Feminism, Nazis and urinals: a fight for rights

Graphic by Keena Du.
Graphic by Keena Du.

     In mid-October, a student tore down a Feminism Club sign, brought it into a boys’ bathroom and stuck it inside a urinal. It was discovered soaking wet, ripped down the middle and half-submerged in a pool of urine.  

     The student or students responsible have not yet been identified, but regardless of the guilty party, the message of such an offense is blatantly clear. It is a message beyond mockery, beyond obscenity and beyond excusability.  

     A message worthy of outrage.

     The act of sticking the sign in the urinal suggests that fundamental human rights for women deserve to be inhumanely disrespected, and any attempt to acquire these rights will be met with a vulgar response.

     This mindset has a number of possible causes, all muzzling feminism for different reasons.

     One possible cause is ignorance. Feminism advocates for the equality of men and women, yet some still falsely believe its underlying purpose is to subjugate men. The club is perceived to be dominated by “feminazis,” a derogatory term coined to describe women who demand equal rights.

     Another cause is feeling threatened by empowered women. Women with equal rights impose an unapologetically courageous presence rare in modern-day society, and people of both genders may be anxious about how this change could affect them.

     Tied to this fear lies another cause: misogyny. The most blunt yet deeply-seeded ideology, misogyny expresses a hatred of women.

     Being a feminist entails standing up against the oppression of women and not letting societal inequality continue. Feminism is driven by people who are trying to build a better life for women and for generations of women to come, and that is what the club strives to do.

     Feminism Club is about making the school and community a place that respects women. It is a valuable resource for people to discuss the struggles and sexism they face.

     The sign in the urinal undermines all the understanding, growth and betterment that Feminism Club can provide. Urinals are exclusive to the use of men, and putting the sign in a place removed from women suggests a cowardly unwillingness by the perpetrator to confront his own biases. Feminism is not perceived with the thoughtfulness it deserves, as the fight for fundamental human rights is undeniably essential.