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“I have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat”
– Rebecca West
“Feminism” is a notion that has been taken as a threat by not only men but also women. This resistance against feminism is due to the stigmas that are attached to it like, feminists do not marry, they don’t bear children, they are men haters etc. People also see feminism as a threat maybe because it directly enters our homes, our bedrooms and our personal relationships.
But the truth is “Feminism” is not hating men or going against men, but it is only a struggle against the patriarchy which is the main cause for women’s subordination.
“What is Feminism?” is a very difficult question to answer because feminism cannot be defined in a single sentence or in a paragraph. Feminism is not one unitary concept: it is instead a diverse and multi faceted grouping of ideas and indeed actions. (Freedman 2002)
“Feminism” voices against women’s subordination, exploitation, and sexism. It sees men and women as equal and that there should not be any discrimination amongst the two sexes based on their biology.
“Feminism” revolves around women and women are in its centrality. It asks two broad questions:
1. What about women? (description)
2. Why then all this as it is? (explanation)
HISTORY OF FEMINISM
The term “Feminism” has been derived from the French word “femme” meaning transformation. In 1872, it was first used by Alexandre Duman Fils, a French writer and a republican and an anti feminist to describe women who behave like men or who seemed masculine.
Feminism thus started in 17th century in the west through writings like “The forced marriage” by Aphra Behn’s, Mary Wollstonecrafts’ “A vindication of the right of women”, etc.
It is probable that feminism existed with the existence of patriarchy. Illustratively, we know that in the 6th century BC, Buddha and his followers engaged in a debate on women joining the religious order as nuns. Buddha’s aunt Gautami approached him along with 50 women with the request that they be ordained. With the consultation with senior monks, Buddha agreed to ordain women as Bhikkunis. (Bhasin and Khan 1999)
It was only after 19th century that feminism was voiced in an organized way in South Asia.
In Nepal, feminism started during the struggle against Rana Regime. Yog Maya challenged the Rana Regime by putting demands related to women’s rights. She jumped into River Arun along with her 68 followers in 1941 and died. Dibya Koirala led the campaign against Ghagan Pratha (tradition of covering the head by women). During the struggle against Rana Regime, women developed solidarity and formed Nepal women’s organization under the chairpersonship of Late Managala Devi Singh. Similarly in 1917, Nepal Mahila Samiti was formed with a major objective to change women’s lives by imparting household skills and craft training. Following it, Model Women’s Committee (Adarsha Mahila samiti) was formed in 1947 with an objective to usher social and political change among women and to mobilize women against the Rana regime. This committee struggled for voting rights and for the right to education of women.
Feminism has gained a lot of momentum from when it started in 17th century. Now, feminist consciousness (consciousness about the discrimination, exploitation and oppression of women by the society and the willingness to struggle) has created its presence in every sector.
TYPES OF FEMINISM
“Feminism” speaks different voices. The patriarchal influence has subordinated women in all aspects of their personal life, their family, education etc. Hence to deal with these varying influences four major types of feminism is prevailing:
Liberal Feminism, Marxist Feminism, Socialist Feminism and Radical feminism.
Liberal Feminism
Liberal feminism views that men and women are not only differently situated but also unequally situated. It talks about gender equality. It is based in the principal of equality of opportunities and freedom. It lobbies for equal rights for women. Its main goal is elimination of sexism and focuses on participation of women in public life.
Marxist Feminism
It is an outcome of the Marxist philosophy of capitalism, class and class struggle. It links the inferior position of women to the class based system and family system within capitalism and views it as the primary source of women’s oppression. Marxist feminists say that the introduction of private property caused women to be the property of men and also the first oppressed class. It talks about the household work of women and views it as unpaid labor. Marxist feminism talks about paying women for their household work and giving them better economic opportunities.
Socialist feminism
Socialist feminism united the concept of patriarchy and capitalism and seeks to eliminate both class and gender oppression. It says that women’s oppression is caused by their economic dependency. Both the productive and reproductive aspects of human life should be viewed through a gendered perspective.
Radical Feminism
Radical feminism is also known as extreme feminism. It views that women worldwide are oppressed in some way or the other. It describes family as the most oppressive institution where a wife is and unpaid prostitute and motherhood is an unpaid labor. Radical feminists believe that biological dependency between male and female is the main problem. Hence, some radical feminists seek complete isolation from men and welcomed lesbianism. The ultimate goal of radical feminism is to eliminate patriarchy and put women’s perspective in the center.
At present new feminisms are emerging like cultural feminism, Islamic feminism and Gandhian feminism. All these feminism are working towards improving the situation of women, to help them gain a dignified life where they can make their own choices.
CONCLUSION
Women are subordinated, discriminated and biased worldwide. According to the United Nation’s report, women constitute half the world’s population, perform nearly two thirds of its work hours, receive one tenth of the world’ s income, and own less than one hundredth of the world’s property.
The concept that feminists are only women is totally wrong. Both women and like minded men can become a part of feminism. Anyone (male and female) who recognizes the existence of sexism, male domination and patriarchy and who takes some action against it is a feminist. (Bhasin and Khan). We can find numerous examples where men have also been a part of feminism. In the context of Nepal, Jung Bahadur Rana abolished Sati system, Kang Yu-Wei abolished foot binding system among women in China, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru are few men who were feminists. Women are more involved in feminism because of their common interests. (Except some radical feminist) feminists are not against marriage, motherhood, family but they only want to change the existing relationship between female and male ; to make it equal.
Feminism has changed. Earlier the focus of feminism was on legal reforms and for better position of women outside homes. Whereas, the present feminism is a struggle for equality of women in all aspects of her life, against discrimination at home, against exploitation by family, against exploitation at the work, against exploitation and subordination by the society, culture, religion and state.
In the modern world, despite of most women being educated and participating in public spheres, subordination and discrimination still prevails. Women are still the fist to be fired and last to be hired. Their reproductive work is still not acknowledged. Women still don’t have their right over their body and they are still treated as second class citizens.
Now feminism has made its mark worldwide. It was a result of feminist movement that we being the women of Nepal are exercising our voting rights, right to education, right to property, we have legal provisions for marital rape and we have the freedom to choose our sexuality.
In conclusion we can say that feminism is a positive ideology that is necessary to bring change in our society. It provides us with freedom and direction. Most important it provides us with CHOICE. And as Anna Quindlen has said
“It's important to remember that feminism is no longer a group of organizations or leaders. It's the expectations that parents have for their daughters, and their sons, too. It's the way we talk about and treat one another. It's who makes the money and who makes the compromises and who makes the dinner. It's a state of mind. It's the way we live now.”
Quite truly…… it is the way we live now….
References
1. Bhasin, Kamala and Nighat Ssid Khan. 1999. Feminism and its Relevance in South Asia. New Delhi: Kali for Women
2. Mishra Mira, 2004. Hamro Sansar-A World of our own, a Journal of Women’s studies,Issue 4, Perspectives on Feminism. Central Department of Home Science, Women’s studies Program, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus
3. Perspective.1998.USA
4. www.feminist.com
5. www.friesan.com/feminism
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