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wea

If you're nota
feminist, then
you re an asshole

>» A humble opinion by a humble person

sd

ones.
That desire for equality bridges the
gender gap as well. Though I cannot speak
for the entire feminist population, I can
say that, for myself, equality doesn’t stop
at promoting women. I want the men I
know to be able to express emotions, to not
feel pressured to have kids or outperform
each other in sexual conquests, to never be
judged or questioned for taking paternity
leave, and to never feel inadequate or
believe they’re failing if they're not the
breadwinner in their household. I consider
all of these notions unfair and unequal.
Saying you're a feminist is not
dismissing more stereotypically
“traditional” values. A housewife can be
just as mucha feminist as a corporate CEO.
Simultaneously, it is perfectly fine if you
are a man who wants that family ideal—2.5
kids in a house with a white picket fence
and a housewife. Good luck affording

in some of these groups
while leaving others alone.
This is because I have my
own identity and I don’t necessarily agree
with the ideology of every group—trans-
exclusionary radical feminism can go

to hell, for example. What unites most
feminists is the idea of equality between
the genders, or at the very least, that
women should not be considered second-
class citizens.

To me, and most feminists I know, it
isn't about claiming superiority over men.
That idea is what I think gets confused the
most. Society uses a wide brush to paint
all feminists as a group of trolls, keen on
luring all the sweet, innocent women of
the world into a life of lesbianism and
ball-busting. In actuality, most of them
simply want what cis men sometimes take
for granted. I’m talking about stuff like
increased wages and bodily autonomy. In
essence, we want to be treated as valued
assets to society, and not compromised

Brittney MacDonald
Life & Style Editor

 

would consider myself a fairly accepting

person. As long as what you believe,
enjoy, or advocate isn’t derogatory or
harmful to anyone else without their
consent, then my motto is pretty much
“live and let live.” There is one exception to
this, however: As harsh as it sounds, in my
opinion if you're not a feminist, then you're
an asshole.

Before you get all up in arms, I’m
not saying you have to bea radicalized
man-hater. I love men. They're so versatile!
They can go from being the greatest of
companions to an amusement park ride
you don't have to pay for (well, maybe you
do; I don’t know your life). My point is, you
don't have to hate men to avoid being an
asshole. Feminism is intersectional and as
a result has a lot of sub-groups within it.
As an individual I have claimed space

Halloween decorations
are excessive

» Homeowners and renters should
use subtler lawn ornaments

exercisers and nature-loving enthusiasts just
want to enjoy a moment of outdoor exercise
without having to be reminded of Michael
Myers or Freddy Krueger.

Apart from joggers and walkers,
exuberant Halloween decorating homeowners
and renters should be mindful of the
young children who might be terrified and
traumatized by their scary decorations.
Imagine the reaction of a small child who’s
enjoying a stroll in their neighbourhood—
only to become terrified at the sight of a large
pumpkin with flickering lights in its carved
out, Jaws-like teeth and eyes. I sense the
emergence of a long, intense cry. I also foresee
parents who now have to spend additional
time to comfort their crying child—as well as
to educate their child about the scary nature
of Halloween at an early age.

Let’s not forget about the person who
might have recently had heart surgery
who decided to take a walk as part of their
rehabilitation. A recent former patient’s heart
could start to beat rapidly and erratically as
they start to feel frightened at the sight of the
extravagant spooky lawn decorations.

Halloween 2019 is now a year away.

Let’s start next year’s countdown with some
empathy for our neighbours and children
who want to enjoy the beauty of our
neighbourhoods.

Naomi Ambrose
Staff Writer

 

D= homeowners and renters. While I
appreciated the lengths and breadths
that you took to decorate your lawns with
Halloween paraphernalia in preparation for
your countdown, I’d like you to consider the
feelings of walkers, joggers, and runners who
would like to enjoy a peaceful moment of
exercise in the neighbourhood—instead of a
cemetery.

Last week, I went fora walk in my
neighbourhood. The air was cool, and the
sun was beginning to set. While I walked, I
observed the beauty of the orange leaves on
the trees and sidewalks and the green yards
that lined the area. That scene was a beautiful
reminder of the loveliness of fall and nature.

Suddenly the beauty and my serene
thoughts were interrupted when I approached
a lawn filled with several types of eerie
decorations—some that ranged from ghosts
and tombstones, to spider webs and skeletons.

While I support a homeowner’s or
renter’s right to decorate their garden, I
believe that they should exercise some
discretion. If someone wants to jog ina
cemetery ora haunted house, wouldn't they go
toa cemetery or a haunted house? Or perhaps

¢ The lottery is a complete waste of
money

e Freddie Mercury biopic completely
misses the point

..and more!

it in Vancouver, but as long as your life
partner wants the same thing, then go for
it. Desiring that doesn’t make you anti-
feminist. Devaluing your partner and
believing that she has to want that is where
that line is drawn. Equality means women
can make whatever choices they want, as
long as it is their choice.

Denouncing feminism, however, is
the same as telling your mother, sister,
wife, friend, or girlfriend that they are
not worthy. That for the pure and simple
reason that they weren't born as cis men,
they will forever be subpar and not good
enough. That their opinions and thoughts
are inconsequential compared to any
man’s—not just a man in power, but any
man—because compared to her, they are
all more powerful.

That denunciation is a stinging slap
across the face of all women—and that
makes you an asshole.

Illustration by Cara Seccafien