FEMINISM is gaining huge popularity these days. It is
the ideology that believes in the social, economical, political and legal
equality of the sexes. Our society still lives with the patriarchal mindset and
women aren’t treated as equal to men. Feminism aims to break gender stereotypes
and to establish equal opportunities for everyone in every field irrespective
of their gender.
The word “féminisme” was first
coined by a French socialist and philosopher, Charles Fourier. And appeared as
early as in 1895 in the Oxford English Dictionary. The first ever
feminist movement was in the 19th and early 20th century
which promoted women’s right to vote. Then in 1960, Women’s Liberation
movement campaigned for the legal and social equality for women. In 1992, another
movement campaigned for individuality and diversity. Feminism gained worldwide
popularity in 2012 when women participated in the “Me Too movement” to
highlight sexual harassment and violence against women.
Feminism is said to have brought enormous
positive changes in the society today; like access to education, equal wages,
right to make individual decisions, right to own property and child sexual abuse.
Women empowerment is also a term associated with feminism that aims to
empower all women so that they realize their full rights, identity and
strengths. Not just women but also men can be feminists, who support women and
believe in equality.
Feminism has been a controversial topic since it first
came into existence. Although there are many women who claim themselves as
feminists but there are women who don’t want to call themselves as feminists
because they associate feminism as a sexist and men-hating ideology. Although
it aims for gender equality but some think that it isn’t really about equality.
Some believe that equality has already been achieved. Many people don’t like
the concept of feminism because they think that feminists are going to take over
the world and establish themselves as superior to men and they will break all
the deeply rooted traditions and religious beliefs.
Because of its origin from the word “feminine”, people
think that it is just about women. But it is about the co-humanity between men
and women. It is an attempt to liberate women from the clutches of toxic
masculinity and the patriarchy system. All humans are equal irrespective of
their gender. It is an attempt to explain to the society that women are
powerful on their own and isn’t the responsibility of men. We should let go off
the assigned gender roles; seeing men as the protector and women as the ones to
be protected, men as the caretaker and women as the caregiver, men as the
breadwinner and women as housewives. Women too deserves the same amount of
respect as men and they were always strong. The world needs to change their
view now on how they see women.
Do you like feminism? Are you a feminist?
