Feminism is...
After reading my last week’s “Short Take” article, a review of ‘Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, some of my readers asked me what was my personal take on feminism.
Considering the ‘shortness’ of the Takes here, I may not be able to elucidate my views elaborately. But I can tell you this. That the term ‘feminism’ is one of the most misconstrued of theories. Feminism is not anti-men. It’s not some kind of agitation against societal norms. It’s a way of life where decisions are taken for which gender is not the criteria.
Feminism is
When marriage is not the only qualification and motherhood is not the only achievement for a woman.
When the kitchen is not solely a woman’s prerogative and role reversals on the domestic front is not glorified or viewed as derogatory.
When a man decides not to marry just because he needs someone to cook for him and keep house for him.
When a woman ceases to blame her parents, husband or children for not having a meaningful life to live.
When a woman does not look down upon men as a class just because they belong to the species that once dominated over her ancestors.
When one stops forwarding jokes that demean the woman in the house.
When it’s OK for a woman to have more food than her male companion and is not mocked at for it.
When what is important is for a woman to be healthy, not size zero.
When women do not feel intimidated by other women.
When women are not forced to go out and work in the name of feminism.
When a woman’s choice is also taken into consideration.
When the respect for womanhood is not restricted only to the human species but to all aspects of Mother Earth.
Vidya Shankar
Published in The Gulf Today / Short Take, dt Mar 09, 2019
http://gulftoday.ae/portal/42fc4249-525f-47c2-be5b-0f9d5a248caa.aspx
#TheQuintessentialWord #TheFlautistofBrindaranyam #BalanceforBetter #IWD2091
Here's my first book! An ensemble of poetry and photographs.
Click the link below to watch a 30-second promo video.
https://youtu.be/5BhbjMaIwpk
You can buy it at this link:
https://notionpress.com/read/the-flautist-of-brindaranyamwww.facebook.com
Considering the ‘shortness’ of the Takes here, I may not be able to elucidate my views elaborately. But I can tell you this. That the term ‘feminism’ is one of the most misconstrued of theories. Feminism is not anti-men. It’s not some kind of agitation against societal norms. It’s a way of life where decisions are taken for which gender is not the criteria.
Feminism is
When marriage is not the only qualification and motherhood is not the only achievement for a woman.
When the kitchen is not solely a woman’s prerogative and role reversals on the domestic front is not glorified or viewed as derogatory.
When a man decides not to marry just because he needs someone to cook for him and keep house for him.
When a woman ceases to blame her parents, husband or children for not having a meaningful life to live.
When a woman does not look down upon men as a class just because they belong to the species that once dominated over her ancestors.
When one stops forwarding jokes that demean the woman in the house.
When it’s OK for a woman to have more food than her male companion and is not mocked at for it.
When what is important is for a woman to be healthy, not size zero.
When women do not feel intimidated by other women.
When women are not forced to go out and work in the name of feminism.
When a woman’s choice is also taken into consideration.
When the respect for womanhood is not restricted only to the human species but to all aspects of Mother Earth.
Vidya Shankar
Published in The Gulf Today / Short Take, dt Mar 09, 2019
http://gulftoday.ae/portal/42fc4249-525f-47c2-be5b-0f9d5a248caa.aspx
#TheQuintessentialWord #TheFlautistofBrindaranyam #BalanceforBetter #IWD2091
Here's my first book! An ensemble of poetry and photographs.
Click the link below to watch a 30-second promo video.
https://youtu.be/5BhbjMaIwpk
You can buy it at this link:
https://notionpress.com/read/the-flautist-of-brindaranyamwww.facebook.com
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