By Elvis Montano
Yo no soy feminista para ser más inteligente,
Soy feminista para ignorar un poco menos.
Yo no soy feminista para sentirme superior,
Soy feminista para la idea radical de que las mujeres son personas.
Yo no soy feminista para odiar a los hombres,
Soy feminista para buscar justicia para las mujeres.
Yo no soy feminista porque soy resentido,
Soy feminista porque soy apasionado.
Yo no soy feminista porque estoy en contra del matrimonio,
Soy feminista para que las madres puedan tener una mejor maternidad.
Yo no soy feminista para ajustarse a la sociedad,
Soy feminista para luchar contra los sistemas de opresión.
Yo no soy feminista para apoyar solo a las mujeres,
Soy feminista para que todos, incluidos los hombres, puedan beneficiarse.
Yo no soy feminista para favorecer la blancura,
Soy feminista para admirar la belleza de las
Afromexicanas como Lupita Nyong’o.
Yo no soy feminista para estar callado,
Soy feminista para ser escuchado como Lydia Cacho.
Yo no soy feminista para estar contento con el presente,
Soy feminista para un futuro mejor como la presidente Dr. Claudia Shienbaum.
Yo no soy feminista porque vaya a ser mejor persona,
Yo simplemente soy feminista porque soy feminista.
Soy feminista para venerar y recordar a mis antepasados,
Para ser lleno de creativa como Frida Kahlo
Para ser lleno de energía como Selena Quintanilla
Para ser lleno de valentía como Gloria Anzaldúa
English Translation
I Am Simply a Feminist Because I Am a Feminist
I am not a feminist to be more intelligent,
I am a feminist to ignore a little less.
I am not a feminist to feel superior,
I am a feminist for the radical notion that women are people.
I am not a feminist to hate men,
I am a feminist to seek justice for women.
I am not a feminist because I am bitter,
I am a feminist because I am passionate.
I am not a feminist because I am against marriage,
I am a feminist so that mothers can have a better motherhood.
I am not a feminist to conform to society,
I am a feminist to fight against systems of oppression.
I am not a feminist to support only women,
I am a feminist so that everyone, including men, can benefit.
I am not a feminist to favor whiteness,
I am a feminist to admire the beauty of Afro-Mexicans like Lupita Nyong’o.
I am not a feminist to be silent,
I am a feminist to be heard like Lydia Cacho.
I am not a feminist to be content with the present,
I am a feminist for a better future like President Dr. Claudia Shienbaum.
I am not a feminist because I am going to be a better person,
I am simply a feminist because I am a feminist.
I am a feminist to venerate and remember my ancestors,
To be full of creativity like Frida Kahlo
To be full of energy like Selena Quintanilla
To be full of courage like Gloria Anzaldúa
About the Author
Elvis Montano is a Women’s and Gender Studies minor, soon to be graduating from West Chester University. Elvis wanted to submit this poem that they wrote for a course entitled, Feminist Theory, with Dr. Lisa Huebner. The poem is a reflection piece about what they learned as a WGS minor. They wanted the poem to be bilingual so Spanish speakers could read and understand it.
The intended audience is 8 to 14 year old Spanish speaking children, so they can understand basic principles of feminism, as well as incoming students looking to major/minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Elvis hopes this poem inspires others to write. Elvis also wanted to introduce readers to Mexican women by highlighting people like Lupita Nyong’o, Lydia Cacho, Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum, Frida Kahlo, Selena Quintanilla, and Gloria Anzaldua.