Why you shouldn’t be a Feminist: A Shift in Perspective

In a world riddled with polarizing thoughts and opinions, social media is a cesspool of discussions and debates (some constructive, most not) where everyone with an opinion is granted a platform to represent themselves. One such discussion has been going on for as long as I can remember; whether Feminism is a legitimate movement or not. The argument made to discredit the movement is that it only focuses on the issues faced by one gender. The lack of an egalitarian approach taken by the movement leaves people out of the conversation, and it makes them feel like their struggles aren’t big enough. After all, the movement is called ‘Feminism’ and not ‘Equalism’, and the title inherently leaves a majority of the population out. This argument has resulted in the spawn of various counter-movements like ‘Meninism’. This got me thinking; What does it mean to be a Feminist?

The Feminist Movement formally began in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention, where more than three hundred men and women rallied for the cause of gender equality. The French Revolution rekindled the movement when hundreds of women marched on the streets to voice their dissent over the fact that they were considered passive citizens, which meant that they couldn’t vote, hold political office, or own property. The movement spread like wildfire, especially because many women were a part of the military in many European countries due to a shortage of labor. Since women were active members of the workforce, the government was forced to accommodate their demands and make the changes they desired. 

Of course, change was slow because legal equality doesn’t mean much unless it is accompanied by social and economic change. Even today, while most countries have legal systems that view everyone equally before the law, only eight percent of national leaders are women, six percent of CEOs are women, and more than 97 percent of all women report having been subjected to sexual violence. There still exists a glass ceiling over their heads that paints a false sense of freedom but restricts their growth as a result of systemic patriarchy. There is still a need for a movement like Feminism that unites women based on their shared trauma and concerns. Of course, the movement isn’t perfect; it has its fair share of issues in terms of becoming myopic and excluding members of the LGBTQIA+ out of the conversation. But just because you don’t like a cake you bought doesn’t mean you burn the whole bakery down. As we entered the fourth wave of Feminism, the movement diverted from its original philosophy as social media users began to formulate their variations of what the movement meant to them. Blatant misandry has become commonplace, and the sentiment that “If you aren’t with us, then you’re against us” continues to grow. But these ideas are not indicative of the movement as a whole. Feminism doesn’t seek to discredit the struggles of other groups. The movement doesn’t seek to say that only women undergo sexual harassment, or are mistreated at their workplaces. If your standard response to a woman coming out with her story of abuse is to say “Not all men are monsters” or “Even men go through that!”, then your idea of the movement is highly skewed. If the only time you speak out about a problem is to use it to villainize someone else’s struggles, then you don’t care for either of the victims. 

I think you shouldn’t be a feminist if you think women are superior to men. You shouldn’t a feminist if you continue to victimize yourself for your struggles. You shouldn’t be a feminist if your idea of the movement is highly superficial. If all you do is put the word ‘feminist’ in your Instagram bio and then proceed to body shame celebrities on the same platform, you are not a true feminist. Feminism is a movement that simply advocates for the equality of the genders. Given a certain context, words are but mere containers of ideas, and Feminism at its core is just that – a movement that united millions of women in the past and continues to do so today. Feminism is an inclusive movement that seeks to welcome everyone in, irrespective of your race, socioeconomic standing, and yes, your gender. If you seek to use Feminism as a shield for your misandry, then maybe you shouldn’t be a Feminist.