What feminism actually means and why we all need it
Trigger Warning: Mentions of rape.
The term “feminist” is a scary and confusing word to some, when it really shouldn’t be.
It doesn’t mean that women rule over men, it doesn’t mean that everything a man does is wrong and it doesn’t mean we are ignoring the male POV.
Feminism stands for equality amongst ALL genders.
At the end of the day whichever gender you belong to and if you believe in gender equality then you understand its value and reap its benefits. You are indeed in that case, a feminist.
It wasn’t an overnight process for me, accepting that I am indeed a feminist, especially because there was so much conditioned resistance around me. I had friends and family telling me that this wasn’t the right path. I am so glad I ignored them.
There were many eye opening instances that landed me here. Most had nothing to do with me, though I was never one to just watch my sisters burn. Each instance was objectively unfair and I felt anger like I never felt before.
While this isn’t just a women’s movement, in order to level out the scale there needs to be more weight where we stand. Because more often than not, the scale is unbalanced.
Honestly, the work has to be multifold. The judiciary, medical and social systems need to be rewired to see actual change. We need to see more men taking stands, and to not disregard feminism as just our fight.
Here are some examples that should help you consider my point.
Horrific rape reminds us that rape can happen anywhere where women’s bodies and voices are disregarded.
Seventy-seven rape cases were reported across India on an average every day in 2020, totalling 28,046 such incidents during the year. Overall, 3,71,503 cases of crime against women were reported across the country last year, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) stated.
The above numbers only reflect the incidents that have been reported.
This is why we need feminism.
Infact women being sexually objectified is so normal that when our physical boundaries are crossed a lot goes through our head to justify the offenders actions.
Women are often blamed for being sexually assaulted, it’s either their clothes or the fact that they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Victims are told, sometimes by their own families, that if they stay quiet it is better. They know that apart from their merit being questioned, there is a chance that no one is likely to believe them over the words of a man.
This is why we need feminism.
The family is an important institution in India using gender roles to keep patriarchal systems running smoothly. These roles are meant to be holding the family together, but does this benefit the members, individually?
Feminism is all about choices, and in a household that upholds the patriarchy, options around the roles each family member plays, are limited.
What you can and cannot do in the name of “family” is a product of toxic masculinity. Controlling the way other people choose to live, is a breach of personal choice.
Even just a partnership is hard to attain when one person oppresses the other. A couple with mutual respect can flourish at work and as parents, if they choose to be.
An instance where feminism benefits everyone.
This is why we need feminism.
When it comes to work, women are again left behind. We are seen as incapable in the fields of science, math, business, journalism, law, politics, sports, etc.
Women are entirely capable of bringing so many different things to the table, it’s an injustice to humanity that we do not utilise everyone’s abilities at all times, just because of their gender.
This is why we need feminism.
“The only thing that all feminists have in common is that we are all committed to achieving political, economic and social equality of sex, race and class.”
Feminism encompasses a huge variety of people and positions.
Feminists are religious, atheistic, and somewhere in between.
We are married, single, dating, in open relationships and in polyamourous relationships; we’re LGBTQIA+ and straight.
We’re transsexual, female, male and gender queer; we’re feminine, masculine, all of the above and none of the above.
We’re politically liberal and politically conservative.
We’re young, young at heart and old.
Again, if you believe in equality, you’re probably a feminist.