Feminism | What and Why?

The movement started in Europe and America as voice for suppressed sex (women) at that time, is now tweaked by many and inclined towards their own opinions. According to the definition quoted by Merriam-Webster, "the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.", it is simply a demand of economical, social, and political equality for all sexes. It demands equal freedom of choice, speech, and every other form which is at birth granted as rights to men.

Feminism does not mean hating or degrading men by any means. Instead only demanding just rights for women as well. Women alone can't do this without men. Educating solely women or only women protesting for their rights won't make any difference unless men understand it completely and make peace with their demands fully. No true feminists can hate men, because they need men to stand by their side and those who do are not true feminists. 

The concept which was originated in early nineteenth century when during the war men were required in the battle ground and women were forced to work in factories to keep the economy running, but as soon as men came back, the women were demanded at homes to be restricted again and enslaved with no choice of career or even political vote. Meanwhile, being non-existent in the view of law, so the question of any right could even not be objected.

Gradually, just like every revolution, surrogates kept protesting for women’s rights for years and years with not any visible outcome until 1919 when they were allowed to vote legally. Since then, after the four waves women have been successful in securing almost multiple rights, from vote to even holding authoritive posts officially. 

But, considering racial indifferences which have existed in West, it only advocated for black women’s right of freedom and safety in early years, and slowly as privileged white women too stepped ahead, joined hands and demanded their distinguished rights as well, it evolved as women’s movement in general. With each passing year, different issues were highlighted. Objective remained the same but directions have, at times, altered.

From putting under spotlight the issues of not any right to vote for women, no freedom of speech to domestic violence, rapes, it ignited discussion on every topic. But as it was the West movement, so it addressed mainly the problems west culture produces for women: like they demanded right to birth control, no dress code and freedom to live their life as per their wish with no check and balance (obviously, which implies common promiscuousness and all the things leading towards it)

So, understandably, when it took it’s pace here in Asia, people couldn’t comprehend the need for such rights, although the right to birth control can be somehow given to women considering the unchecked children’s birth and weak mothers’ death rate. But besides all these non-Islamic claims, everything else it demands is absolutely right, like equal wage, laws against domestic, physical or emotional abusers, rapists, harassers, cat-callers, marriage rights, freedom of speech and choice. These all are the rights which have already been granted to women by birth already by the Islam but unfortunately, were not given due to men superiority and patriarchal mindsets. So now they have to fight for their basic rights even.

From being the voice to black women to women in general and now it has also even taken the LGBT community under its shadow. Since then, owing to its diversity and multiple (mostly wrong) interpretation, it has been globally appreciate and criticised, respectively. 

However, in past few years this theory has been entwined greatly with many other political propagandas and thus, ended up spoiling the main motto behind it. The most famous Metoo movement was although the best in its nature with the intention to publically reveal the predators, but not fortunately, many spoiled it for personal as well as political reasons.

The radical feminism is not true feminism. And people have to realize the difference. In conclusion, as nothing is bad in its nature but what people associate with it and how they use it, can influence its nature. Similarly, this movement or theory was not bad in it’s nature but greatly kind but the recent manipulation has damaged its true meaning. But its high time to call out the manipulators and regain its purpose and lost-spolied reputation because with such globalization and technological advancements, no country can afford such fall back and wastage of half of it's population at homes. It doesn't have to be about capital but choice. Women too should be provided with choice to make their career as they wish to. And even if they prefer to stay home to care for family then it should also be appreciated as equally as working women because house work is no less than any outdoor work.