Let’s be real:

Whenever someone says the word “feminism”, most men, and even some women, roll their eyes and picture a group of bossy, unshaven females picketing and shouting why they hate the opposite sex.

This textbook reaction is not only sensational, it is exactly why we need feminism.

Before you wave off this article as misandric propaganda, think about how our daily language enables this patriarchal society that still thrives.

Just last week, my younger sister’s best friend told us a story about her critical thinking class here at Sac State. With the mention of equal rights for women, a young man laughed and said, “Women should just know that men are superior.”

This is just the tip of the iceberg- possibly the same one that sunk the Titanic.

Every day, people are using adverse adjectives that basically allow this boy to believe he is fundamentally better than the females surrounding him.

When a woman in the office or classroom takes charge, she is called a bitch.

When a woman decides that yes, she would like to have sex with you but not necessarily be your girlfriend, she gets branded as a slut/hoe/bimbo etc.

When she decides that no, actually, she’d rather not have sex with you, she is friend-zoning.

Ladies, you label your peers as well.

How about that woman who has a strong opinion about something? Yeah, she’s a bitch.

Or that girl who wears a short skirt or a cleavage-revealing top? Ugh, why are you wearing that around my boyfriend? Slut!

The list goes on and on to comprise of the ways we all vilify a woman for anything she says and any decision she makes.

How about that rape-culture everyone is sick of hearing about?

“She was asking for it”, “if she didn’t want that to happen she should have stayed home”, “she was drinking that night, that makes you more susceptible to rape” or the unforgettable golden nugget that is Congressman Todd Akin’s viewpoint: “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Ok, so as a whole we can agree that Akin is delusional. But the point here is we as a society are victim-blaming from the start.

Why are we taught at an early age to cover our drinks when we go to a party? Don’t accept drinks from that shady-looking guy at the bar; Don’t wear that dress/skirt/shirt, etc. you’re giving the wrong idea; Don’t walk alone at night.

Our parents, educators, friends and grandmas mean well, but the problem lies solely with the perpetrator. How about instead, we teach our children to not rape? How about we teach our children that it is not ok to call others names? How about we teach our children that every person deserves basic respect? (Unless they are a jerk, but then we just won’t invite them to our Harry Potter-marathon party.)

Women’s inequality has existed since long before we were born, and although we may not suffer from ridiculous laws like being fired from our jobs if we’re pregnant or not being able to get a credit card because we are female (hello, Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 and Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974!), we still are seeing every day mistreatment.

We need to stop putting in our headphones when someone mentions the word “feminism”, and stop making women victims. Small changes in the way we speak about the women around us is one small step in this revolution.

You know that saying we learned as kids, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all”? Well, let’s vigorously exercise that practice; mom would be so proud.