Off late, a paroxysm of insularity revolving around the subject of Feminism is seen doing rounds. Whenever someone shares an opinion and it doesn’t subscribe to the general frenzy that the rest of the society is unduly enthusiastic about, why do we try our best to tear that person apart along with that particular viewpoint? Those who are in the habit of supposedly defending feminism by dint of failing to comprehend a certain opinion need to get off their high horses and hang loose. Feminism is about diverse choices and cannot be measured by the yardstick of one definitive elucidation etched out in the mind.
Why do we keep forgetting that
Feminism is nobody’s patrimony, it is a temperament which is still in the realm
of speculation? For decades, women have been fighting for the unalloyed
credence to being allowed the same rights, power, opportunities and respect as
men. Any society that treats its women without prejudice is on the path of
progress. It is only then, the state can achieve its’ set of desired goals –
politically, socially and economically. Should we all not be eternally grateful
to those brave souls before us who fought for our rights instead of judging
each others' perspectives?
It is not about muscle power. It is about brain over
brawn. It is not about staying cocooned inside your pseudo feminist boxes and putting
other women or men down on the whole – and thus seek elevation in your own
stature. It is rather, enabling each other to ascertain the true meaning of
freedom and equality for all. It is the realization in itself that your
environment entitles you to make your free choices by means of holding a fair
and unbiased approach in every aspect of life – be it the religious beliefs you
abide by, the health decisions that you choose to make or the salary that you
earn.
Ironically, like every now and then
a notion is tweaked, rather misconstrued, Femi fascists too tend to hinge on
whether or not women as a race can have power over men. What is forgotten time
and again is, it is not a quest for demeaning each other, but empowering
themselves, wanting their gender to be treated like proud human beings.
Currently, there is no dearth of misandrists in the name of feminists in the
making, who are more than glad to bear the label of women who perpetually hate
men. Forsooth, patriarchy is exhausting, but is it worse than the impediments
that we create among ourselves by ripping each other to shreds? Give it a
thought. Feminism isn't just about sticking sanitary napkins with small notes
attached to it all over the college campus and ranting awareness of rape and
sexism. Feminist isn't about posting pictures of your blood soaked tampons on
Instagram to obtain millions of followers. It is about breaking free from the
shackles of age old regressive ideals that define femininity, marriage and
motherhood. Slogans are spotted, placards are planted everywhere – meanwhile,
the core values that we are striving for, are compromised, stumped over and
buried somewhere deep down the streets. Like those bulls in a fight
that are color blind, we also engage our girls in a helter-skelter battle. But
wait battle of what? Have we wondered what are we fighting for?
The very choice that we all get to
make today, is an outcome of the sweat and blood that has been invested for
years. We must not overlook the trauma, the hurdles and the hardship that our
torchbearers have been through to get us here today. We are gifted with the
freedom to choose our identities wisely and let our voice be heard through
actions that reflect dignity and maturity. We stand different in our agenda -
in the very essence that we wish to accept the equality of both sexes in lieu
of mindless misanthropy.
Whether to juggle between our career and household,
whether to stay home bound – it's a very personal choice that one gets to make
when one knows how to set the priorities right. You might be an entrepreneur or
a freelance or even single not pursuing anything – at the end of the day, we
all are women and mothers. The method one chooses to follow might not align
with someone else's, but that doesn't mean they aren't doing their jobs as a
wife or a mother. On the contrary, the nature of challenges women who are
responsible for two third of the work done worldwide, come across are varying.
After all the toil they might still earn only ten percent of the total income
and own one percent of the property! So, where is equality? Across all cultures
and nations, first to third world, women are still lagging behind men in
opportunities and access to resources, even while judged within the values of
their home culture. Where is equitable judgment then?
The fact is, half the time we aren't
aware of what struggles someone is going through. The maternal instincts may not let you leave
your child behind at the daycare even for an hour, but when you fall in the
category of that ratio of women with children, who are also the primary bread
earners in the family, you expect your tribe to be slightly more empathetic and
refrain from using words like irresponsible and negligent. Furthermore, those
who deliberately and willfully settle for a homemaker’s lifestyle that works
for them, must not be shamed as less qualified or disregarded as professionally
incompetent. Fortunate are the ones who get to opt between the two worlds
because they at least have the liberty to prefer and prioritize one over the
other.
Having friends, associates and
relatives from all sectors and backgrounds, your knowledge and experience are
instrumental in broadening your outlook and learning not to narrow down your visions.
The manifestations of Feminism and Empowerment are more often than not complex,
volatile sometimes burdensome – always comes with a heavy price. And yes, just
like a Princess Diana, a Michelle Obama, and a Hillary Clinton, we do not
believe in playing the woman card and get to the front leader’s seat. We haven't learned to play the victim card either, when names such as Oprah Winfrey are there to inspire us. Each one
of these amazing ladies has been a mother, has endured grave losses, yet remained their own boss and shone through the darkest of clouds. The way
they have balanced between children, work and personal life is fascinating. I am glad
I live in a country whose seventy five percent of the population share the
sensibility that a stay at home mother can provide the best for their children
when they are young, at the same time, doesn’t cringe away from offering its
women equal opportunities that ultimately makes significant contributions to
the nation’s economy. It's all about respecting every individual’s choice -
acknowledging their dreams and potentials - and being more compassionate
towards helping them materialize into reality.
