Feminism: Is it the Enemy?

Feminism is the idea that women should have equal rights and opportunities as men do in all spheres of life. Is feminism the enemy?

This depends on cultural beliefs and geographical factors and how society is embracing the evolving world. This article will share the types of feminism, its effects and how different cultures take feminism.

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Types of Feminism

• Liberal feminism.
• Radical feminism.
• Cultural feminism.
• Marxist feminism.

Liberal  Feminism

It is a belief that there should be equality between men and women both in private and public spheres.  It focuses on all genders having the right to education and owning property, and social and political rights. Those advocating for it believe that women should also participate in deciding their future in terms of legal and economic development same way as men.

Radical Feminism

They fight to establish same level of status between men and women by abolishing the patriarchy life. They believe that male dominance in the society is the source of men seeing women as sexual objects and limiting their reproductive rights, and deciding for them their education and family life. By abolishing the patriarchal system, they look forward to doing away with women being confined to domestic roles by allowing sharing of roles by both genders.

Cultural Feminism

The proponents emphasizes that both men and women have different views according to their biological attributes. They believe in re-establishing the way female gender looks at the world and brings out their femaleness nature.

This brings out the real nature of women due to their biological character rather than what the society determines for them.

Marxist Feminism

It tends to take corrective measures and levelling the ground between men and women. They believe that women are exploited through capitalism and being denied the right to own property. The proponents argue that women should have the right to decide their present and future life in terms of their relationships, property ownership and family life.

Effects of Feminism

The effects of feminism have been both positive and negative depending on how each gender looks at it.

Equality: Those who have fought for equality have realized the dream as some nations have passed laws that women should have equal space in workplaces and their rights to equal pay for equal work done be respected. Some countries which are yet to pass laws are also discussing on how to promote women rights to education, health, economic and leadership. This is seen as a positive change as it gives both genders the right to choose their lifestyle.

Social injustice: Men have established themselves as superior to women and this has limited women to the confines of roles traditionally attributed to them. This has proofed to be a drawback to the prosperity of the society. Women have not been able to realize their full potentials due to this, and in return create a gap in development of the society.

Gynophobia: Due to women becoming more independent in recent times, it has created fear in men. Men tend to fear those they deem as independent women, those who have made it in life. They take it that these women will rule over them if they are to get into any kind of a relationship like marriage, work or courtship.They shy away from initiating contact with these women or letting them into their inner circle because they will feel intimidated by the woman who is independent.

Gamophobia: Many men fear to be committed to a woman who has established herself financially. They perceive them as a threat to their nature as they will be in a position to question every step they take.Many men believe that for a woman to be docile in the relationship, then theman must lead while the woman should follow. Others however believe that for social and economic development to work, both genders must be on the same leveland same table of decision making.

A voice to Women: Women have been able to raise their voice against domestic abuse, sexual harassment, emotional abuse and being passed on for promotions at workplaces. Feminism as a movement has brought protection to women and given them a lifeline for they now understand their rights. This has seen women getting into leadership positions in large numbers and in turn reaching out to more inrural areas understand their rights androles in the society.

Religion Factor: People align themselves to different religions that exist today. Almost all religions have attributed the roles and rights of each gender based on its doctrinesand this has a lot of weight in the decisions both genders make.But there are those with other options who feel that religion should not decide for them because it is their life, and they should be the ones to be on the steering wheel.

Conclusion

Even though feminism has brought positive changes to women, it has also tilted the scales of patriarchy and made men uncomfortable. At the start men would not accept the idea that women can also participate in traditionally men only roles, but the world has evolved and more men are accepting the changes. This acceptance by more men has made more women to come on board and participate in socio-economic, political, educational and family decisions as equal partners to men and not subordinates.

In retrospect, it has made men wary of women. Some men fear to get committed into a relationship with a woman because they are independent, others see them as a competition instead of a shot in the arm in their quest for success.

Eventually feminism is a discussion that will be in the society for a longer time to come, due to different cultures and beliefs. People come from different backgrounds and they can be hesitant to embrace the right for women to access all spheres of life. Nevertheless, it is a discussion that will bring many changes that will affect both genders positively or negatively.