Thinking about feminists, the first picture comes to our mind is a Woman who is Rude, dominating and the one who tends to prove herself right. But if we rethink about this picture? Don’t you think this person can be any woman or a Man as well?
So, let’s reboot our systems. And let us know about some of the things we probably weren’t aware of:
1. A Feminist wants Gender Equity in the society. It’s different from EQUALITY which means treating everyone equally. However, EQUITY means Raising the people deprived of opportunities in an unequal society. This doesn’t even imply that every woman is deprived of the opportunities that men in the society get. And I am one of those privileged women who need no aid. However, we cannot neglect the majority of the women in this country who are not given those opportunities and are not encouraged to make a living and stand independent in life not submitting to a male in future. And this is why we have girls reservations in many universities, government institutions,etc. Even separate colleges and schools for girls. Because there are families who don’t even send their daughters out of their towns to study and say- ‘Yahi kahin aas paas k college se padai karlo nhi to koi zaroorat nhi’. And I am not talking about ancient India, I am talking about this present India. The families residing in my neighborhood own 2-3 cars but their daughters are not sent to another state even after getting complete scholarship for the same. Some of you can look up to your own families wherein people produce babies till they get a baby boy, because he is an insurance for their post retirement life. So, socio economic equality won’t come by treating all equally but by raising the oppressed.
2. A Feminist would never want to Overpower men. Feminism doesn’t want men to be deprived of any rights they already have but women to get the same rights. And also if there is a case where Men are deprived of something, Feminists stand with the Men. Giving an example of Mizoram, one of our own states. Did you know a community called Khasis in Mizoram has matriarchy in it? The women there are more liberated and independent. Men are actually fighting for their rights. Men go and settle at women’s home after marriage. This is a COMPLETE REVERSAL to what we face in major part of the world. But we feminists also don’t want that, because this community is a living example that Matriarchy also stops the progression of Men if they are neglected. So, being a feminist, I want to let women be free to choose the kind of profession they want to pursue, the place they want to study in or the man they want to marry but I WOULD NEVER WANT TO TAKE ANY RIGHT FROM THE MEN.
Also, we have as many men who are feminists as there are women. And all of them strongly feel that no one is above or beneath any individual. However, I have a message to those who feel that feminists go overboard and carry hatred towards men . “A feminist can fight for equity and justice against anyone who is in opposition, whether its a male or a female who is probably a femiNAZI wearing a mask of feminism.” These women practice MISANDRY not FEMINISM. And Instead of ignoring them, we boycott the whole concept of feminism. On a concluding note, Whenever there came a situation where people indulged in discrimination and injustice, a feminist has arisen to raise the oppressed.