I learned the meaning of shame on a Sunday morning. It began as the kind of terribly mundane day that would normally fade into nothingness in the back of one's mind. I had just gotten out of church. A seemingly endless sermon had finally reached its pinnacle and the large elderly congregation slowly inched towards an exit. I eagerly sifted through the crowd consumed with the thought of  peach cobbler and ice cream that followed nearly every Sunday dinner of my childhood. 

This particular Sunday included a quick stop at the market. My mother, wanting to rush home to start dinner, sent me into the store with a crisp ten dollar bill tucked into the pocket of my new blue church dress.  I walked around the store absentmindedly until finally grabbing a gallon of milk and heading towards the register. I turned the corner and stopped abruptly. Blocking my way was a man in his early twenties. 

Thinking nothing of it I stepped to the side to walk around but was met with a sharp grab at my backside and an eerie laugh. To this day I cannot quite remember what it was exactly that he said to me. The range of colorful slurs was lost in the cacophony of my fear and in the pounding of my feet as I ran to the register, threw the money at the cashier and bolted to my mother in the car.

My mother sat me down that day and explained to me that events such as this were all a part of becoming a woman just as unfortunate as it was unavoidable. After this, I looked at womanhood as an irreparable curse that I had unfortunately been blighted with. The milestones I had once looked forward to had become a long list of burdens. Items I had once associated with femininity; dresses, lipstick, jewelry, had suddenly become cumbersome and conspicuous. I felt lost.

Rather than continue being shameful of my experiences, I looked outward. I couldn't find an outlet in my own surroundings, so I began to find solstice online. Quickly I found that my experiences were not unusual. In fact, they were alarmingly common. It seemed that majority of the girls I talked to knew the same feeling. I discovered the stories of countless other women with stories of  similar harassment and advice on how to handle it. It was there that I encountered my first taste of the modern feminist movement.  

I quickly learned about the various ways in which women around the world faced sexism and discrimination throughout history. However, it seemed evident that majority of the major issues that feminists had fought for had been dealt with.  So the question poses itself, in world where equality is increasing every day, is the modern feminist movement necessary?  

In order to answer this question, one must start at the roots of feminism in its entirety. However modern the current feminist movement may be, the beginning of feminism run deeper than today's interpretation of it.  Some scholars cite the beginnings of feminism as early as 570 BCE, but it only became a clearly identifiable movement in the end of the nineteenth century.  The initial focus of this early form of feminism was by large woman's suffrage.  As time progressed, the feminist movement found an increasing number of issues facing women of the time. Within the next century, the scope of the issues addressed by  the feminist movement grew to include reproductive rights, government legislation regarding social equality. Later stages of the movement began to include women of color, and aspects of other pressing issues of the time such as LGBT rights and environmentalism. (Rampton) Today, the feminist movement has continued in its ever expanding scope with issues such as the wage gap, the sex trade industry, and transgender equality. (Kiefer) 

In addition to an expansion on its issues of interest there has been a change in the format in which feminism and its ideas are spread. Increases in technology and the internet have given rise to the feminist blogger. (Martin) It is through this medium that modern feminism gained much more public attention. With various celebrities and public figures stating their widely ranging opinions on it, and hundreds of articles and youtube videos surrounding the topic in recent years, feminism has garnered praise and skepticism. widely ranging opinions on it, and hundreds of articles and youtube videos surrounding the topic in recent years, feminism has garnered praise and skepticism. 

 In popular media, the skepticism is more than simply present; it is viral. There have been quite a few widely circulating videos depicting men and women who have 'debunked' or 'destroyed' the concept of feminism in a matter of minutes. The speakers in these videos often find feminism to be thinly veiled misandry or cite various ways in which the modern feminist movement is hurting families, women, men, and society overall. An overarching claim seems to be that the feminist movement tends to be incredibly divisive instead of being unifying and that the speakers believe in equality rather than the very flawed feminist movement. 

It seems that there is no push to claim that the modern feminist movement is as #flawless as its famous supporters. Quite to the contrary; there are many easily observable issues. To begin with, there is much doubt in the actual effectiveness of modern feminism. Although there has been an increasing number of feminist organizations, conferences, and meetings, a conclusive amount of social change has not necessarily been observed. Rather, it seems that many of these meetings have morphed into an easy way to capitalize on the vague sense of empowerment found there. Despite the supposed resolve gained from these conferences, majority of the participants return to their homes and make no effort to organize, discuss or 'empower' anyone (Kolhatkar)

Perhaps the lack of action results from the women of the modern feminist movement themselves. There has been an increasing amount of controversy surrounding supposed feminists, their beliefs, and methods. The questionable rise of protests such as 'slut walks' and the section of modern feminists who condemn those who teach preventative strategies and self defense to avoid rape, rather than the more feminist friendly 'teach men not to rape' approach, are two major deterrents for modern feminism (Wilhelm) 

In addition to this, the online communities in which modern feminists seem to convene cause some skepticism as well. Unlike from previous generations of feminism, the current generations issues, concerns, and controversies within the community tend to be shared online through blogging platforms such as Tumblr. While this does present the opportunity for any positive views from the feminist movement to be shared globally, the results tend to be less than desirable.  Rather than taking the opportunity to use this platform to positively impact women everywhere, these online communities are filled with cyberbullying and are largely used to argue over inconsequential issues. The overall tone found in many of the online communities in which feminist ideas are spread is essentially described as incoherent and oversensitive. (French)To begin with, there is much doubt in the actual effectiveness of modern feminism. Although there has been an increasing number of feminist organizations, conferences, and meetings, a conclusive amount of social change has not necessarily been observed. Rather, it seems that many of these meetings have morphed into an easy way to capitalize on the vague sense of empowerment found there. Despite the supposed resolve gained from these conferences, majority of the participants return to their homes and make no effort to organize, discuss or 'empower' anyone (Kolhatkar)

