Feminism: How equal is equal ?

Despite being the world’s most effective vis-à-vis revolutions of humankind , it is almost blasphemous to put feminism and cult under the same roof. Or maybe that too is just up for a challenge.

Sound Of Muse – Pavement of Feminism

Feminism, coined in 1837 by philosopher Charles Fourier from the French word “féminisme,” refers to a movement for political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Its roots date back to 1792 with Mary Wollstonecraft, a key advocate for women’s rights, and her work “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.”Formally feminism is characterized by four waves. It’s first wave was around the 1850s all the way to 1940 and its focus was on legal reforms, especially women’s suffrage (voting).

The second wave arose shortly in 1960 and this time the focal point was the radical reordering of society by demanding equal pay for equal work in order to eliminate male supremacy and therefore leveling the playing field for both sexes.

In 1980 the third wave came to be and its emphasis was to do away with gender stereotypes because boys should cry and girls can be mechanics. It was also around this time that newer groups highlighting race, materialism and other values began to pop up.
Materialist feminism states that patriarchy and capitalism are the biggest tools to keep women on the back bench. The fourth and final wave is fairly new as it emerged in 2012 and is for women empowerment and intersectionality

What’s hip and lie

Although it cost literal blood, sweat and tears to get where we stand today, the feminist movement has made a lot of strides in bridging the gap between men and women in all spheres of life; education, politics, economy and in more social spaces.

The idea of a woman who is refused education, to vote, own property, enter contracts, have equal marital rights or get maternity leave is alien in this day and age. All the credit undoubtedly goes to the relentless activism of feminist groups, but when do they put down their swords?

A graceful improvement along the ages is commendable however the question remains – is the war over yet , is the society that we dream of , has come to reality or still requires shape .

Today women in larger masses do not have hindrance to access basic amenities however statistically there are yet large number of them in countries like Central of Africa , Sudan , Syria and Afghanistan that dream of what is normal and basic.

This is what we Stan For –
Feminism is one of the most popular , required movement however it remains one of the most misunderstood terms by both its protagonists and antagonists. Painting the town black or white is the correct term to explain the ideology and mindset that today’s generation has opted . Whether a supporter or anti – either pulling down men in general, promoting cancel culture or insensitivity as a defense mechanism

Well, upon careful understanding you realize that this an infinity loop , blaming the other gender for the wrong doings , which the exact opposite of what feminism stand for , it is not about a strict rule book , it is not a cult where women get together to bring men down.

Rather it is a community , it is a vison holding the interest of all , to fix each other’s crowns, to understand we stand for the same beliefs and that is safe space for men and women . To understand that toxicity remains the same regardless of gender.

It is okay to cry boys , it is okay to not feel strong all the time , it is okay to choose what you want in your life girls , it is okay to choose your careers over marriage , it is okay to choose marriage and love over career , it is okay to be a homemaker boys, it is okay to support your family single handedly , it is okay to restart your lives at age of 50 girls and boys . It is okay to be YOU.

Pink is the New Purple –

Colors were important in the iconography of the suffrage movement. The use of the color gold began with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony’s campaign in Kansas in 1867 and derived from the color of the sunflower, the Kansas state symbol.

A second color theme was the use of the tricolors purple, white, and gold. These colors originated with the Women’s Suffrage and Political Union in England; symbolizing loyalty, purity, and hope.

Hence putting end on stereotype on how pink symbolizes women and blue is what depicts masculinity . Although representation and usage of colors in connotation is all about perspective. Giving lighter tones and fluid colors to femininity and solid bold monochromatic colors which do not have much variation to men .

This led to many feministic movements in terms of artisans and painters but this also shows how really feminism works . Explaining the thought of this movement , and how it opposes cult.

Think of a painting as a society that you and I live in and these colors are the masculine and feminine sides . Can you complete that piece of art without solid colors that not have much variation , or without the fluid colors with lot of movement in them . The lighter and darker tones , both in harmony and with balance makes the painting real.

Hence, we need to understand and accept that there are good aspects of masculinity as there are negative aspects of femininity. We need a balance of the two and a removal of neither. Everyone has different privileges and in order for equality we must fight to remove these privileges and make room for equal opportunity. That makes us feminists

Turbulent waters

A quick flip of a coin has our hero as the antagonist, and her fight is no longer for equality but for the same supremacy she once waged war against.

Cults are groups of people who practice excessive devotion to a figure, object or belief system, and in this case “the feminist” seems to portray these very aforementioned traits. Recent events have proven that the movement has evolved into a club that echoes female victimhood and misandry.

If a person, god forbid a man speaks or acts in a manner that is contrary to the feminist opinion, then he shall be tried in the court of public opinion and sentenced to cancel culture. An equivalent of life behind bars.

Do we not agree that any environment that is unsafe to disagree in is unhealthy and is based on control and in the words of Queen B, the girls are running the world?

Due to how feminists have been engaging(particularly online as that is the town’s square) with the rest of society, we are at an all-time peak in terms of polarization.

Relationship between men and women have never been so strained, women fear and distrust men while men are nervous and guarded in their interactions with women, not knowing things like how long is too long to smile at them before you’re considered a creep. The reigning medium of communication is offense and none else but “the feminist” can decode it.

A happy ever after?

Does Feminism still have a place in our society? Yes, maybe not in the way it stands today but there is still a need to call out the unconscious or conscious bias and norms that put women at a disadvantage. One philosopher state that progress is never linear, you take five steps forward and two steps back. Maybe these are those two steps in reverse and we’ll soon be catapulted into a promising tomorrow.

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