alimarko

iamateenagefeminist:

Okay look, feminism is one of the only thing us ladies have in this world. You’ve taken just about everything else. You have the majority in most world governments, you have the majority in most professional careers, you have the majority on TV and in movies and in books. 

You have a million different ways and mediums to talk about your opinions and beliefs. We don’t.

We’re lucky if we have one.

That one is usually a feminist space filled with feminist women. We cherish that space, that time, and those people. We cherish the fact that someone, anyone, is finally listening to us.

We have to listen to you every day. Every damn day. On TV, in Congress, at work, in the bookstore, in class. It’s all about dudes and their dude opinions.

So forgive us for creating feminism and making it a space where women are allowed to talk about their experiences without being interrupted or challenged or corrected by men.     

I know it pisses you off because you think that you’re entitled to an opinion, and that we’re obligated to listen to you. But remember as dudes (and especially as feminist-ally dudes) that you feel that way because society taught you you are entitled, not because you are actually entitled. Remember that feeling entitled and feeling like people are obligated to listen to you is part of white male privilege. Remember that most of us ladies don’t feel that way very often. That for us, it’s a special occasion when someone is listening. It’s not an every day occurrence. Don’t take that spotlight away from us, please. 

If you’re a feminist ally, if you’re a really cool dude, then you’ll realize that your space in feminism is to listen to women and to educate other dudes. It’s not to challenge, educate, or explain things to feminist women. We don’t need you for that.