“Chivalry is dead because feminism killed it.”

As I scroll through twitter, I see this tweet that puts me a little on edge. How does feminism kill a man’s decision to be chivalrous? Unfortunately, it is because people claim to be feminists but instead mistake equal rights for power over and emasculation of men.

For any belief you have, it is your responsibility to not only claim, but practice and understand those beliefs. Feminism has been stripped of its strong points of equality and brought down to another popular trend on twitter for opinionated people to hop on just to start an argument. Feminism has become a joke for some people because of how silly so-called feminists have made it seem.

Feminism is not a subject to easily understand and profess to the world. Today it seems as though a 12-year-old girl could be called cute by a boy, take it as an insult, and say “Oh, I’m a feminist,” and think she knows what she’s talking about.  Most 12 year olds are still learning about Hot Topics. Do they really understand feminism? If they take a compliment and turn it into an insult, obviously they don’t understand it at all. Those 12 year olds are not to be blamed though. They’ve been influenced by adults with anti-man agendas.

There is nothing wrong with having a sense of empowerment when trying to take a stand. But if you’re going to do so, your motive should not be to make a man feel bad about himself. Feminism is not an excuse to bash an entire gender just for being.

If you want to be a true feminist, go back to where it all started in the 18th century and look up to true feminist icons like Mary Wallstonecraft, Abigial Adams. If that doesn’t help, look to a true feminist icon of today, Emma Watson, who started the “HeForShe” movement. These driven women have taken a stand for gender equality without having to hate on men to do it.

Women can be just as strong as men without having to shame them for being men. Look at Rosie the Riveter. She was a popular feminist icon during World War 2 and broadened the work force for women. Not one man was shamed in this process and women were finally considered strong and independent.

Feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights and gender equality. It is not a woman’s right to emasculate a man and call it feminism. Chivalry shouldn’t be dead because feminism killed it.