Do you consider yourself to be a feminist?

That question was posed in one of my classes. Anonymously, we wrote on a piece of paper a symbol showing whether we were male, female or trans-gender, and chose one of the various answers: Strongly yes or no, indifferent, not really or kind of.

Out of about 35 students, the responses were diverse. Many had chosen “strongly yes.” After seeing the results, the professor asked if anyone who chose “strongly yes” would like to explain why they considered themselves to be a feminist. One of the girls in class said she made her decision simply because of the basic idea that women and men deserve equal rights.

Although this definition is accurate, I do not think that a feminist is limited solely to a desire for gender equality. I believe that as a feminist, you hold a constant perspective that affects perception of yourself and your world.

I do not disagree with the beliefs of feminism, nor do I wish to say there is anything negative in considering yourself to be one. What I want to do, however, is open up an alternative perspective, especially when you answer this question.

Despite the goal for equality, which is the basis of feminism, I feel that the label in itself — “feminist” — cannot help but create division.

As a woman, I am aware of many of the hardships and injustices women have faced throughout history, even to this day. But I always have been a firm believer in the idea that holding injustices of any type in one’s outlook on life only keeps those same injustices alive.

To believe that changes in the lives of women are necessary is, of course, valid — it is this mindset that has helped bring women’s issues to an about-face, but I do not want the connection of opportunity and gender to be ingrained in my perception of daily life. So, it isn’t.

Perpetuating the idea of a group identity based on “feminism” only serves to reinforce the mindset of inequality that the generations before us fought so hard to abolish.

I do not carry the beliefs of feminism with me as I walk through life. I carry the belief that I am a human being, and that all human beings face and overcome various struggles.

It may sound naive for me to make such a statement, but I do not see why one group’s struggles should take precedence in my daily life or the world I live in. You could say I’m ignoring reality, that there are lines I need to recognize. But I could point out that these lines are invisible, so why give them the benefit of acknowledgment?

Although I agree with and support the goals of feminism, I do not wish to tie such beliefs to my identity. My identity is made up of various pieces of different shapes and sizes. If I wanted to place a label to every part of my being, to every belief carried within my body and mind, it would be messy.

I experience life through the open eyes of one who desires to see and be seen past the various definitions and categorizations.