Originally posted by: _Payalj_
Feminism started as a correct movement. It still is if used in the correct spirit as there are a lot of women who still don't have basic human rights.
But like all good things it has also been severely misused. It always meant men and women are equal, the problem came when some women decided to exploit it for undue advantage.
Feminism means same standard of judgement for all. But some interpreted it as same standard where it suits us, preferential treatment where it suits us. This is what has led to the word feminist being used like a degrading word. If we feel humiliated by that we have to stop women from misusing and exploiting feminism instead of blindly supporting them just because they are a woman.
I will give two real life examples
1. One of my colleagues just didn't believe in working properly and caused severe loss to the company due to her negligence. When our boss shouted at her, instead of accepting her mistake simply told me tell him to behave with me, else I will file a case of sexual harassment. The poor boss had just shouted at her as he would have shouted at anu junior for such an error.
2. One of my own juniors created a scene when I gave her lesser rating than a male junior. . As per she can't work till late hours as she is a female but she should get promoted at par with her male colleagues.
My maid's daughter who was asked to drop out of school so that her brother could study needs to be a feminist but the women like I have stated above have made it a swear word. So when I tell my maid's daughter to be a feminist, she gets told by others that it is a wrong thing.
It's almost like the religious preachers and fanatics who due to their acts have literally made people think that some religions per se are bad.
Dev's definition in the previous episode was in line with the perception which women themselves have created due to their selfishness and greed.
This is a very clear line of thinking, except that Dev Dixit has enforced than the definition of feminism is that women are superior to males (which it isn't).
Because it takes too much effort for me to write down every misconception related to feminists, I'm just copypasting these brilliant points.
1. Misconception #1: Feminism Is Essentially About Male Bashing
No, it isn't. That'd be misandry, which feminism is often mistaken for. By definition, feminism means the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.' All feminism believes in is for women to be treated as equals. Not above or below anybody, just equal. Feminists don't set out on a slaughter spree the moment they see men. Their agenda of demanding equal rights has nothing to do with man-hating. They don't judge all men to be chauvinist and sexist just on the basis of their gender. What they disapprove of, really, is patriarchy and the idea that man is superior to woman and of course, anybody who promotes it in any form, irrespective of the gender. And a feminist who hates men solely because they belong to the other gender is no feminist.
2. Misconception #2: Only Women Can Be Feminists
Just like you don't have to be an animal to support animal rights, you don't have to be a woman to support equal rights for women. Feminism is an idea that aims at providing equal opportunities to women and supporting it has nothing to do with your gender. Men can be feminists too, and you'd be surprised to know a lot of them already are. Anybody who supports equal rights for women is a feminist.
3. Misconception #3: Feminists Love All Women Alike
That's just about as true as the first misconception. The fight for feminism is against anybody who supports and implements patriarchy in any form, whether that person is a male or a female. Women are equally responsible for letting the nation get devoured by patriarchy ever since we formed a society.
4. Misconception #4: Feminism Is Detrimental To Men
A lot of men are up in arms even at the mention of feminism because they feel endangered by its impact. Even though feminism is primarily about fighting for equal rights for women, it benefits us as men equally. Feminism puts an end to not just gender roles for women, but those for men too. It supports the idea of men not having to succumb to the societal pressures of being the fender, the bread winner and someone with superhuman strength as much as it advocates that women be allowed to break out of stereotypes.
5. Misconception #5: Feminism Is The Fight For Power And Matriarchy
It is a common myth that the day feminism takes over the world, men would become oppressed. It is not power and supremacy that
feminists want. Only equality. Real feminism disapproves of matriarchy as much as it scorns the patriarchal set up. Feminism is not the fight for power; it is the fight to bring women up to the same pedestal as men.
6. Misconception # 6: Feminists Are A Stuck Up, Crazy, And A Touchy Bunch
Feminists don't lack sense of humour. Hysterical' is the word often used to describe feminists. But not all of them lash out at every other remark made at them. They're not a violent bunch of people who take to social media at the drop of a hat, creating issues out of nothing.
So those were a few of them and trust me there are so many more. Even things like 'oh they're all adamant career minded women'. Truth is you could be in a hijab or a bikini and still be feminist. It has nothing to do with that.
There are men who later ask 'oh so now you want women to be more powerful than men?' Which mean, YOU AGREE that this world is unequal. Also wanna touch on the fact that both men and women misuse this word, as the examples you gave clearly show that. But in this world, even men are faced to equal amount of sexism when the world sees a man working in a nursery or seeing a baby boy enjoying playing with dolls. So Feminism and its correct use refer to gender equality. And then you take it a step further to intersectional feminism which is universal equality.
