Understanding Feminism

Soraya Marchon

Feminism can be a confusing word to some people. Do feminists believe that women are superior to men? Are they anti-man? These are common misconceptions about feminism. But it simply means equality of the sexes. Gloria Steinem, the famed journalist and feminist leader says, “A feminist is anyone who recognises the equality and full humanity of women and men.” Which means men too can, and should, be feminists. 

The American actress Zoey Deschanel says, “It’s not about women acting like men; it’s about women acting like women and being successful.” I grew up in a healthy atmosphere where my brother and I were given equal opportunities. I was not aware of the existence of a battle between the sexes. It was only in school, that I began to experience a healthy competition between boys and girls in terms of academic, extra-curricular and sports performance, etc.

Later, in college, I encountered the word ‘Feminist’ for the first time. It all started with my peers discussing about what to wear the next day in order to stand out. Some were daring and wanted to be different, while others simply followed trends blindly, thinking “What will people say!” The former were unafraid to break the unwritten rules set by society and they were labelled as the ‘feminist group’ of our college. Perhaps they followed Judy Garland’s dictum  “Always be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.”

What is the scenario today? What do modern women want? Louisa May Alcott, the author of the classic novel ‘Little Women’ said -- “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” At school level, a girl wants to be popular among friends and wants to prove herself to her teachers. In high school, she wants to score good marks with an eye on her career. In college, peer pressure comes into play. And as a young adult, she becomes assertive and knows what is best for herself. She has the wisdom to choose a life partner or she may choose to stay single. 

I asked some of my Goan friends, what feminism means to them. One colleague said “A son or daughter should be given equal opportunities in terms of education, and therefore equal pay.” 

Another held that “Getting a qualification is empowering and makes one financially secure.” Yet a third asserted that “In all this, a woman should not lose her individuality and female traits or try to take the place of a man.” 

Goa, and the rest of India, still have a long way to go, to achieve equality of the sexes. As popular actor Madhuri Dixit says, “Men must change their mindset towards women… It will happen slowly, but everyone has to move together.”