I chose to do my research paper on women's rights and feminism. This topic is important to me because as a girl growing up in today's society, I have experienced and witnessed the violation of rights. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Women's rights ensure that women do not face discrimination on the basis of sex. Until the second half of the 20th century, women in most societies were denied some of the legal and political rights afforded to men. Although women in much of the world have gained important legal rights, many people believe that women still do not enjoy complete political, economic, and social equality with men. Throughout much of the history of Western civilization, entrenched cultural beliefs have allowed women only limited roles. Feminism as a defense of women's rights in today's society What is feminism? Merriam Webster's dictionary defines feminism as the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. The definition of women's rights states that women's legal, political and social rights are equal to those of men. A common idea associated with being a feminist is to destroy status in the esteem of men to empower women, or being a “feminazi.” Feminists aim for equality and not for the superiority of women over men. “Feminazi” is spread in the media by people who may not understand the difference. During a women's march in Washington DC, around the time Trump was elected, Ashley Judd gave a speech titled "I am a bad woman." He's citing a 19-year-old girl named Nina Donovan who lives in Tennessee. Ashley Judd is a very serious feminist. In her speech she says she is a “bad woman”, meaning she is not afraid to fight for equality and women's rights. Did you know that women of color get paid less? This is called the gender gap, the definition of gender gap is the discrepancy in opportunities, status, attitudes, etc. between men and women. Women are still paid 80 cents for every dollar a man is paid, for the same job and the same qualifications. The gender wage gap is different for women with different levels of education and for women of color. Black and Hispanic women are paid just 65 cents and 59 cents to the white man's dollar. Additionally, men are more likely to get a promotion than a woman, even if she is more qualified. Not only are women paid less, but they do not receive equal benefits. Many large companies refuse to cover the cost of IUDs, which can be as much as $900. Birth control can cost more than $25 a month. Intrauterine devices are used to prevent pregnancies. Birth control can be used for the same thing, but birth control is also used to regulate menstrual periods, treat endometriosis, treat primary ovarian failure, and can treat amenorrhea and even prevent acne from forming . When you take birth control, you are also less likely to deal with anemia. These, among many other things, are many of the reasons why girls and women use birth control. For example, Hobby Lobby says they won't pay for contraceptives because it violates their religious beliefs, which might be understandable. However, they pay for vasectomies and Viagra for men. A vasectomy is a procedure performed on a man to prevent the woman from becoming pregnant. An IUD and a vasectomy achieve the same goal. They both comeperformed to terminate pregnancy, so why is one supported but not the other? Birth control is also necessary for other health reasons. So how can they claim religious belief if they pay for male contraception, but not female contraception? Outside of the workplace, women pay more for items. For example, tampons and pads are taxed as luxury goods, while Viagra and Rogaine are not. I'm not sure what's so luxurious about menstruation, but I know that paying for those items is expensive. For example, let's say you buy them from Walmart, which claims to be one of the cheapest stores. If you buy a box of Udi Kotex tampons and a box of pads, they cost $9.27 each, assuming you buy the medium box and medium items. If you buy them every two months, every year from age 12 to age 60, that's $5,339.52 before tax. This is even if the price doesn't increase, which it does. Another problem is razors. A four-pack of Gillette Mens razors costs $5.97. While a three-pack of Gillette women's razors costs $6.97. We pay more for less. Companies can do this because these are items that women need and are willing to pay for. Even if it doesn't seem like much, it adds up. The media has spread the word “Feminazi”, which associates people who seek gender equality with people who want to destroy men to build women. Being a feminist means hoping and defending the quality of everyone; people who identify as male, female, or neither. However, the media is not always negative because it has helped provide feminists with a platform to work on. For example, on January 20, there was a women's walk in Seattle in the media, and the connection between people spread the word throughout Washington. The media has also given women the opportunity to connect with others who have gone through the same experiences as them, when they may not have had the opportunity to do so before the rise of the Internet. For example, #MeToo is a trend that connects victims of sexual violence in over 70 countries and gives victims a chance to be heard. These are some things anti-feminist women have said. Most of the negative things said about feminism are usually wrong, as if the last one depends on who you are talking to, again, feminism is about gender equality and not the superiority of women. The second is interesting because it states that by having freedom, the woman is no longer mysterious, thus losing her charm, which basically means that women are only interesting when they have to depend on a man or have no rights at all. Just like any other group or idea, feminism has people who are against and do not support its ideas and beliefs. Sexual harassment plays an important role in equality rights. People are raped and sexually harassed, and it's not just women who are the victims. A study conducted by RAINN, The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Networking, states that every 98 seconds an American is sexually assaulted and every 8 minutes the victim is a child. Only 6 out of 1,000 offenders will end up in prison. RAINN also states that 9 out of 10 rape victims are women. These are only the reported cases; many more are happening. According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome or unwelcome verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature, especially by a person in authority toward a subordinate. It can range from being harsh and repetitive at work or school to being honked at or yelled at while walking down the street. Personal thoughts and conclusions.