What’s The Problem With Feminism?

“Are you a feminist?”

That single question could bring an entire conversation to a halt, or turn a conversation into a heated debate. I’m going to be honest—I thought it was cool to not be a feminist. Before you bring out the pitchforks, let me explain. The only ‘feminists’ I had witnessed at the time were on television, or on the internet, fighting battles via comments under a post they were offended by. It was further fuelled by posts highlighting how ‘crazy’ or irrational feminists (read: feminazis) were.

As an impressionable teenager, all of this led to me making the worst assumptions—it meant men would hate on me for being so forthcoming, that doors would suddenly not be opened for me, boxes wouldn’t be carried for me, and (insert other cliche expectations here) so on. Even while I write this, I want to smack myself on the head for thinking like that. Not just because the women in my own life have taught me better, but the men have too. It was only until I was forced into the real world, stripped of the privileges I was accustomed to, dealing with new experiences, being pushed out of my comfort zone when it came to reading material, and most importantly, a new and open-minded work environment.

Feminism as a word had an entirely new meaning.

Or rather, it had convoluted over time, turning into a word none of us want to be associated to, but feel compelled by society.

Being a feminist hasn’t changed who I am as a person; I haven’t transformed into a male-hating ogre, roaring at any man who dares to disagree with me. If anything, understanding this has made me more patient—and I’d like to reiterate that previously feminism to me, seemed like a label that angry women were sticking onto themselves, because it was the current or ‘cool’ thing to do.

Today, I realise that these very women (including me) had/have every darn right to be angry. Not only is it the only way our voices are heard, but it’s because there are still people; men AND women (and the rest of the gender spectrum who are fighting their own battle), who don’t understand why or what we’re doing fighting this fight.

I’ve even argued with a priest on the matter! His opening statement was, “I love arguing with feminists.” The argument ended with him taking the easy way out, by saying he was simply using ‘reverse psychology’. All the man apparently wanted was to see women agitated and proving a point. (At some point, I’d love for him to meet one of my bosses.) What I took from that though, was that my grandmother who prays for my soul every day, was (surprisingly) on my side.

Because even she understands that I’m only at this stage in my life, because women from back in her generation, stepped up to the patriarchy—for the betterment of both.

And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them down. I may not have covered every aspect, nay, I have not covered every aspect there is to feminism, but here’s a video by Vitamin Stree you need to watch—feminist or not.

Feature Image Credit—New Statesman

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