A lot of talk has been going on about feminism in
recent days. Some of it fuelled by the photos which are uploaded by Rega Jha which are a part of #IndiaNeedsFeminism (insert link).
But what is feminism? Everyone keep branding the
word around without an idea what it actually means. I overheard a random conversation
wherein, seeing the photos, a guy asks what is feminism. The girl in the group
replies as “Women being more powerful.. like bosses……” and I’m appalled.
Really? That’s what you understand from feminism? That is as wide off the mark
a definition as I’ve ever heard. A Google search gives the meaning as “the
advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.” That
word equality. That’s what it is. That’s the whole crux of it and at no point
there is ever a mention of female domination. Feminism isn't about
"one sex over the other", it's about equal rights for men and women.
Coming back to the Photos. India Needs Feminism,
big time. India Needs Feminism because women would like to and should do
whatever they like without having their motives questioned. India needs
feminism because not everyone wants to be pictured/pencilled in like a
character in some Ekta Kapoor serial. India needs feminism because culture
should be followed, but not imposed. India Needs Feminism because women of this
country should never feel inferior. India needs feminism because no one should
ever say “Boys will be boys” and get away with it. It’s high time and people
need to realize that this is the 21st century and Women can be held
back no longer.
