Feminism is a range of social movements, political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal and social equality of the sexes. It is simply the belief in and desire for equality between the sexes, the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. The main goal of feminism is to challenge the systemic inequalities women face on a daily basis. Feminism has nothing to do with belittling men but work towards equality not female superiority. Feminists respect individual, informed choices and believe there shouldn’t be a double standard in judging a person.
There is the example that in parliament, the minority in decision making is women which is very pitiful because women constitute a majority of the population, so why allow the men to make major decisions concerning women, which they know nothing of. In some careers, women earn less off as compared to their male counterparts for doing the same job which is so unfair. The main idea, we as feminists want to put across, is to acknowledge the different ways men and women are treated although there have been great strides towards equality, women and men are far off from playing on the same field.
Men and women can be feminists. There is the mentality amongst most men that feminism is only associated with the feminine gender. This is absolutely false, there is nothing stopping men from being feminists. The whole idea is to inform people of the need for equality for both sexes, which is not a bad thing and should be encouraged. This could give chances for females around the globe to prove themselves and show forth what they have and can do without any prejudice. For men, I do not understand why they should be against this movement which does not cause any harm to anyone. I think men should be supportive with regards to feminism. Females should be given the chance and that old saying ‘Behind every successful man, there is a woman’ should be checked because we shouldn’t always be behind! We should be given the platform to come to the forefront and share in our ideas on a public scale for own recognition too. We shouldn’t always lurk behind them, instead we should be given the opportunities and be supportive of each other.
Feminism is being who you are without fears of judgement or joke. It has been seen as a threatening movement by powerful women and the media creates negative stereotypes of these powerful women. A misconception about feminism has to do with the argument that women are not the same as men so there can’t be equality. In other words, because their bodies are different, and because men and women have different physical capabilities, these physical differences mean equality is not possible. It’s important to understand that ‘same’ does not mean ‘equal’. The issue here is about equal rights and equal access to opportunities. Men and women don’t have to be the ‘same’ in physicality to have the right to equality.
Misconceptions on Feminism
Some major misconceptions regarding feminism has to do with the concept that it is associated with strong, forceful and angry women, people fear that feminism will mean that men will eventually lose out of power, influence, impact, authority, control and economic opportunities, people believe feminists want to control the world and put men down, many people fear that feminism will overturn time honored traditions, religious beliefs and established gender roles, and that feels scary and wrong and finally people fear that feminism will bring about negative shifts in relationships, marriage, society, culture, power, authority dynamics and in business, job and economic opportunities if and when women are on equal footing with men. I stand to correct these misconceptions concerning feminism.
First of all, feminism isn’t about hating men, that is misandry. A feminist who hates men solely because they belong to the other gender is no true feminist. Just like you don’t have to be an animal to support animal rights, you don’t have to be a woman to support equal rights for women. Men can be feminists too. There is no problem with that and should actually be a prideful thing to do. The fight for feminism is against anybody who supports and implements patriarchy in any form regardless if the person is a male or a female. There are some women who promote regressive notions about how women have, are and will always be inferior to men and that they need to survive in this world as much as anyone else. This is the precise mindset we aim at eradicating as feminists. ‘Men don’t have the benefits of equality either’. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. We should perceive gender on a spectrum, instead of two sets of opposing ideals. If we stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer. It’s about freedom’. According to Emma Watson. ‘Men should take up the mantle so that their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice but also their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too, reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned and in doing so, be a truer and complete version of themselves’. It doesn’t hurt men, it helps them.
Feminism isn’t war of the two sexes
There is no hidden matriarchal agenda that feminism is walking towards. It is not power and supremacy that feminists want, only equality. Feminism isn’t war of the two sexes. It is you standing up for what is right for humanity’s sake. You don’t have to be against one sex to be helping another one. Male feminists are not men against their own gender. As long as it is by choice, they are totally fine with anybody being stereotypically feminine. They are not so much against femininity as they are against women being told how to behave by the society. A feminist is interested in getting married and starting his or her own family just as much as any other person. Feminists are not against marriages, just unequal marriages. Freedom of choice is what feminism stands for, whether that leads a woman to the kitchen or the office. True feminists respect every woman’s choice of who she wants to be; whether she wears a ‘hijab’ or a bikini.
Brethren-In-Christ
Evelyn Elizabeth Dadzoe
GHAMSU UHAS (Member)