Every once in a while, the internet coughs up a fresh round of hot takes on how feminism has 'ruined' women’s lives. You’ve probably seen them – those supposedly funny posts about someone blaming feminism for making women work when we could’ve just been lounging around, drinking cocktails, and painting our nails. As delightful as a life of frolicking sounds, let’s be real — that entire premise reeks of privilege and ignorance.

For some, a job is just a way to fund overpriced lattes. But for others? It’s the difference between living on their own terms or being trapped in a life they never chose. There are girls who are married off before they can legally vote. Others are stuck in abusive relationships with no escape route. For them, education and financial independence aren’t just about 'career goals' — they’re about survival.

'The Butterfly Effect', by filmmaker Nirali Naik, follows Deepa, Josephine, and Farheen — three women from different corners of India who defied the odds stacked against them. And like the butterfly effect itself, their small acts of courage sparked massive changes; empowering entire communities.

Josephine was forced into an arranged marriage with an abusive husband, a reality too many women face. Alone and with no safety net, she built a new life through beekeeping and found a way out of the marriage. Beyond just making a living to support herself and her children, she went on to train 50,000 women across India, helping them escape poverty and violence the same way she did. From being powerless in her own marriage to empowering thousands of others, Josephine set an example of resilience and inspiration.

Then there’s Farheen, a young girl from a district where marriage by 8th grade was the norm. Instead of accepting her fate, she convinced her father to delay her marriage and became the first female reporter at her district’s radio station. She started broadcasting stories of other girls who had dared to dream beyond their circumstances. Today, her voice reaches 165 villages, inspiring millions of young girls to rewrite their own narratives.

The butterfly effect was shot for Girl Effect, a non-profit organisation with the goal of ending poverty globally. With the focus on adolescent girls in the global South, the initiative attempts to shed light on the exceptional potential these young girls have. The film was also showcased at a New York fundraiser hosted by the Kering Foundation, an organisation that supports NGOs and helps them to end violence against women.

Just because we have smartphones, self-driving cars, and AI, it’s easy to assume the world has evolved. But then you take a hard look at the way women are still treated, and you’d think we’re stuck in the 1600s. Stories like the ones in 'The Butterfly Effect' serve as a reality check. They remind us that feminism is an essential and ongoing movement, not just a buzz word.

Follow Nirali here.

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