Just the other day, I asked a male friend of mine if he is a feminist. I like to ask this question to see people’s reaction. Immediately he says, “Define feminist”. And I can understand why, when we are surrounded by “feminists” who burn bras, hate men and everything related to them, and not wax or groom themselves etc.
First of all, feminism means equal status for all genders. True feminists want men and women to have equal rights, pay, obligations and duties. This means that women should be paid as much as her male colleagues at work, have an equal right to work and study as men, and also to have the same social status and freedom that men do. If your brother is allowed to stay out till 10pm, you should be too.
Let us bust some myths about feminism, shall we?
· Feminists do not hate men. I am pretty much sure that this is against humanity as well to hate half the population. We love men who respect us for who we are and fight for us.
· Feminists look pretty. Women, feminists or not, have the right to choose whether they want to wax, apply makeup, wear heels etc. It’s a choice. If someone wears makeup because it makes her feel confident, it does not mean that she has sold her soul to the patriarchal society.
· Feminists wear bras. Honestly, when I don’t wear a bra, it’s uncomfortable for me with my breasts moving around too much. Should I stop wearing a bra just because my boyfriend does not wear one and I want to be equal to him?
· Men can be feminists too. ‘Women’s issues’ are humanity’s issues. Men should fight for the rights of their wives, sisters, daughters and mothers. In fact, it’s men who should encourage women to fight for their own rights, especially in developing countries.
· Feminists can take a joke. Yes, we can take a joke at our gender’s expense if the time and the situation is right, just the same way we make fun of men for their various eccentrics. We are funny; look at Tina Fey!
· Feminists accept you. If you are an emotional man who cries occasionally, feminists will not tell you to “man up and stop acting like a girl”. Feminism is about breaking gender barriers.
· Feminists can be family oriented too. It might seem to the ordinary unknowledgeable person that feminists do not want to get married or have kids. This is not true for everyone. Just like the next man or woman, a feminist also wants to have someone to share his/her hopes and fears with!
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