The first time the concept of feminism developed in my mind was at the age of ten. It occurred during the sitcom “Saved by the Bell”. As trivial as that show may have been, it taught me my first lesson on feminism. Jessie Spano, a character on the show as self-proclaimed feminist. In her own way, she fought for women’s right. At times she did contradict her beliefs. She was considered a bit eccentric by the other characters (even her friends), and she would have been considered a fraud by the fans of “true” feminists like those of bell hooks. Regardless, Jessie’s constant need to proclaim gender equality and a need to stop the “sexist pigs” from dominating their female counterparts became a reassuring feeling to myself that men are not superior to women. Being female does not make me lower than a male. Society does not have the right to force me to do or believe things because I am not male. Growing up in a culture where male dominance was acceptable, this concept encouraged me to confront the status quo (in my own personal way).
While many
viewers believe Jessie Spano made feminism taboo, I became empowered by it. As
a 6th grader, I demanded for equal playing time for boys’ and girls’
soccer games during gym class. I occasionally wore my “Girls’ Rights” tee
shirt, called boys “sexists pigs” when they insulted my knowledge on baseball
and got in a few fights with boys who tried to belittle me during school. As I
got older, I learned about the negative perceptions of feminism and retracted
from that concept. I have been in constant debates with myself as I still seek
to find my true meaning of feminism and how it can improve gender inequality
and self-esteem in women. In my own way, I still fight for women’s right; I
have new role models but the same belief is still there. But I will never
forget Jessie Spano’s ever-present battle for feminism.
