Feminism is not really a third world issue/ Concept of feminism/ History of feminism/ Three waves of feminism. This is the frequently asked essay topic in most of CSS exam. Students should be well prepared. You must keep in mind the following outlines from table of content. Moreover, checkout the relevant quotations at the end of the article.
Table of content:
| Introduction |
| Why feminism is the issue of advanced nations? |
| Feminism in developed countries vs feminism in developing countries |
| Ways to overcome feminism |
| Conclusion |
| Quotations |
Introduction
The word feminism possesses different meanings and conceptions toward different people. People restrict this word to only the rights of women some of them reflect this word as ideology while other people think that it is a dogma. But the reality is that feminism is related with the equality of human rights and humanity of both man and woman. Regarding this concept of feminism it is everyone’s issue. This issue is not related to women of a particular country or a third world, but this is for the men and women of all the countries around the world. Feminism is not a third world issue, it is a global issue.
Gloria Steinem stated feminism as:
“A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.”
The concept feminism was modernized in 19th century from the west when better employment opportunities were offered to women, modern access to education and liberty of taking life decisions and being the owner of property herself. This modern concept of feminism changed the attitude of western society toward women. The western women started to take an active part in the market and enjoyed liberty. They are now empowered and take decision of their life including divorce, abortion, equal wages like men and more than that.
Why feminism is the issue of advanced nations?
There is a need to understand that feminism is not restricted to a particular nation or state but it is a global issue. Major reasons behind this are:
Political rights
Both men and women are important factors in development of the country and state. The concept of feminism arises with the injustice in the political quota for the women. Due to this injustice people start to misunderstand the term of feminism with women rights only. We should understand that political participation of women will result in gaining democracy, greater response to requirements of citizens and boosting the cooperation across the political parties and also the most sustainable and peaceful environment. Another factor that is hindering in women participations in political parties is lack of political awareness and education which results in lack of political participations. In some parts of the world women is overburdened by household chores which is the biggest reason creating issues like feminism. This is the need of time that we should understand the intelligence level of both men and women. We should not restrict our women to household affairs only and let her to get involved in political affairs and education.
To conclude political rights it would not be wrong to say that both men and women should have quota in political parties. We should educate women to develop confidence and prepare them for the better future of our state and nation.
Economical rights
As feminism is related to the issues of both men and women rights so it will not be wrong to say that both should get equal wages and salaries on the basis of work and skills. There is no doubt that in some countries and regions of the world, the salaries vary on the basis of gender. This is the greatest flaw of our economy. Some advertisements of jobs describe that they need a women for a particular job. This is also wrong. Both man and woman have the equal capability. If we want to do justice in economical rights of men and women then we have to fix salaries on the basis of skills instead of gender. Some economic injustices are also done with women who include subordinate jobs, unpaid and unequal household affairs, acute problems of sanitations, and also unequal share of property.
Social rights
The term social right is associated with the rights of men and women in the society. There is a great violence of social rights in our society which arise the issues like feminism. This violence includes abduction, rapes, domestic violence, and sexual harassment. Apparently these terms seem to be associated with the rights of women only. But this is wrong because this social violence is also being committed with the men. Harassment at the workplaces is also being committed with men. So we should provide full protection to both genders.
Feminism in developed countries vs feminism in developing countries:
In developed countries everyone enjoys autonomy while in under developed countries people are still being forced in some cases. In developing countries child and forced marriage is prevailing continuously while in developed countries everyone is free to be married according to his own will. Not even the women are forced for the marriage at a particular place. They are free to take their own decisions and it is the responsibility of others to respect their decisions. In developing countries there is a feudalistic mind set of people about women. Women is not free to get married according to their will, not even they can appeal for the divorce, forced marriages are most common among the women of developing countries. They do not allow the women to get education and earn their own living. In developing countries there is massive gender discrimination. Even the job opportunities are offered on the basis of gender. While in developed countries there is no gender discrimination and women are free to get education according to their will. In developing countries women depends on men for their food and other necessities for survival.
Regardless of culture, country and nation feminism is a world problem. No matter how much developed a country is feminism has prevailed in the world. Women across the globe face sexual harassment and torcher at the workplace.
Ways to overcome feminism:
- By eliminating the socio-cultural barriers we might be able to get some relief from this discrimination. Here the question is: Why are we so gender sensitive? Regardless of men and women, we should think that we all are human beings the best creation of the almighty. Just like man eats food so does the women, they drink, study, earn, so does the women. Then why are we creating barriers for this specific gender. It is our right to teach our upcoming generation that there is no discrimination of gender but of character. On the basis of humanity, we all have equal rights to live, earn, learn and take any decision of our life.
- By educating women we can overcome this concept of feminism. Education wakes up the person to fight for his rights. When we will teach women, they will be able to speak for their rights and condemn any action against their righteous authority. We should never forget that if we educate man we are educating a single person, but if we will educate women we are educating the upcoming generation.
- As media and civil society are the most powerful in current time for taking anything to the peak. Here comes the responsibility of media to spread awareness in the small towns and cities and developing countries that woman is the masterpiece of our society. They also have the right of getting education, stay alert about the legislation, effective and proper implementation of law, and taking any decision of their life.
Conclusion:
As discussed, gender equality and feminism is not only for the women. It is everyone’s issue even in the third world states. It is now established that a country which have healthier gender equality has a healthier equality on social, economic and political basis. The only reason behind this stability is gender equality because it allows countries to unfold the potential of their citizens in the development of countries. Developing and third world countries will do them a fever if they will take this feminism issue seriously.
Quotations ‘Feminism is not really a third world issue’ :
“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.”
― Brigham Young
“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”
― Jane Austen
“I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.”
― Madonna
“Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.”
― Margaret Atwood
“I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.”
― Rebecca West
“I hate men who are afraid of women’s strength.”
― Anaïs Nin
“Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.”
― Cheris Kramarae
“As long as she thinks of a man, nobody objects to a woman thinking.”
― Virginia Woolf
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