such situations. I want to bring a change and if you, a feminist, don’t let yourself speak because someone told you that you are too young, let me assure you, you are wrong.  

 

“If you are an equalist, I am sorry to tell you, you are a feminist”. – Emma Watson