Feminism: it has become taboo to be one. Feminism is now considered harmful and opposed by most of the men in our society. It is often seen in a negative light, but is it actually this harmful?
Feminism (meaning equality) in India has played a crucial role in shaping gender equality and fighting discrimination. While many perceive feminism as a Western concept, India has had its own unique struggles where women have fought for their rights. If you are an educated person (mind you, not literate; there's a difference; figure it out for yourself), doesn't it astonish you how women across the globe agreed on this topic even after being from different demographics, backgrounds, and so on? It implies that we, all women, were caged with different rules and regulations set in the name of tradition and culture. Doesn't it feel like being referred to as second-class citizens in our own home?
India’s socio-cultural structure has historically been patriarchal, limiting women’s rights and opportunities. There's a stark difference in multiple things, though let's discuss important ones here.
1. Gender discrimination in education and employment- For decades, women in India were denied access to education and economic independence. Feminist movements pushed for gender-inclusive policies.
Example: Female infanticide (watch BBC Hindi coverage on it), though, they always needed women to bear their lineage
2. Violence against woman- From dowry-related crimes to domestic violence, feminism helped bring these issues to the forefront and demand stricter laws.
Example: We read such news every day; now it has become so common that men are not even bothered by it until it happens in their home.
3. Social Taboos and Stereotypes- Feminism helped challenge restrictive traditions like child marriage, Sati, and the stigma around women’s freedom.
Example: Child marriages in ancient India, Roop Kanwar's death incident, and so on. I would definitely suggest you read about this incident and then decide on it for yourself.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: does toxic masculinity exist?
The answer is yes, and it comes from those men who are still denying the existence of feminism or still intentionally or unintentionally supporting it. They are still lacking the emotion to comprehend the hardships faced by women; hence, they are still denying their rights and connecting everything with feminism.
One of the funny things is I saw one of the standup comedy acts done by a female where she beautifully articulated that if men also had periods, we would be celebrating it every month with flexible working hours. I thought it was hilarious at that time, but now I'm slowly realizing it's actually true as well.
I think because of their logical thinking, they can't understand the sufferings and hardships, but the moment it starts to affect them, they start fighting against it. The problem is the mindset and mentality towards the feminist movement, not the men. It's high time to take a stand and support our women against the oppression in society. Promote justice by holding abusers accountable and empowering victims with support. Create a safe, fair society for all and educate them to understand the term feminism. Moreover, the whole new term came into existence because it was much needed to define the oppression.
If you can understand Hindi, I would suggest you watch Feminism Vs Equality: Vijender Masijeevi.
Hope so, you'll enjoy it!
Comments
Post a Comment