I'm guessing you've heard a lot about feminism the past couple of months, the past couple of years even. I'm betting that you have either response to the topic; 1) bored stiff of hearing about the 'whiney feminists' and the constant 'women rights' being shoved in your face or 2) you can't get enough of it and want to learn more.
Well this is something for both of these responses.
Feminism; the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of equality of the sexes.
That's the definition in the Oxford dictionary. So you can come to the conclusion it focuses mainly on women, right?
Before you go tipping your hat or cackling away thinking it's some silly women's movement; the idea it's exclusively 'women for women' or 'men hating' think of this point. It's called FEMINISM as it's the FEMALE traits people are shamed for; the idea that crying is weak, that a man showing emotion makes him weak or 'less of a man', the thought of men refusing to wear the colour pink because it's 'feminine' and therefore considered powerless or even 'gay' (which doesn't even make sense, as being gay doesn't make a man any less of a man. Neither does a colour).
But wait; these points you're making focus on include men? Well duh! That's why in the definition includes 'equality of the sexes'. If women aren't seen as equal to men, then they are seen as lower. Not equal.
Why? What makes women submissive to The Man?
Some say evolution, linking back to caveman times where women were lower than men. To this I ask you to think of 3 things; 1) Are we living in caveman times? 2) Does the ability of carrying a child make you weaker or stronger? And 3) Would you treat your mother or sister, aunt or grandma as someone less important, less respected, just because they are female?
The answer to all of these are likely to be 1) No 2) No and 3) No. It's the 21st century, we have the IWatch now, so it's safe to assume we are no longer in a pre-historical era. Pregnancy and childbirth is hard, to assume it 'doesn't count' or 'isn't that sore' is the same as thinking that if you're taller than someone, you're superior just for being able to reach a self easier. Stupid right? The other person could get a chair and be taller than you then, so they could reach the shelf AND hit you on the head for being idiotic.
And lastly, why the HELL would you not respect a member of your family just because they were once little girls? They are as human as you, no one is 'better' for having a different reproductive organ. Yeah, that makes the sexes different but I'd be damned if Mother Nature, that's right MOTHER, made women to be lower than men.
But before you go off, tutting under your breath, think of this - you're reading this on an electronic device while girls in India and Africa aren't even learning how to read, let alone own something technological. Why? Because they're girls. They aren't seen to be 'worthy' of basic education, so even if you think women are equal in your country, think go the whole world. All 7 billion and more of us. Are we all equal? Are we aware of the issues media and past generations have made us blind too?
Take a moment. Really think about it.
Still not convinced? Okay, last two things 1) The whole world thought pink was a 'strong' colour and blue was 'weak', so boys wore pink and girls wore blue. Then Hitler came along and put pink stars on those he wanted dead, so the whole world put boys in blue and have consequently followed what Hitler believed. Hitler. The man who tried to kill an entire race of people. You're really going to go along with what he believed?
And 2? 2 is if you're trying to fight this simple idea, the idea of equality and desperately trying to find loopholes on what makes women unequal to men, ask yourself why? Why fight making people the same? Why are you frightened of women being on the same standing as men? Why does it freak you out if a man shows emotion or wears pink? Why must one be lower than the other?
Kinda weird you've been played into thinking a certain way, isn't it?
