Are feminists asking for 'too much'?

The most common "criticism" of modern-day feminism is that women don't face the kind of severe discrimination that the movement had once fought against. Proponents of this argument claim that, since women have achieved certain rights already, there is no need to continue advocating for gender equality. This reminds me of a Tumblr post that read, "You know how first-world feminists get told that they don't need feminism? They're told that they should be glad they're not 'really oppressed' like the women in third world countries, that things could always be worse..."

The post goes on to explain how feminists everywhere are dismissed just because someone else in another place is worse-off, while those who are presented as worse-off are being told the same, and so on and so forth. These psychological tricks generally work by guilt-shaming a victim, distracting them from their problems, belittling their issues as being "not real," and emotionally blackmailing them for being ungrateful. Just because things could always be worse doesn't mean that the current issues are not worth fighting for.

Whenever I talk about women's rights, many men instantly argue that the feminist movement has given women so much special treatment that it is now unfair to men in some cases. They use designated bus seats as the ultimate example. Those who argue about these issues don't understand that feminism starts off with equity, not equality.

Whenever I talk about women's rights, many men instantly argue that the feminist movement has given women so much special treatment that it is now unfair to men in some cases. They use designated bus seats as the ultimate example. Those who argue about these issues don't understand that feminism starts off with equity, not equality.

The movement is not meant to diminish the distinction amongst gender needs. Rather, it caters to those who are deemed inferior (in this case, women) so that they are not considered inferior anymore. For example, to ensure fair treatment for those with disabilities, wheelchairs are provided to those who need them. Is this "special treatment"? Should everyone, including those who can walk, get a wheelchair? Similarly, women are given special quotas in some sectors so they can get access to the opportunities that men get by default. It is not pushing them ahead in the race but only giving them a fair chance to win.

Failure to understand this basic fact has led many to hate the overall idea of feminism. The word itself has been associated with such negative connotations that even some women's rights activists don't call themselves feminists.

To bring about a welcome change, people need to understand feminism's multifaceted nature and the ongoing struggle for gender equality in a society that often downplays or misunderstands women's issues. Properly educating the younger generations about feminism can erase the negative connotations associated with the word, and only then can feminists freely advocate what they stand for.

Mosammat Maimuna Khatun is an economics graduate.

Views expressed in this article are the author's own.

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