I am about to lie to you.

We have progressed from a male-dominated culture to one where women are completely free to wear anything they please without judgment, to make out with a man without being contractually obligated to put out and to drink however much they choose opposed to the amount that is “safe.”

The only truth in that sentence lies in the first three words. We have progressed, but not as far as to say sexual judgment and social prosecution doesn’t exist for women.

In the midst of this negativity, psychology sophomores Courtney Brandabur is championing female empowerment.

She launched her project, “Girl Warrior: A Body-Positive Approach to Loving Your Beautiful Self,” on Facebook in late February and invited more than 200 women to her photo shoots. The shoots focus on capturing each woman doing what makes her feel beautiful. Brandabur plans to use them as part of a future educational program.

This kind of activism shouldn’t be news. Instead of our usual perpetuation of gender roles through subconscious treatment, we need more people like Brandabur willing to face the issues head-on and make changes.

I’m not saying everyone needs to pick up a camera and take pictures of women doing things they love, although that would be great. What we need is fewer women tolerating gender stereotypes that don’t apply.

For example, I’m a horrible cook and being told by my male friends to get back in the kitchen and learn is getting old.

Yes, I need to learn to cook for practical reasons, like survival. But telling me, or any woman for that matter, to make someone a sandwich because of a chromosomal difference is not a great way of encouraging people to educate themselves about an important life skill.

As far as I’m concerned, men need to learn to cook, clean and take care of children if they choose, just like I should be good at hunting, driving a truck and self-defense if I want.

Men are a part of the losing side of the equation, too.

You hate shooting guns? Wimp. You don’t like football? Girly. You cried at a movie? Sissy.

All of these insults are female attributes, which speaks even less favorably for men who want sympathy in their gender-based plight.

And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m the only female who writes for The Daily Reveille’s opinion section. It has nothing to do with my editor choosing men because he wants to stifle the female voice.

There aren’t enough women who have been encouraged to speak their minds from a young age, who have been able to convey their opinions in a coherent manner.

Next time you listen to a woman take a stance, listen to what she says afterward. Most of the time, she’ll make an excuse for it, or apologize.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told to sound more assertive and stop putting disclaimers at the beginnings of thoughts.

Despite how unbelievable that sounds in the 21st century, it’s true. Women are still supposed to be politically correct trophies to show off for the most part, as someone’s daughter or wife.

It is still not assumed that women will take active roles in their lives. College? A place to meet a suitable man for some, a man to which a father can pass his prize property.

So come on, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s all be Girl Warriors like Brandabur and the women featured on her website.

Men, don’t be afraid. You can be warriors right alongside us.

Let’s steal from Brandabur’s manifesto and believe in our beauty, in everyone else’s beauty, be strong and vulnerable and not judge feelings.

Above all else, let’s not be sorry for it.

Megan Dunbar is a 19-year-old English junior from Greenville, S.C.