Consider the "F" Word: an Analysis of Feminism
Yes, cue the gasps of shock and horror! With Women's History Month going on, let's have a brief talk about the "F" word that gets so many misperceptions. Some may harbour mixed feelings, and some may still feel very confused about what it truly means – but wherever we stand on the scale, I merely want to put on our academic specs and bring a better understanding of what the "F" word means. So stick around, maybe?
Let's talk about "feminism" and the perceptions around it.*
There are three main branches of feminism that influence the world today:
RADICAL FEMINISM
Radical feminists believe that men and women will forever be in a state of conflict because of irreconcilable biological differences, highlighting the patriarchal system as the root cause of inequality. Sexual violence (domestic abuse, rape) is the main instrument of oppression, with theorists arguing that men have natural, aggressive tendencies which will always threaten the women in the room.
Some extremists thus claim that women are only safe when surrounded by other women, seeing total social separation (building women-only communities) as the solution for liberation. Essentially, men and women would avoid interactions with each other to live their lives — otherwise, women will always be threatened and subordinated under patriarchal control. Legal equality wouldn't change that.[1]
I personally find the extremist end as discriminatory and impractical as it advocates for a deep hatred and strong prejudice against men. Often, it’s the extremists that get the spotlight on the news. While radical feminism brought many significant gains to the gender equality movement in the 20th Century, the majority of feminists now (including myself) identify with:
LIBERAL FEMINISM, the branch that acknowledges women's progress.
WOMEN = MEN
While the patriarchy is deep-rooted in our society (due to our history), liberals note the advances that women have made over the years, such as joining the workforce and having many more rights than ever before. But there are still significant problems to address, such as the gender wage gap, female genital mutilation in less developed countries, patterns of sexual assault and harassment, and a lack of accessible and formal education in developing countries.
You may consider yourself a liberal (as most in our generation do) if you think we're very close to gender equality, but not quite there yet. Liberals strive for equal opportunities to empower both men and women and believe that education and legal reform are key to combat gender inequality. Although there are biological sex differences, liberals believe that we should not be held back because of them – thus, equal opportunities. (More into that later.)
There is also MARXIST FEMINISM, which mainly focuses on the capitalist, patriarchal system of our society being the primary source of inequality. Rather than the patriarchy being the single source, Marxist feminists believe that it is instead an instrument of capitalism, differing from radicals.*
"But what is feminism to 'gender equality'?"
I get this question all the time: many feel that labelling themselves as "feminist" can be inappropriate, and would much rather advocate for “gender equality”. Fair enough. But if you are striving for gender equality, you are... also striving for women's rights.
That is the textbook definition of feminism: "the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes."[2]
Simply, feminism is: "if you want to do this job, do it because this job is open for whoever wants to try."
It is: "If you feel good in these clothes, wear them, and nobody will judge you for it."
It is not “I hate men, and all men are awful.”
If a girl wants to wear a hijab in a public place, she wears a hijab. If she wants to wear a swimsuit, she wears a swimsuit. And she does not get raped either way, because she did not "ask for it". To be proud of your body is not "asking for it", and to be proud and respectful of your religion, or simply wearing something to feel comfortable, is not being "prude" or "boring". She is being herself and should not face discrimination for that.
Feminism positively impacts men, too, as it aims for social, political and economic equality of the sexes. As liberals believe, this calls for the breaking down of gender stereotypes, including those that affect men.
"Masculinity" is a historical concept that has, for so long, promoted unhealthy messages and norms. A man should not cry. A “real man” shouldn't wear pink. A man should not be "feminine". A man should carry the family. It's for many of these reasons that male suicide rates skyrocket every year[3], with many feeling the harmful pressure society imposed on them as a "man".
So if you consider yourself a firm advocate of gender equality and believe in freedom of opportunity, you are indeed a feminist.
“Why is feminism important?”
There are women every day who fear getting catcalled, just by walking down the street; there are men who are universally bullied or pressured for having "feminine" qualities, a term incomprehensible to me. Feminism isn’t just relevant to women. Sexual assault and GDR (gender role socialization - imposing sexist stereotypes) is something that very much impacts us every day.
The glass ceiling still exists. The wage gap, believe it or not, exists. And while it may be unrealistic to completely destroy stereotypes, does it hurt to try and teach children how to respect each other, regardless of their gender?
I understand that many men (and even women) believe that "feminism is cancer" and it's "manhating", based on the outdated coverage we see in the media. To me, those aren't true feminists, as they don't see how the patriarchy is problematic for all of us. Feminism shouldn't be a dirty word when both men and women benefit from it. We all want to have equal opportunities, and we need all hands on deck to make that a reality, or at least get to a stage close to the reality we wish to achieve.
So there we have it: a liberal feminist's simplified guide to feminism! :)
*Disclaimer: This is a brief, simplified explanation of feminism. If you’re interested in learning more, I highly recommend researching on your own and getting familiar with feminist literature (such as Simone de Beauvoir’s “the Second Sex”)!
Francheska has a strong interest in film, general culture, and politics, and is pursuing international relations in university.
