Feminism is the term used a lot nowadays. We can find it in many places, and like many other terms, this term is also slowly getting stereotyped. For some people, feminists are men haters, anti-fashion, people who like to blame all miseries of women on men, and who want to make this world a female-dominant place to take revenge for years of male dominance. For some, feminism is an anti-men movement. Some are utterly confused as to why feminism is even needed. One can find many groups supporting feminism at the same time opposing it, some even hate feminists because of their demand for gender equality in society. I consider myself a feminist and I don't fit into any of these stereotyped definitions. For me, feminism is a very simple thing, it's advocacy for equal rights for women, a movement for gender equality. Feminism expects gender equality, nothing more, nothing less, equal opportunities for all genders in all fields, and encouraging their participation at all levels in society. That's all, anyone who believes in this or in gender equality is a feminist according to me.
Actually, the basic question is why do we need feminism? Isn't our society already progressive, technically advanced, and civilized? Isn't the situation of women in most cultures and societies much better than it was just a decade ago? Then why do we still need feminism? Yes, we have indeed made tremendous progress in science and technology in the last few decades, we have also improved our social structure in most parts of the world compared to what it was just a few decades ago, but still, some people want women to play only certain role in society and family (mostly wife and mother). They are against her freedom to make her own choices about various aspects of her life. These people, even want to dictate choices about very personal things like her sexuality, health, and fertility. They take shelter from some religious book or some age-old beliefs to justify this encroachment on women's personal rights. These groups are still very powerful and active and to deal with them we need feminism and we need it very badly even today. So there is no doubt that we still need feminism.
Anyone who thinks that women should get equal rights and opportunities in our society is a feminist. Anyone who thinks women are no less or more than men is a feminist. One does not have to work with some NGO, part of some political party, or member of some society to be a feminist. The belief in gender equality is enough to become a feminist. Feminists are not men haters. I don't know where and why this misconception originated. Feminists don't want to bring a women-dominated culture or society, they just want equal rights for all genders. Most societies are still men dominated that's why sometimes during the fight for gender equality it seems that this fight is against men, but that's not true, it's not a fight against men, but it's a fight against everyone (including women, religion, traditions, etc.) who think that women are inferior to men and should not be given equal status in society. The real fight is against this mentality (also called patriarchy or misogyny). It doesn't matter who is the flag bearer of patriarchy or misogyny, mostly they are men that's why I think this wrong impression is created. Wherever we see gender discrimination, we should voice our concern, discrimination of any type should be challenged. There should not be a place for any kind of discrimination in any progressive, tolerant, and inclusive society.
I am proud to be a feminist and I hope more and more people will understand the real meaning of feminism and feel proud to call themselves feminists. Whether you call yourself a feminist or not, I hope you will stand with me in the fight for gender equality. The label is not important but the mission is. We still need feminism as we have a long way to go.
[Copyright: Vinay Thakur. Please contact the author for re-posting or publishing]
Actually, the basic question is why do we need feminism? Isn't our society already progressive, technically advanced, and civilized? Isn't the situation of women in most cultures and societies much better than it was just a decade ago? Then why do we still need feminism? Yes, we have indeed made tremendous progress in science and technology in the last few decades, we have also improved our social structure in most parts of the world compared to what it was just a few decades ago, but still, some people want women to play only certain role in society and family (mostly wife and mother). They are against her freedom to make her own choices about various aspects of her life. These people, even want to dictate choices about very personal things like her sexuality, health, and fertility. They take shelter from some religious book or some age-old beliefs to justify this encroachment on women's personal rights. These groups are still very powerful and active and to deal with them we need feminism and we need it very badly even today. So there is no doubt that we still need feminism.
Anyone who thinks that women should get equal rights and opportunities in our society is a feminist. Anyone who thinks women are no less or more than men is a feminist. One does not have to work with some NGO, part of some political party, or member of some society to be a feminist. The belief in gender equality is enough to become a feminist. Feminists are not men haters. I don't know where and why this misconception originated. Feminists don't want to bring a women-dominated culture or society, they just want equal rights for all genders. Most societies are still men dominated that's why sometimes during the fight for gender equality it seems that this fight is against men, but that's not true, it's not a fight against men, but it's a fight against everyone (including women, religion, traditions, etc.) who think that women are inferior to men and should not be given equal status in society. The real fight is against this mentality (also called patriarchy or misogyny). It doesn't matter who is the flag bearer of patriarchy or misogyny, mostly they are men that's why I think this wrong impression is created. Wherever we see gender discrimination, we should voice our concern, discrimination of any type should be challenged. There should not be a place for any kind of discrimination in any progressive, tolerant, and inclusive society.
I am proud to be a feminist and I hope more and more people will understand the real meaning of feminism and feel proud to call themselves feminists. Whether you call yourself a feminist or not, I hope you will stand with me in the fight for gender equality. The label is not important but the mission is. We still need feminism as we have a long way to go.
Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.
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