We all have heard or read about Feminism. It is a word we are aware of but most of us don’t know the true essence of the term.
What is Feminism? Feminism, defined in the dictionary, is the belief in social, economic and political equality of the sexes. It has a simple yet powerful objective: to define, establish and achieve gender equality.
There is a need for feminism in our world because gender equality has still not been achieved everywhere. Women still face a gender gap that leads to unequal pay and less opportunities in many countries of the world. Gender inequality often limits the freedom to exercise basic human rights to education & health. It further prolongs problematic global issues such as intergenerational cycles of poverty, child marriage, and gender-based violence.
Ashton Kutcher, a popular movie star, co-founded THORN, which uses technology to end child trafficking and violence, sending a clear feminist message.
Despite what most people believe, feminism has nothing to do with hating men or discriminating against them. It is also not about promoting the superiority of females or the dominance of one gender over the other. Many people fear that feminism means men losing influence, authority, and power. They also fear that feminists want to control the word and put men down. However, feminism is for everyone- men, boys, women, and girls. Every one of us who believe in the social, political and economic equality of all can proudly call themselves feminists.
Without further ado, let’s see how feminism has changed the world:
Educated and Empowered Girls Uplift their Communities
When a girl is educated, has knowledge of her rights, has enough to eat, provided with a safe violence-free environment and has the opportunity to participate in her life and future-affecting decisions, she works to raise the standards of living not only for herself but also her family and her community. Educated and employed mothers reinvest more of their income in their families and the risk of maternal health complications is very less for them. They are aware of diseases, preventative measures, and healthcare access. They are better informed about nutrition and make better choices for the future of their children.
Educated mothers emphasize and invest more in their children’s education as compared to uneducated women.
Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani advocate for educating women, is a great example of a female feminist. She started campaigning for girls’ education at a very young age and has taught us to stand up for those who do not have access to basic human rights, no matter what our age is...!
Society Hurt Men too
The traditional ideas of masculinity such as being tough, competitive and unemotional can affect men negatively as well. This sometimes leads to risk-taking behaviours like gang activity and drug abuse. Men and boys who engage in these activities have a shorter life expectancy and higher rates of suicide In an equal world, men are free to express themselves and be whoever they want without fear of being bullied by their peers. Gender equality also leads to more men opting for so-called “female professions” such as nurses and teachers. Furthermore, in an equal world, it would not matter whether a dad is a stay-at-home father or a senior executive bringing home a six-figure salary. Ian Somerhalder, the star of the TV show Vampire Diaries, is the brains behind the “Girl Impact the World Film Festival”. High school and college students come forward each year to submit their own films about worldwide women’s issues to the festival.
Equality Unleashes Human Potential
Equal pay and equal opportunities bring out the best in everyone. Recent studies have shown that countries are happier and wealthier where women and men are treated fairly and humanity is empowered when we are socially, politically, psychologically and economically equal.
We can also reduce poverty by ensuring access to education, safe healthcare, equal pay and increasing opportunities of both men and women to succeed in business and own land. Other oppression tactics such as child marriage and sex trafficking can be abolished by achieving gender equality
Economy is boosted
The empowerment of career women has been one of the most defining changes in the industrialized world. There has been an emphasis on the fact that gender should not be a factor when hiring for a job in any field. There is a difference between monotony and equal opportunity.
Increasing women participation in the labour market to male levels has boosted GDP in many countries around the globe. Integration of women in industries has had huge positive ripple effects since they make approximately half of the workforce and helps keep our economy more vibrant.
Conclusion
Feminism is a sensitive topic and it has changed and evolved throughout history. But it is still work in progress. In order to abolish gender biases and patriarchy for the good of all humankind, feminism needs to be viewed as people vs oppression and not as women vs men. By working together, we can create a world where everyone has equal rights, opportunities and can reach their full potential !!!
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