It sits as one of the most controversial topics of today among women. When it was first coined, it was meant to empower women to stand up for themselves in the United States to enact the changes that would eventually lead to women’s suffrage, to women making positive and impactful changes to not only the political world, but in general.

As a young woman, I do not find the modern feminist movement fitting to the ideals I hold closely and work to live my life by. Feminism is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes,” but it can be difficult to find this push for equality in a group of women who refuse include those who are pro-life to march in a Women’s March, who would rather show off how they are not shaving than voice support for the women who are bravely standing up for themselves in Iran.

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The time has come for conservative women to take back the word and meaning of feminism in order to restore it to the significance it once had. We need to take it back to meaning the empowerment of women to, in the words of Carly Fiorina, “a feminist is a woman who lives the life she chooses and uses all her God-given gifts.” By doing so, we can bring back the movement of empowerment with the goal of creating equality for women not only in the United States, but over the entire world.

Conservative women are answering modern feminism by fighting to take back its meaning.

United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley is an example of a woman working to empower women across the world and country to stand up for themselves, even take a few names if necessary.

Carly Fiorina has shown that conservative women have a place in presidential elections on the national stage. She has redefined feminism through her advocacy for women to live out to their potential in the workplace, in their personal life, in whatever they may do.

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Elaine Chao, Kirstjen Nielsen, Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Betsy DeVos are showing how powerful conservative women are rising in the Trump administration. 

And all those powerful women are just scratching the surface. Every day, there are conservative women living out to true definition of feminism, redefining it back to the meaning it originally held. They are proving that feminism today is more than what the left shows. It is women who are empowered to live their lives, supporting others and chasing their dreams. They are proving that it is about more than not shaving and wearing pink hats. It is showing women they are capable of fighting for themselves and their worth both in the workplace and in their personal life.

Most importantly, they are keeping their femininity while doing this. These women are carrying out their actions with grace, empathy, and truth, preserving a part of their womanhood. They are making a difference by using what makes them different from men in the best way possible.

I challenge you to join the women of the conservative movement today to bring back the qualities that feminism is truly about and join in with the women who are fighting for true equality and female empowerment.

Bailey L
CABINET MEMBER
Bailey is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who enjoys writing, traveling, and coffee. When she isn't working, you can find her with her nose in a book or planning her next adventure.

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