Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, to me, captured a message I have always tried to spread to my close ones. Feminism always has this negative connotation attached to it. It is a dirty word. It is the big F-word. To associate yourself with feminism is to be a man-hater. It amazes me how misunderstood feminism is and how we are not all feminists. Listening to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie speak was a much needed drink of water. She outlines that feminism is not solely about women and their rights. It goes beyond that. It is about gender norms and roles, it is about the acceptance of women as humans with rights. I know one way to capture attention is by talking about how things affect men, so I will begin with that. One point she Adichie brings up is the toxic masculinity that is so often pressured upon men. They are told to be the strong man and to not show feelings because they are weakness. Time and time again this negatively affects young boys who grow up to be lacking in understanding to be strong is to be vulnerable. They are taught misconceptions that only hinder them as they grow. Who really benefits from this toxic masculinity? No one. Another point I quite agree is that not everyone is consciously aware of the problems women face. Unless the person is not experiencing it, then they will remain in the dark. She mentions her friend Louis who, in his obliviousness, argues women and men have made it together. It is not until he faces it does he notice that his previous point is not the case. Awareness and acknowledging is the first step is change.