Am I a Feminist?

So last Sunday I went to an AWAM [NGO on women's rights] workshop. It was on Women, Gender & Christianity. I went to the previous one they held last month which focused on Islam. It has been interesting involving myself in this open discussions on gender and religion.

Some of us are Muslims, Christians, Hindu and Atheists. Some liberal, some conservative and some everything in between.

I discovered I am much more liberal than I think. I actually read the Bible, studied the lines and even discussed topics like the religious hierarchy and history of other religions. It was fun, in an intellectual kind of way. When I was thirteen, I warned my eldest brother not to touch the Bible we found in the hotel room in fear of conversion. Who knew what we would be tempted to do? Yes, I was stupid and a bit shallow. But that has changed, of course. Seven years made all the difference I need.

During lunch, one of my friends in the workshop, Elizabeth, asked me - "so are you going to be a feminist lawyer?"

I hesitated at the answer. First off, I am not sure if I'm going to end up as a lawyer. Second, I'm not even sure if I'm a feminist.

I am outspoken, yes, and very opinionated. I hate when people say certain genders meant and not meant to do this and that. It doesn't matter if he/she was talking about a male of female. Doesn't make a difference. For example - he's a dude, of course he should do the heavy work & she's a girl, so she should cook the meal. Bullshit. Even if he's a dude but if he happens to be of small size and weak, he shouldn't do the heavy work. And if the girl sucks at cooking, don't let her cook.

I hate all generalizations on gender roles. The one I hate most is surely the myth that guys are hornier than girls. Sooooo not true. I know. Me and Palah are the living proofs.

So am I a feminist or not?

I read books on feminism and find myself agreeing with most of the ideals they represent. But still, that doesn't make me a feminist. Same goes to reading romantic books - it doesn't make you a romanticist per se, does it? Aside from feminism, I'm also much into history and philosophy and art and theology. So mix that all up and what do you get?

A book geek with a super tendency to curse and question everything around her?

Yeah, that's about it.

So I guess I'm a non gender-specific feminist? Or a liberalist? Or just a plain humanist? Heck, I don't even know. Labels are not at all important. If we can name our crazily-setup mindset into one word, then the world won't be a place worth living in. To restrain your actions into one label would most likely be BORING with a capital B.

I am too young for this. Until I reach my 20th birthday in the next three months, I am technically and legally and socially still a TEENAGER! So why the fuck am I worrying about all this shits? Am I not supposed to obsess myself over Twilight, imagine my life as Bella Swan-wannabe and swoon over Rob Patz who can't seem to have enough make-up on his already pale face?

Euww... puke alert!

Feminist or not, what's important is that I believe people should be treated based on their meritocracy and how they treat others. And no one has the right to decide on how a person should live based on gender, race, blood, background, status etc etc. It is supposed to be that simple, is it not? Right?

Now I have to stop being soooo serious.

Bak kata Jessie J - "why is everybody so serious!"

p/s: I think she's prettier than Lady Gaga. Let's just hope she won't shave her head, then. I used to love Gaga's hair so much before she goes bald with that fugly wig. Sorry Palah.