Modern feminism is making me tired

I have been an avid supporter of feminist movement, I have absorbed knowledge from Simone de Bouvier, bell hooks and Gloria Steinem. I have battled men and women who have aimed ignorance at me based solely on my gender. I have been a victim and a front line supporter of women's rights both mentally and physically and now I am tired of where this is going.

Let me explain; my understanding and support of feminism has always stemmed from the fact that it needed to be OK and acceptable to be a woman in our world. Whether that meant I wanted to be a stay-at-home mother or a CEO, feminism was my ticket (as a woman) to getting the rest of the world on board with understanding that I am capable of whatever I choose to become, however I choose to express myself. 

The other day, I found a social media discussion surrounding a "controversial picture" of little girls holding hands with "Happy girls are the prettiest girls" written underneath it. It was cute, it was sweet, it was meant with good intent, yet piles of women tore this picture apart with the argument that the creator of this picture was promoting the idea that women can only be pretty if they're happy. Enough already! While a piece of me understands the sentiment behind their objection, the majority of me wants to throw my hands up and say, "Stop it!" 

Women all over the internet spent the majority of last week calling Miley Cyrus every ugly name under the sun, yet still deigning to call themselves "feminists." Let me tell you something, that kind of ugliness and hate does not sustain any kind of movement.

If I'm struggling carrying a heavy load and a man walks up offering a hand,  dammit, I'm going to let him help and I'm going to do it with a smile on my face. I am, after all, human - and sometimes I need a little help. I support you, no matter what you choose to do with your life (so long as it's not physically damaging or taking the life away from another human being) I say go for it. Let little girls hear the message that happiness is beauty, because if I've learned anything from life I have to say that happiness is an essential piece in beauty. Lastly, let Miley Cyrus (or any other woman for that matter) express herself however she chooses, if it doesn't hurt you and if you have the choice to take part or not, then let it be. 

We are all navigating this world on a very tight rope, we are all learning how to be women (and men) as we go along. The feminist movement that I support, supports women.