Well, we have come a long way from the times when feminism
burned like an ethereal fire to the cyber massacre as we witness today. My ideals
went on growing linearly as my meta-thinking devoured the characters of early
19th and 20th-century novels which began from Ms.
Elizabeth Bennet of “Pride and Prejudice” to Mrs. Weasley of “To the Lighthouse”. Authors like Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Simone de Beauvoir, and Toni
Morrison had paved my way to feminist literature. But this write up is not
about the aspects discussed during the Victorian era,
It is the tale that every observant millennial young adult
would want to tell and my journey to become a feminist.
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| Painting by Australian artist Jessica Watts |
Being an equalist, I would root to humanity and it is the ideal concept that upholds both ethos and pathos, it could also contribute to
the purist way of thinking and living. Gender equality and feminism are similar
concepts as feminism is defined to be the belief that women should be allowed
the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same
way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state. Cheris Kramarae,
a famous scholar in the area of women's studies and communication and the
co-author of A Feminist Dictionary said that “Feminism is the radical notion
that women are human beings.”
Gender equality doesn’t give importance to any particular one.
As I believe human gender and sexuality are a spectrum, I would like you to
know that this discussion is not just adhered to male or female alone.
Now, doesn’t it evoke thoughts about why feminism arises
although a similar altruistic concept of gender equality exists? Yes, we all
know the way women were treated from the beginning of human history. Our
education system made sure it was not excluded from the syllabus and the understanding of the concepts were of course measure by memory tests. Living in 2020, let us all open
our eyes and analyze the current atmosphere for women at all kinds of
institutions beginning with the home.
Most of us millennials grew up in homes without facing the extreme horrible male chauvinism or patriarchy. The thing is, it is not about the severity
scales but the ubiquity.
The justification comes under various strata like protection and social obligation. Talking about protection, the violation of an
individual’s freedom of choice clothing or expression is often questioned as it
might cause a threat or rise safety issues, but it is time to fight the
“hazard”. There are equal rights to express oneself irrespective of gender.
We could always see a woman who talks politics or wears short clothes are often
targeted and shamed in various ways. Objectification of women is glorified by
our film industries and misunderstood as a trait of masculinity. As long as the
need for protection exists, we can conclude that society is not yet ready
to fight what’s threatening safety.
When the reason is not protection, it could be the toxic
resistance to change or the reluctance to let go of the patriarchal systems.
Our society is still at the stage where men are the most trusted drivers just
because they are ‘men’. Women are obligated under various psychological
pressure to withstand the sexism.
Every woman of our age faces casual sexism on a daily basis. We
confront it from our homes, educational institutions, workplace and almost from
everywhere. The horizontal hostility makes women stand in favor of patriarchy
too, which is very disappointing. Maybe one would think about the big deal in
ignoring a minor sexist comment, but that’s the thing about casual sexism; one
by one it accumulates from everywhere and the culmination is horrible. It stands
as a hindrance at every ingress.
Today, we see feminism
being misapprehended as something born from vanity. People who stand for the
true values of it are being defamed and given ‘names’. The repercussions of
these are a deceived lot of young people who unintentionally becomes a part of
misogyny.
It is high time to improvise our mindset into a broader space
where men, women, and all other genders are treated as equals. The ethos and
pathos should be effectively conveyed to our children through good parenting.
We must raise our voice and act appropriately when humans of any gender are
subjected to sexism. We all deserve this world equally, not more or less.
“Women have sat indoors all these millions of years, so that
by this time the very walls are permeated by their creative force, which has,
indeed, so overcharged the capacity of bricks and mortar that it must needs
harness itself to pens and brushes and business and politics.”
― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own
