THE CONCEPT OF FEMINISM AND PATRIARCHY IN A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

It's the twenty-first century and of all the centuries that have passed, none has witnessed this peculiar, omnipresent dependence on technology. Not a day or a second goes by without looking at our cell phones, why are we talking about this? 

Well, in comparison to the past, in this age of information, all of us are aware of the mistreatment of women, bound as slaves, as dehumanized objects, locked away and deprived of rights, freedom or joy. Women escaping confinement only to be enslaved again and again, by violent means of assault, rape and death. They had no access to education and were married off earlier, left with no choice but to take care of the household. 

Feminist point of view

Women have been subjected to torment throughout history, to have an informed and seamless discussion, let us familiarize ourselves with feminism. 

As per the internet, feminism is about collectively and actively transforming systems of oppression so that women, men and gender non-conforming people hold equal power, resources and rights.

Feminism is a path. It’s a lens through which to view the world. It is also constantly evolving, so we are all on a journey and learning things along the way. There are no ‘perfect’ feminists, we can come as we are with an openness to learn and grow and because of that, we are kind to each other.

Slowly, resistance toward the oppressive laws made by men in power, only for the benefit of themselves, became stronger. Social reformers, scholars and activists toiled tirelessly to change the structures that were made to make them fail. 

Common Misconception of “Feminism”

Before we delve into the depths of the concept, let us discuss some common misconceptions about feminism to improve our understanding of the movement. 

The common misconception is that feminism is only about women's issues. While feminism does prioritise addressing gender inequality faced by women, it also recognizes that gender norms and expectations affect individuals of all genders. Feminism seeks to challenge harmful stereotypes and create a more inclusive society for everyone.

Another misconception is that feminism is a monolithic movement with a single agenda. In reality, feminism encompasses a wide range of perspectives and approaches.  It is important to recognize the diversity within feminism and understand that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach.

Through the ancient, mediaeval and modern period of history and the day-to-day, we have learnt and witnessed the stories of strong women unfold, despite being in a society that has always prioritised and recognized the contribution of men over women’s. Their unyielding resilience, resistance and standing up for values they believed in inspired of all the hurdles thrown at them, the obstacles in place to hoping for them to fail. Their belief in a better tomorrow for women fueled the need to fight for the liberation of women on all fronts. Their tales of bravery and sacrifice are endless. From that moment a new dawn shone among all women in this male dominated society. They were given hope, their fears ebbed away, as reforms were implemented to recognise women’s basic rights to freedom, education, employment, suffrage and against tortuous practices. Centuries have passed now, the twenty-first century has witnessed more women having the agency to accomplish their dreams in a plethora of fields, breaking societal norms and barriers.

Despite the steady albeit slow debunking of patriarchal ideals on a global front, biases still exist, in households, workplaces and in the minds of people. Liberation and freedom guaranteed by law, still is bound by the society’s chains. One in a thousand stories reflecting a fraction of torment that women go through is what we see, hear and read from the news. Many of such experiences and tales of anguish are buried. Voiceless and powerless, their sufferings never see the light of day. Women’s own families curb freedom, taking away opportunities and means to achieve their goal or live life on their terms. They sacrifice themselves and demolish their dreams in order to make their family happy and to abide by the society as discussed before. 

Lastly, some people believe that feminism is no longer necessary because women have achieved equality. Gender inequality still exists in various forms and fronts, such as the gender pay gap, underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, and societal expectations around gender roles  and microaggressions that most don’t realize is harmful due to society’s conditioning. 

My point is, 

Feminism, in my opinion, is a beautiful concept, intricately aiming for the upliftment of oppressive schemes relating to gender, but it has been twisted by people of all ages into a misandrist concept, importantly, as a means against men no matter what they do. Sure, men are to be blamed for continually perpetuating hate and violence against women, fighting to hold onto a system that benefits them more, but we all agree that there are some good men out there in the world who are ready to stand up against patriarchy and recognise that it not only hurts women but everyone else too. 

Pseudo-Feminist narratives have gripped social media posts, turning the movement into a man-hating tool to flaunt superiority. At surface level, the ‘fem’ in feminism makes a layman’s understanding of it only in favor of females, while real feminism focuses on equity for all genders. 

This distorted view of feminism is destroying the values that the movement originally stood for. Self acclaimed “feminists” spew hate for views while spreading misinformation about a movement that was already heavily misconstrued. Uninformed posts and rants online about clashing dependence on men and independence of women and shaming men and women alike for existing, riddle the thinking of people discovering the movement and also provide ammunition to the ones who already dislike the original concept of feminism. These provide means to prolong the hate and worsen the understanding of the movement. People now rethink whether to associate themselves with the label feminist due to the vast misinterpretation that is being fed by the internet and ultimately, society.  

The reality of Patriarchy

As per the critically acclaimed essay, "Understanding Patriarchy" written by Bell Hooks he highlights the main reality of Patriarchy.

The reality is that many misunderstand the system of patriarchy and fail to recognize that the privileges and power awarded to men as a result of the patriarchy are only one side of a double-edged sword.

What they fail to realise, however, is that all of those issues stem directly from the patriarchal system that feminists aim to dismantle.

Male suicide rates are so high because the patriarchy denies men the right to express their emotions.

Men often lose custody battles because women have been socialised to be caretakers and are often subconsciously recognized as such, even if the evidence is against them.

Male victims are so often discounted because we live in a society that views men as being in control and refuses to acknowledge that they too can be violated.

This once again reveals that no matter who you are, the patriarchy negatively impacts your life.

Written By Shariba Kauser A

Edited By Purani R

#femininsm #womesrights #genderequality