Why do we need feminism?

Feminist protestors (source-History.com)

In one of my previous articles, “Feminism, Pseudo Feminism and Misandry”, I emphasised on the difference between the three words and how often they end up getting mixed. I also wrote about how due to pseudo feminism the actual motive of the #Metoo movement has lost momentum. In the following article, I will talk about why in the progressive 21st-century feminism is still needed.

Recently on Instagram, we came across a “humanitarian” ( you know her), who in her videos makes only partial sense and goes on saying controversial things without the potentiality of welcoming constructive criticism. In a video, she says ” gareeb se gareeb ghar ki ladki bhi IAS officer banne a sapna dekh sakti hai” ( a girl belonging to an impecunious household is ‘allowed’ to dream of becoming an IAS officer), that is rightly said but my question is that can a destitute girl with prevailing social, cultural and economic factors actually turn that dream into a reality? keeping in mind, Female foeticide, Rape,  Harassment of women at the workplace, Acid attacks, Child marriage, early pregnancy and the list of crimes against women are even longer. FACEPALM.

Next, she chooses to include Rural women in the picture citing that their only necessity is roti, kapda and makan . She bases her statement on the unawareness of rural women when it comes to a topic like feminism and it is obvious that there is an urgent need to address this topic and aware rural women of their rights and the opportunities that are and will be available to them. I came across a video on Instagram where a group of rural men were beating a 16-year-old girl with sticks. One of them grabbed her garment to undress her. This makes evident the need for feminism, even more at the rural level.

After having caused much destruction she goes on declaring that today, women have achieved the basic status and equality that they deserve. Hearing this I wanted to bang my head on a wall but let’s not promote violence and subtly counter this statement. I am not going to mention statistics because literally everyone on social media is doing the job for me but instead I would like to introduce you to or recall some Societal truths.

We live in a society where if a woman is raped, people make it a point to question her character, her attire, her behaviour, her past relationships, her education, her work, basically her entire existence. The list is small so let us add the time when she was raped. If she was raped at night then the society raises its doubts regarding her whereabouts at such an hour. SHAME on you woman! Many people are not aware of what Marital rape is or maybe they just choose to be ignorant. If this is not enough then  Society places a woman’s honour in her virginity. Now elaborating on this point would have the boomers offended, and this will prove my point without having to tire myself but I will choose to mention that if a boy is caught having intercourse, the family will try it’s best to put in under the carpet and move on but if the girl is caught doing the same then god save her ! the family name is doomed. BIGGER FACEPALM. Brown families raise their Sons and daughters apart. Starting from the distinction between pink and blue to stereotypical gender roles, a girl will always be lectured about her marital home which she probably isn’t sure even exists. Likewise, boys are told how they HAVE to earn in digits to keep their wives happy, but who will preach about shared responsibility among couples?

Feminism, from the very start, has demanded Equality. Placing Women and men at the same level in the strata of society. Never has it aimed to provide women with uncalled for power over men again emphasising that Feminism and Pseudo Feminism are two different things.

why is it that a woman progressing is frowned upon by society? Why are women told what they are supposed to do and how they are expected to behave but when the same thing is done by men, it is either praised or side-eyed? There have been real-life incidences where women were raped, killed or thrown acid on when they wanted to procure education or build a career. Next time when you sustain the opinion that Feminism is not needed, keep these things in mind and basing your opinion on the lives of few privileged girls does not allow you to believe that the battle is won because even today women are paid less than men for the same work, even today girls my age or younger are forced into wedlock and birth children.

A message to people who are against feminism and those who advocate feminism. To alpha males, I hope you won’t mind an uneducated partner living completely on your income, having you fight her basic battles for her because you are clearly offended with the F word and some WOMEN, I hope you won’t mind a partner who’d claim you as his homemaker, not allowing you to work for your dreams. I hope you don’t preach about the need for feminism when the odds are not in your personal favour. In the end, It is your opinion and you are allowed to have it.

Ending the article on a peaceful note.