Truth vs. Lies about Feminism

It is easy to misconstrue of things that happen around you because it is about what impression you get from it. Ever since the moment started, feminism has an image problem. Actresses after actresses have openly stated that they don’t need feminism because either they want kids (Lisa Haydon), or because they respect other women who are house makers (Shilpa Shetty) or whether they want to be strong and independent just how a woman should be (Madhuri Dixit Nene).

Here’s to clarify some lies about feminism:

Lie: A feminist can’t be feminine or ‘girly’

Truth: Feminism doesn’t care about what gender you are, whether you prefer One Direction or Foo Fighters, your sexual orientation, what your favourite colour is, etc.

It just cares if you also want equal rights for all the members of the society: whether man, woman or a non-binary.

Feminism doesn’t care if you curl your hair every morning or wear the same clothes every alternate day.

Lie: Feminists hate men

Truth: Feminists don’t hate men. They hate sexism and the patriarchal society.

They hate the idea of one person being superior or inferior, biased by gender and no other qualification.

Lie: There is no need for feminism now since everyone knows about it

Truth: Just because everyone knows about it and women have been empowered in some ways doesn’t mean they are accepted as equals.

Many women still get paid less while working for the same hours and doing the same jobs as their male counterparts, women still are the ones that contribute more to the households, brutal practices like honour killing, etc still prevail.

Lie: Feminists are only women

Truth: Yes, there are male feminists. We have been learning about male feminists since our school years: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Jyotiba Phule, Jawaharlal Nehru, all fought for women rights when they were being oppressed by the male dominant society.

You just need to be smart and have a little brain to be a feminist. No one cares if you’re a boy or a girl.

Lie: Feminists run away from motherhood

Truth: Quoting Lisa Haydon, “I don’t like the word feminist. I don’t think women trying to be men is feminism. I also don’t believe in being outspoken for the sake of it, or just to prove a point. Feminism is just an overused term and people make too much noise about it for no reason. Women have been given these bodies to produce children, and the spirit and tenderness to take care of people around us. It’s fine to be an outspoken and working woman. I don’t want to be a man. One day I look forward to making dinner for my husband and children. I don’t want to be a career feminist.”

Feminists hate the societal pressure of producing children but that shouldn’t be miscomprehended as all feminists hating the idea of nurturing children. Feminists hate the idea of not having freedom of making that choice.

If feminists could have a penny every time someone rolled their eyes because they identified themselves as ‘feminists’, they’d all own multiple Lamborghini's. Next time you judge someone because of their beliefs, make sure to Google what the concept actually is because the possibility of you not misjudging the concept is like finding a needle in a haystack.



Written by Durva Bhatt
A bibliophile who is fuelled entirely by caffeine, sarcasm, fandoms and random thoughts.