Conversely, it is this sensitive attention to inequality that draws some women to the modern feminist movement. Although many major gains have been made for women around the world, it is the opinion of many modern feminists that there is still work to be done. In some areas, the necessity of this work is obvious; it is nearly impossible to argue that issues such as domestic abuse or child marriage in certain countries need not be dealt with. However, when dealing with inequality in our vicinity, the question of whether or not these issues are caused by sexism arises. The area that demonstrates this conflict most prominently is in the workfield. 

While there may be an increasing amount of women in professional fields, these women are very likely to face sexism and harassment. According to Springer's journal of Law and Human Behavior, up to 90% of  women surveyed faced some kind of sexual harassment within the workplace. Despite an increase in laws protecting women in the last century, there are still women being raped around the globe and a low conviction rate for accused rapists. Considering the lack of progress in this particular area, it is possible that the hypersensitive reactions of modern feminist concerning sex may simply seem to be a defense from this particular inequality that is still so prevalent today. (Reader) 

Outside of the workplace, over 60% of women experience some kind of sexual violence victimization aside from rape. Despite its prevalence, it seems that outside of the feminist community and other communities that are largely associated with dealing with sexual violence victims, the issue is not often a topic of focus. Additionally, it is extremely commonplace to talk about sexual abuse without mentioning the men who have been victims of it as well. Although it can be quick to assume that these victims would be dismissed by the modern feminist movement, the reaction is often the contrary. Many feminists hold the belief that the gender stereotypes surrounding rape are part of the reason why so many male victims fail to report their abuse. The issue of sex and its abuse have long been topics of interest within the feminist movement around the planet. Although feminism is often looked at as a first world movement, its effects and necessity are worldwide (Brown)

When looked at on a global scale, the necessity for women's aid becomes more obvious. UNESCO estimates that there are approximately 62 million girls around the globe with no access to primary or secondary education. (5 Issues) In these areas, a girl's education is more sensitive to cost, making her more likely to be pulled out of school for financial reasons than her male counterparts. This lack of education leads to a cycle of early marriage, childbearing, and poverty which then continues with girls of the following education. This is in sharp contrast to the increased economic empowerment, health, and later marriage ages associated with additional education in girls (King) 

A second poignant example showing the necessity of women's aid globally is found in the existence of child marriage today. Although it sounds as if it were a  --  that should have already been eradicated in modern times, it is still unfortunately present and relatively commonplace. In fact, each year about 15 million child marriages occur around the world. The young girls who are subjected to such marriages, aside from being denied many basic liberties, have much lower chances of being able to receive and complete an education. Additionally, the children that result from these child marriages are likely to follow in the same cycle of child marriage and poverty.  (5 Issues) 

Although these are issues that have long been wiped out in more modern and educated areas of the globe, its presence in today's world is incredibly disheartening. While there may be many women claiming that they do not need feminism today, does it not seem a little rash to claim that it is unnecessary overall? When one considers that these opinions largely come from individuals who have already reaped the benefits of previous generations of feminists actions, it seems apparent that these opinions are coming from a perspective of privilege. Looking at the sheer amount of women receiving unjust treatment, becomes apparent that there is definitely much room for improvement in women's rights around the globe, regardless of whether or not a few first world individuals find it apparent in their own lives. 

Considering all of the inequality towards women that is still present today, it is no wonder that there are still feminists rallying for change. The particular issues of interest vary from place to place and from individual to individual with an overarching theme that despite all of the previous advances towards equality for women, there are still many areas lacking. This points to only one conclusion: there is still work to be done (Reader)

 Although feminist organizations have been looked at as being ineffective in some circles, there are many women benefitting from their actions. In fact, it has become rather commonplace today to hear of battered women's shelters and health clinics specifically dedicated to the needs of poor or struggling women. In some universities, courses or workshops are held to address issues such as domestic abuse and sexual assault on campus. Additionally, there are organizations such as the Domestic Violence Intervention Program or Women in Science and Engineering specifically address women of in certain situations or demographics to help women struggling in these areas (Crane-Williams) Larger organizations such as NOW (National Organization for Women) have addressed a larger demographic of women as well as LGBTQ issues. Despite the supposed ineffectiveness of feminist coalitions, this particular organization was able to branch out into each of the 50 states and encite in the largest women's rights demonstrations in history (Who We Are.)

Judging from its outcomes, the effectiveness of feminism is without question. Over time, there has been an increase in women's rights and it seems that there may always be feminists fighting change. Quite honestly, as long as there is inequality in the world, there will be those who try to stop it. Knowing this now, there are times in which I wish I was able to go back to revisit my twelve year old self and let her know that not only was what occurred terribly wrong, but that it was not her fault. I would let her know that there was entire group of people spanning the globe that believed that no one should ever be made to feel that way. I have this thought often. Its taken me a while to adopt this movement as my own, and although I outgrew my blue church dress I don't think I will ever outgrow the lessons taught to me by feminism. 

