I was watching Democracy Now! a while back and Amy Goodman was interviewing the late folk singer and activist Utah Philips and he made a comment during the interview that has stuck with me ever since:

“The most important movement in the world is the feminist movement. If we can really figure out what’s going on between men and women, the other problems will take care of themselves. I’m sure of it.”

I never gave much thought about the implications of the feminist movement, but hearing this definitely got me thinking. I soon realized there isn’t a country in the world where women do not face some form of oppression. I’m not sure if such universal oppression exists for any other category of human beings. I have also noticed how much pressure society places on women to act and present themselves in certain ways. For all the males out there, the next time you’re out in public, examine the billboards, ads, commercials, and your own views and question the cause of your observations. I know there is only so much I can understand and grasp as a male, but that does not mean an effort should not be made.