Are you a feminist? Asked by many, my answer’s always been the same, I believe in equal rights & access to opportunities.
There are many interpretations and definitions of ‘Feminism’. One, poles apart from another. Amidst the myriad definitions, misconstrued notions, uproar, arguments & rallies, I believe the crux of the matter and the purpose is lost.
“I myself have never been able to understand what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.” – Rebecca West
Feminism doesn’t mean being vociferous. It’s about being a voice to the unheeded whispers and the despondent silence.
“Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong.It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.” – G.D. Anderson
Feminism believes typecasting & stereotyping, expectation to follow a certain path should not be only for human being of a particular sex. The decision making patriarchal society is the biggest shackle women have been trying to break free from.
Feminism doesn’t mean women aping male chauvinistic attitude. Cigarette for a cigarette, one hurled abuse for another will not create equality. It’s about just letting a person be.
“Equality is not a concept. It’s not something we should be striving for. It’s a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women, and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who’s confronted with it. We need equality. Kinda now.”
― Joss Whedon
Women for women
“My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces, and viewing them as if they were in a state of perpetual childhood, unable to stand alone.”
― Mary Wollstonecraft
In Nigeria, even after kidnapped girls escape Boko Haram (Nigeria’s militant Islamist group), reintegrating into society is a big test – Quartz Africa
Coming together & backing each other can help build a foundation to fight misogyny. Accepting and supporting victims rather than ostracizing them will encourage others to come forward, report crimes and seek help.
The wildly widespread #MeToo & Time’s Up campaign further reiterate this fact.
The power to choose, to decide and be vocal about opinions is immensely strong and undeniably important. So strong that a country vests it in each of it’s citizen to choose the ruling government. Such a fundamental right for all women is what feminism advocates.
If this is how Feminism is perceived, then yes I am a Feminist.
