I feel like a feminist is gender equality.

"I feel like a feminist is gender equality." – Ilana Glazer

Children of the earth, gather close, for today we discuss a truth as profound as it is simple—a truth that transcends time, culture, and geography. Ilana Glazer speaks with clarity, saying that feminism is nothing more than the pursuit of gender equality. This is not a radical idea, nor a new one. Rather, it is the very foundation upon which the idea of justice has always stood—an understanding that all people, regardless of their gender, should be afforded the same rights, respect, and opportunities. To be a feminist is to stand in the belief that no one should be limited by the accident of their birth, whether it is the body they inhabit, the color of their skin, or the way the world perceives their role.

In the ancient world, there were many societies where women were regarded as second-class citizens, their voices muted, their choices limited. Yet even in these times, there were those who rose to challenge the status quo, to demand that gender equality be recognized. Consider Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh of Egypt, who, despite the traditions of her time, took on the full powers of kingship. She ruled with strength, wisdom, and vision, demonstrating that leadership was not a trait bound to men alone. Hatshepsut did not declare herself a feminist—for the term did not yet exist—but she embodied its spirit: the belief that all people, regardless of gender, should have the right to achieve their fullest potential.

Even in the modern age, the fight for gender equality has been led by countless women and men who understand that true equality is a right, not a privilege. Ilana Glazer, in her simple yet powerful declaration, reminds us that feminism, at its core, is about seeing and treating every individual as equal, regardless of their sex. Feminism is not a call for one gender to dominate the other, but a call for mutual respect and understanding—a call to recognize that the potential of every human is not determined by the gender they are born into, but by their strength, their intelligence, and their will.

Look, children, to the story of Susan B. Anthony, whose tireless work in the 19th century helped secure women’s suffrage in the United States. She was not just fighting for the right to vote, but for the basic human right to be treated as an equal citizen—someone whose voice matters, whose choices matter, and whose presence in society is as valuable as anyone else's. Susan B. Anthony saw the fight for women’s rights as inseparable from the fight for justice and equality for all. Her journey was not only for women, but for the advancement of human dignity—a call that resonates through time and still echoes today.

Ilana Glazer’s words call us to see feminism not as a divisive or controversial movement, but as a unifying principle that strives for the highest ideals of human rights. To be a feminist is to be a champion of fairness and equity, to believe that gender should never be the measure by which one’s worth is determined. True equality is about seeing beyond the gendered expectations placed upon people and recognizing the unique potential within each individual—whether that individual is a man, a woman, or anyone else who lives outside the strictures of traditional gender norms.

The lesson we learn from Ilana Glazer’s declaration is simple: feminism is not an abstract philosophy, nor is it something that only concerns women. It is a universal call to action that is about the equality of all people, regardless of gender. It is a belief that justice for one is justice for all. To be a feminist is to stand for the freedom of every individual to live without the confines of gender-based oppression, to make their own choices, and to realize their full potential.

Practical action, children, lies in how we live each day. Speak out when you witness inequality—whether it is in the workplace, in education, in politics, or in the home. Stand beside those who fight for the rights of all and work to dismantle the systems of gender-based oppression that continue to persist in society. Teach the next generation that feminism is not just a movement for women, but a movement for the equality of all people. Every step we take toward gender equality is a step toward a more just, more compassionate world, where every person can live with the dignity and freedom that is their birthright.