In the late 1990’s, a group called The Spice Girls was manufactured by the music industry.  The Spice Girls were made up of five young, talented, and beautiful women, playfully named: Ginger Spice, Sporty Spice, Posh Spice, Scary Spice, and Baby Spice.  The idea was to sell these women to the world as independent, strong, feministic women.  The Spice 
Girls were to represent women from the whole spectrum.  However, The Spice Girls were nothing like the majority of women today.  The five girls pranced around in skimpy outfits, showing off their perfect bodies.  The girls attempted to show how they were imperfect yet remained strong, and needed no one but themselves.  The image that was being sold of these women was something different than what they were saying.  All anyone saw was five perfect people, not their imperfections.  They were never shown crying and alone, when they hated themselves or how they were treated behind closed doors.  These women were nothing like the average woman, but many women bought into the ‘Girl Power’ idea, and felt empowered by the thought of being alright with who they were, and how they looked, because they had girl power.  The truth quickly showed itself and women didn’t see themselves any different, they were still the same tired people when they looked in the mirror; girl power or not.

In America the women’s movement, otherwise known as feminism, started because women weren’t allowed to vote.  Feminists organized huge rallies and large colorful parades, which were particularly well liked at the time, to draw attention to the fact that they weren’t just frivolous creatures, they were strong, intelligent, and smart people.  Fortunately, these demonstrations worked, men soon realized the strength it took for women to face their oppressors, and opinions started to change on a political level.  Soon, after it was accepted that women had the strength and dignity to deal with politics, other issues surfaced including educational and work issues.  Over the years women gained acceptance on an intellectual level.  However, women’s demands have increased.  Feminism is no longer a fight for political acceptance, or education, or work; feminism is a fight for individuality.

Feminism is not what most people think it is.  People have a general idea of a feminist marching in a picket line shouting left wing semantics.  The image of feminism is of an ugly, lesbian, totally jaded by how society has treated her.  In reality, feminists come in every shape, color, and height.  They are ugly, beautiful, skinny, fat, blonde, brunette, redhead; unlike The Spice Girls, feminists do cover every inch of the spectrum.  The majority of feminists are fighting their own battles silently.  They are not publicly loud, don’t protest, and are of all political backgrounds.  Being a feminist is about being accepted for who one is, how one looks, what one thinks, what one wants, and what one does.  It’s about being accepted, not only by the world in general, but mostly by oneself.  It’s about gaining self-respect and a healthy self-image, it’s about being able to take a bite of food and not feel guilty, about being all right with walking into The Gap and proudly asking for a size 12.  Being a feminist is about being comfortable enough with ones self to be open to change.  It’s about presenting ones self to the world, in a proud and intellectually beautiful manner.  Being a feminist is so many things, but the one thing it’s not is merchandise.

When it comes down to it the women who are feminists will continue on with their crusade long after the hype of The Spice Girls and ‘Girls Kick Ass’ merchandise is gone.  They will continue to fight for their right to eat, and be beautiful in their own respects.  Feminists will always remember who they are, and will be able to look back and appreciate what the women of the past have done for women’s liberation, long before it was a fad.  Feminism will always be about ones self and ones acceptance.  Feminism will never be about what one buys, or what the music and fashion industry says is feminism.