Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

A set of theoretical, social, and political movements that advocate for women’s rights and interests with the aim of establishing equality between the sexes. Feminists see the social, political, and economic inequality between the sexes as unjust on the grounds that men and women are inherently equal.

A common attitude towards women that seems to take their welfare seriously but actually reinforces inequality between the sexes. Feminism Lite may seem to be feminist on the surface since it teaches that men ought to treat women with respect, but it falls short of real feminism because it assumes women are inherently inferior.

The social role that a culture expects from a person or deems appropriate for a person based on their sex. A gender role encompasses a wide range of learned behaviors including the way one dresses, the occupation one engages in, the relationships one pursues, and the attitude one expresses. Gender roles usually focus on the division between masculinity and femininity, although the specific behavior that falls within these gender categories can vary widely from culture to culture.