The women's studies textbooks from college sit on my shelf, the tops of the pages coated in dust. I don't remember all the facts I learned or the names of all the women we studied.

But I remember the fire it started within me.

I never wanted to call myself a "feminist," because I thought it meant I had to be a man-hating, flannel-wearing wacko. It was probably the first day of class when my professor told us the truth: a feminist is anyone who believes women should be treated equal to men.

We need to stop conditioning girls to think they're incomplete without a boyfriend or that clothes and makeup are more important than school. Girls and boys need to be taught early on that girls aren't accessories, arm candy or trophies.

They need to be taught our history, or "herstory," as the case may be.

We don't have to go back too far. The 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote, was ratified in 1920. Only 88 years ago.

Suffragists like Alice Paul were jailed as they fought to get women the right to vote. When they went on hunger strikes in prison, they were force-fed. They were beat up, threatened and faced all sorts of vitriol from men and women who disagreed with or criticized the suffragists for protesting during a time of war.

My friends know the history, and they'll be reminded of it again.

In the days leading up to an election, I always send them an e-mail, reminding them to vote. I remind them of their feminist roots and how the suffragists, well, suffered for us.

Not using that right to vote is a slap in the face, not only to our foremothers, but to our daughters as well.

With all the attention this year on the presidential election, I don't think I'll have to do much prodding to get people to the polls.

I tell my friends the local races are as important, if not more important, than the presidential election. Local leaders are the ones who make decisions that directly affect you, whether it's building a new public swimming pool or giving tax breaks to incoming businesses.

Don't let ignorance be your excuse. Read about the candidates in The Times. For the presidential election, go to factcheck.org and find out whether Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama are being truthful.

Ignore those Hollywood idiots. We pay them to make us laugh or cry or to jump out of a fiery vehicle at 85 mph -- not to give us their opinion on who should lead our country.

This is a historic election. We're either going to have the first black president or the first female vice president. Be a part of making history. Vote.

Vanessa Renderman covers Schererville, St. John and Dyer for The Times. The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. Reach her at vrenderman@nwitimes.com.