Feminism & why everyone should talk about it!

In many public forums, many ask what is Feminism and why do you all still voicing for it while you are enjoying the privileges in this modern community? 

To be honest, we are moving like a snail towards women empowerment. I'll boldly say, there is gender discrimination everywhere so we should be talking more of this Feminism anywhere possible. Even in common households, the gender discrimination exists and we cannot deny the reality. The personal questions a woman face during an interview is very different from what a man hears. My promotion or hike depends on how far am I from going on maternity leave. 

I'll give you an example from where the sexism starts, when I was a kid, we had mostly spent our summer holidays in my grandparents' house along with my cousins. I'm the only girl child in my mother's side. At certain age, after the meal, I was told to clean up the dishes while my cousins were asked to drop the plates in the sink. I questioned my mother why is it just me who should be cleaning while the boys are let to play. My grandmother said, it is the duty of the girls to cook and clean. Men aren't supposed to do household chores. This is a very simple example of how gender discrimination exist in our day to day life. Men offers to "help" to do common chores and boosts that they help their wife at home. It is never a part of their responsibility. 

I recently read Periyaar. Even as a woman, I wouldn't have understood or known how much women were oppressed in his period. I never knew Periyaar's at the age of 10 but I questioned when I was treated different. That's how deep that man's ideology is rooted. I may not agree with few of this ideologies, that's probably because I'm still an amateur to understand or it could be the way I was brought up. 

When you see the importance of Feminism from a privileged society you wouldn't understand the ground reality of what's happening. In the white collar jobs, I agree the women and men are paid equally based on their potential (and by this I don't mean there isn't any gender discrimination) but when it comes to blue collar jobs the pay is not equal. By default, women are paid less though the work is equal. Not just this, parents readily invest in their son's education despite their marks or education cost but they don't do that for their daughters in most cases. This comes from the thought that the girl will be married to other family and she needs only basic degree to help her survive when the situation demands. 

Women are still in the boundary defined by men. Unfortunately she believes that's her limit. Some women think they exist to serve men and doesn't want to explore their right to coexist with men equally. There are men in this society who thinks that they have 'GIVEN' the freedom to women to wear the dress they want, education and even roam around. Still freedom is seen at the level of having boyfriends, wearing clothes or hanging out late night. That's an eye-wash. That's what women are made to believe. Let's move on from there. Let's talk about being financially independent,education, redefining gender based roles and bringing gender equality in both public and private spheres. 

Pseudo-Feminist do exist in this society often diluting the concept of feminism. Men always take the examples of pseudo-feminists and mock everywhere. Feminism is about gender equality and overcoming discrimination. Making false accusations on men or supporting women even if they are wrong completely spoils the agenda of Feminism. 

Keeping this aside, all women must start talking about feminism. Start questioning when you are oppressed and that's how your boundary will be widened. See where you are being discriminated and start pushing hard against it. Once you come out breaking those boundaries, it's not going to be an easy ride. There will be many who will judge you, assassinate your character and what not. But you will be equipped to face it. Feminism will make you think and question for the entire women community. 

By,

Priya

A Feminist.

Let's grow together as a community. Let's promote gender equality.