Women have progressed, we have made it far into the reaches of the life of the normal human, a man. Indeed, basic human rights are not dependent on one's reproductive organs anymore. But if I say that to be a reality for all, I'll be wrong because indeed, the chains bounding a woman in a distant faraway land, are almost my own when I read the news. Before you progress further in the essay, let us see the dictionary definition of feminism. Feminism- the advocacy of women's rights based on 'the equality of the sexes'. The fact that feminism, a movement for equal rights, is a more questioned phenomenon than religious extremism, an actual problem that graves the world is once again a testimony to the inherent stereotypes against women that exist even today. To counter the most relevant argument against feminism i.e., "Why is feminism even needed now?", it is paramount that we look at some outrageous recent events in our fair world.
More than 370 million girls and women alive today – or 1 in 8 – experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18, according to UNICEF estimates of October 2024. The Gisele Pelicot case happened much too soon to be forgotten, one husband, 49 other men found guilty, and one unconscious woman. Even after years of resistance, basic health care for women, like abortion, remains debatable in some countries. Only on the historical date of 26 September 2017, did Saudi Arabia grant its women driving rights. Remember and never forget Mahsa Amini, whose death in 2022, all because of not complying with the country's Islamic dress code, sparked one of the most sweeping anti-government protests in Iran. Education for women in Afghanistan under the Taliban remains conflicted, stripping them of their economic independence all the while increasing the maternal mortality rate, forcing child marriages, and targeting their very existence. Quoting UN Women, "In 2023, around 51,100 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members". Conflict-related sexual violence remains prevalent around the world in war-torn areas, affecting women on both sides.
If these statistics don't feel enough for the cause of feminism to be relevant at this time then, look around, take a full step out of your privileged circle, and look at the poor. While the man does every and any job that he can do to put food on the table, a woman of the same social strata does the same menial job, then goes back home to serve the meal on the table, take care of the kids, all the while being statistically more likely to be a victim of violence, rape, and sexual assault. The misogyny runs deep in our veins, even as women, as we grow, we unlearn a lot of things only to know, that the realization doesn't happen for some in the entirety of their lives, leading them to find it okay and acceptable to violate women and their spaces, invalidate their interests and choices, deem femininity to be the quality of the lesser, and build a superiority complex only for the fact of belonging to a particular gender. Feminism is the one movement that talks about removing oppressive systems for all and talks of intersectional justice, that regardless of your race, class, sexuality, or disability, you are a human and you are deserving of space to live, thrive, and shine. And yet we, the conscious and educated humans of the modern world, question its relevancy today. Maybe not for me or you, sitting behind a screen in our comfortable homes, but remember to venture into actuality before deeming the worth of a movement, which rose from the sufferings of almost half the population. To confirm the narrow identity roles, that patriarchy pushes on us, would be the death of intellectuality for both men and women. Patriarchy harms men too, and unless, more men realize it, it'll exist and persist and thrive on the deathbeds of hearts and minds of both genders.
While we're on the topic, it would be unfair to not mention pseudo-feminism instances that belittle feminism into a shrewd policy of gaining favors, which indeed is not feminism but just as much of a crime as patriarchy is. It's a growing phenomenon that not only affects its victims but also, demeans the whole legacy of feminism. Pink capitalism too, by reducing movements to mere products and taglines without actually calling for change, is a prime example of the phenomenon. False accusations, though rare are serious, and do more harm than we often accredit them for. Selective feminism, which does nothing in actuality for the marginalized women, and works for the agenda of the rich ones, is not the true identity of feminism. Feminism is nothing in its true Essence, if it's not intersectional and doesn't incorporate social justice for all. It often only reinforces the ideas of inequality, within the movement, robbing it of its moral backbone. One of the most prevalent pseudo-feminism beliefs belittles and tears down women in traditional gender roles. It is essential that we remember, that feminism is about the right to choose, not the enforcement of certain types of lifestyle on all women.
Remember, you can be grateful for the rights you have, to all the women and men who made this possible, but if you're not angry at the years of oppression that still exist for some, your outrage and understanding of the issue are only selective, which is a disgrace to all those before you, who helped bring about the times from witch hunting, and honor killings to a time where we have basic human rights and the voices and platforms to combat these grave issues which still somehow persist. If not a personal obligation, then do it for the ones who cared, for the ones who made it easier for us to carry forward the legacy of justice, representation, and equality. This is why feminism is just as personal, relevant, and valid even today.
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” - Maya Angelou