Is feminism about empowering women or changing the mindset of men?
Feminism, mainly a concept that started in the West, began as a movement to give everyone equal rights, whether they were men or women. The idea of equality is something many of us take for granted because we were born into a world where it is more recognized. But what about the women who were denied their rights? Women who were abused or insulted just because they were the “wrong” gender? Women who were not allowed to live the life they wanted but were forced to live according to the wishes of their husbands, fathers, or brothers? Women who were seen only as objects? The list of injustices goes on and on.
But that was the past. Times have changed, and so have the laws, but have people changed? Well, that's a subjective question. There are still underdeveloped places where women suffer, but in moderately-developed to highly-developed places, women have been given the rights they deserve. This progress should have happened much earlier, and of course, women should never have been denied their rights in the first place.
Coming back to feminism, it remains one of the most controversial topics today. There are people who support it (feminists) and those who do not (anti-feminists). Is it necessary that every anti-feminist is a misogynist? I don't think so. People can support women's rights and still believe that some feminists take things too far.
There is something called “toxic feminism.” Toxic feminism refers to extreme or harmful beliefs and behaviours associated with feminism, such as demonising men, dismissing differing opinions, or promoting division instead of equality. Believing all men are inherently oppressive without considering individual character is not true feminism. Promoting hatred of men under the guise of gender equality is not feminism, and labelling all criticism of feminist ideas as 'mansplaining' or misogyny is not feminism either.
Not all feminism is bad, and not all feminism is good. Some feminists genuinely fight for the rights of women that are still not fully realised. However, some "feminists" misuse the movement to try to suppress men.
Now, let's answer the question: Is feminism about empowering women or changing the mindset of men? The thing is, can we even empower women without changing the mindset of men? To some extent, yes. But what about the husbands, fathers, or brothers who are still stuck in the past and refuse to change their views? I believe that true empowerment of women won't be possible without also changing the mindset of men. However, this doesn’t mean we need to suppress men. Changing someone’s mindset and silencing them are two very different things. Society suppressed women and we saw the consequences. It’s high time we start empowering all humans. We should stop making distinctions between men and women. We are all humans, and we all face similar problems. Instead of degrading one another, we should support each other.
In conclusion, while feminism has been instrumental in advancing gender equality, it is important to understand its complexities. Recognizing the range of beliefs and practices within feminism allows for a more balanced perspective, fostering genuine equality and mutual respect. Feminism is about more than just empowering women; it’s also about changing outdated mindsets and promoting mutual support. By focusing on empowering all humans and working together, we can build a more equal and supportive society.
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