Depending on who we ask, the answer will differ. Is it another way in which women demand attention, or is it a tool to establish relevance for those needing public approval? 

“Another activist” is a common snarky comment heard at the mention of the word. The reality of it, however, is so far away from everything that’s assumed and propagated today.

The term “féminisme” finds its origin from the 19th century France, reportedly coined by Charles Fourier, a French utopian socialist, who believed in gender equality as part of a more just society. Hubertine Auclert, a French activist, used the term openly in the 1880s to describe her campaign for women’s suffrage.

However, one of the earliest foundational texts is Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), written in England during the Enlightenment. She argued that women should have access to education and be treated as rational beings.

While the literal translation from its Latin roots would suggest that the movement is women-centric, its modern-day application is intended toward equality on all fronts, recognising men to be an essential part of the ideology. An institution that struggled to get voting rights for women evolved to draw attention to inequalities in the education and employment sectors. And now it is all about ensuring equality of opportunity for men and women alike.

The four waves of feminism originating from the West were experienced differently and to different degrees by nations worldwide. There are no known countries that have consistently treated women as equal to men in all areas from the very beginning of their history. Across nearly all recorded civilizations, patriarchal structures have dominated, with women often having fewer rights and less power than men. Most societies historically assigned gender roles where men were public figures (leaders, warriors, property holders) and women were often relegated to domestic spheres.

At the same time, we need to acknowledge that there have been states where women were allowed some degree of representation. Women had significant power, including choosing tribal leaders and managing land in North America, a matrilineal society where property and family names were passed on to women in Indonesia‘s Minangkabau people. Scandinavian nations (e.g., Sweden, Norway, Finland) are global leaders in gender equality today, but they too had historical inequalities and developed feminist movements. The issue remains the same everywhere. The fact that while men are born with rights and freedom, women have had to fight for theirs all the time. Women need permission and laws before they are even heard, but men just need to be.

History offers numerous examples of women who held power, sometimes with restrictions, and sometimes as full rulers or leaders. These cases prove that while most ancient societies were patriarchal, women could and did rise to positions of authority, often leaving a lasting legacy. The only problem is the ifs and buts and the conditional employment of women. The need for revolt is what is infuriating.

While Egypt was patriarchal, royal women could inherit the throne and rule, especially when no male heir was available. Hence, the last Pharaoh of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra VII, came to rule and be known for her political acumen and alliances. Razia Sultana, the only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, fought wars and led administration, but faced strong opposition from nobles due to her gender. Queen Didda of Kashmir effectively ruled Kashmir for several decades, first as a regent, then as a sovereign queen. Ritu Karidhal, a senior scientist at ISRO, played a pivotal role in India’s Mars Orbiter Mission and continues to lead major space projects, breaking barriers in the male-dominated field of aerospace. Similarly, Mirabai Chanu has defied gender norms in weightlifting by winning an Olympic silver medal and becoming one of India’s most celebrated athletes in a strength-centric sport. Women have been proving their stance in sports, administration, education, and every other male-dominated field, yet the judgment and wonder of seeing a female do what a male does is inevitable.

As of today, no country outright denies all women’s rights, but some countries, namely Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, severely restrict or fail to protect key rights for women, especially in areas like freedom of movement, education, employment, legal equality, and bodily autonomy. The systems encourage male guardianship with strict moral and religious codes imposed only on women.

Fueled by social media, feminism expands into global and digital activism. Movements like #MeToo, Time’s Up, and a focus on sexual harassment and consent, feminism is now both personal and political, online and offline.

Feminism is often misinterpreted or misused today for several reasons, ranging from a lack of understanding to deliberate distortion. While the core idea of feminism has evolved to be gender equality, some individuals and groups misrepresent or exploit it, leading to confusion, backlash, or even hostility.

Many believe feminism means “female superiority” since the word itself includes “feminine”. Some assume it’s only for women or against men. Sensational or extreme content often goes viral, so radical or fringe behaviors get labeled as “feminism,” coupled with hashtags or influencers spreading half-truths or oversimplified narratives, giving the entire movement a bad name. In conservative societies, feminism is seen as a threat to traditional values, so it’s portrayed as anti-family, anti-men, or “Western” ideology. Men fearing loss of privilege may oppose it without understanding its purpose.

Some individuals use feminism to shield unethical behavior by falsely accusing others of sexism or harassment to gain sympathy or power. Others may invoke feminism to avoid accountability, such as in the case of political significance. Some just use it as a tool to hate on men. Brands and celebrities often use feminism for marketing while not practicing equality behind the scenes. Called “femvertising,” this waters down the movement. Some feminist spaces become exclusionary, ignoring issues faced by men (e.g., male mental health, custody rights) or other marginalized identities. When feminism is used to dominate rather than create dialogue, it loses its ethical foundation, and that is not what we stand for.

Women in India may not be fighting for their voting rights anymore, they’re not even struggling with the government to recognise their strengths and demanding representation. But the fight within the society, community, and the family still continues. Women carry the respect of the family, but are often not respected. They are mothers and harbingers of prosperity, but are killed if the joy isn’t in the form of a boy child. Giving or taking dowry is a crime, but an expensive gift for the bride, “Shagun”. Their safety is their own responsibility, be it out on the streets or in the house. The urban colonies may stay unknown with these struggles, but will definitely relate to the unequal pay scale in a company or the general discrimination faced during job interviews. The gender bias has leeched off of our society so much that women themselves have become used to the inconsistencies in treatment, taking it to be the norm. For the most part, advocates of feminism are considered modern and not traditional. Talks of choice and opportunity are meaningless, and even the most liberal people have a limit.

They always “allow” education as if we ever asked, and “let” us do what we want as if it were ever their decision. The fight increases when the opposition starts struggling with justifying their ideas, and quoting history and customs isn’t enough to counter our logic and reasoning anymore. The true voices that now rise aren’t against one, but with everyone regardless of their gender, and that is true feminism.

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