Feminism is a problem

Feminism, as we know it today, is a problem. And why is that you ask? Well, let me explain. Feminism is a loaded term that means different things to different people

“No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half its citizens.” - Michelle Obama, former first lady of the United States

"I think women have been treated like second-class people, no matter where in the world we go", Priyanka Chopra, Indian actress

"In order to be a man, you have to recognize that all women and all those around you are equal", Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist 

It is a term that is often taken out of context, to represent a wide range of ideologies which can thus lead to a fair amount of confusion around the subject.

"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians." - Pat Robertson, CEO of Regent University

"Feminism is misused in today's time and age and I don't want to go by the bookish definition, I have my own definition" - Kangana Ranaut, Indian actress

And that's the whole point why it is so broadly misunderstood. 

So, let's start with the basics!

Hey Alexa, what's the definition of feminism?

"Feminism is a range of social movements, political movements, and ideologies that aim to define, establish, and achieve the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes."

Let me repeat that! Equality of the sexes. Nothing more, nothing less.

It does not mean women are better than men. It does not mean only women's voices must be heard. It does not mean picking up the tab on a date. It does not mean treating men badly. And it definitely does not mean anti-male protests, bra-burning protests where women grow their armpit hair and reject traditional ideals of beauty.

"If a girl cheats then it is her choice. A girl can slap 4 times but a guy can't slap a girl if she cheats" - Neha Dhupia, Indian actress

Feminism is not about misandry or male-bashing. It is really positive, there is a difference between feminist and misandrist.

Feminism is a word that represents a movement to advocate the equal rights of all gender identities. So, if it is that simple, why is it so misunderstood? Well, for starters, it's kind of gotten a bad rep. We often get stuck in semantics.

FEMINISM ≠ FEMALE ONLY

While the word does include the syllable "fem", it does not pertain to the rights of women only. Much like mankind does not pertain to the existence of men only.

MANKIND ≠ MEN ONLY

Over the years, the word feminism and most of the movements it represents, has come to mean a lot of things. Spanning a hundred and twenty years back, the feminism movement in the west has evolved from acquiring the right to vote, to challenge traditional gender roles. And more recently, it has expanded to cover financial, political, and social inequalities.

In India, however, the meaning of the movement gets further complicated due to the vast diversities within the country.

In a country with so many lines that divide, how has the movement worked to unite the community at large? Tragically enough, the one factor that cuts across all of these boundaries, is violence. Major cases like Tarvinder Kaur's dowry-related murder in 1979, Roop Kanwar's sati-related death in 1987, and more recently, the Nirbhaya gang rape in 2012 shook the public from their usual apathy and triggered outrage across the spectrum to fight for women's rights and liberties. These fiery protests, coupled with the media's sensationalized coverage has further amplified the collective rage to portray the movement as a bunch of angry young women.

If your only connection with feminism is with people who you've seen marching at a rally, you may think that's all that feminists do. But that's not the point of the movement at all. While the feminist goal is to include and create an equal society for all, this radicalized image is often misunderstood and alienated from others what the movement really seeks to do. So, is this why feminism is a problem? Well, yes and no!

Feminism makes so many people uncomfortable because it questions the deep-seated ideologies that have existed in our society for centuries. To say that we must all be equal is problematic for those at the top because it challenges the status quo. However, those at the top aren't to be blamed for this alone. 

People have associated feminism with hate - with man hate - which is really negative and that is why women have become reluctant to the use of this word. By distancing ourselves from the very notion of feminism, we unknowingly perpetuate prejudice and inequality. And that, my dear friend, is the problem. And the worst part? We're a part of the problem. 

If you believe in equality then you are a feminist, sorry to tell you!