2 years, 9 months ago-
Feminism is the belief that women should be allowed the same right, power, and opportunities as men and treated in the same way. The word feminism has a different meaning to go through so what it was considered in ancient and now differs in many ways.
Issues with feminism may be domestic abuse, education, gender discrimination, and sexism, etc. Still, these issues are seen but not at that same level like ancient times, it has evolved with changing times, due to encouraging trends. Now people are more genuine and aware of issues and how to resolve them. Now that the internet and information revolution is helping women form communities and networks, giving them a bigger voice and tools to organize themselves, forge partnerships and demand their rights.
Feminism in India was seen in three phases; the first phase in the mid-19th century during that time reformers began to speak in favor of women’s’s rights by making different reforms in education, customs related to women. The second phase during 1915 which was women’s movement into quit India movement and women’s organization began to emerge. The third phase focused on fair treatment of women at home after marriage and in the workforce. Despite the progress made by Indian feminist movements, women living in modern India still face many issues of discrimination. Issues like marriage, clothing, less voting rights, etc were seen in ancient times.
Now that time has changed, people are more educated and aware of rights, so present-day regarding these issues has been reduced and supporting feminism and women empowerment.Women exploitation has been a major issue since the ancient times. Women in india have always been considered bound to men in each step of their lives. Earlier in india, women were not allowed to get educated, were married at a very early age, were responsible for all the house chores only and were burned with their husbands i.e sati pratha, all this was a torture to all the women facing this. Women needed to get their own identity other than that of their husbands. Many movements took place in order to fight for women’s rights but mostly failed, many people including raja ram mohan roy, Dr. B.R Ambedkar, dayanand saraswati, ishwar chandra vidyasagar, jyoti rao phule and many other reformers fought for women rights around which somehow did help women in getting better lives and since then, women have been fighting their feminist issues in order to have their own identities and dignity. All the reformers with their combined effects removed sati pratha from the books of indian culture, which was a great achievement for women, as now they didn’t have to burn themselves up alive, then they were allowed to get educated but not as much as men, the culture of dowry was tried to be removed that too was successful but not much. Unlike the ancient times feminist issues still exist around the country, but they’re continued to be evolved, change is a slow process but it is getting successful day by day.
From the ancient through mediaval to modern age, places, governing body, society status and everything has changed so far without one thing, women exploitation. Though we can see early vedic and vedic age holds women as higher status, but it was from the later vedic age and until now, state of women is decreasing gradually.
From the ancient society, women are used as goods to please king or aristocrats or as an exchanging good to protect kingdom. Yes, today there’s no king, but don’t we use our women just as same, to maybe serve some powerful. Women trafficking is a harsh example of it.
Whatever it’s 17 th century or 20 th, women are always kept hidden in between walls, vastly named ‘Andarmahal’. Women should not rule over country, she should not raise voice against men, to serve her family, husband has to be the only aim of women life. And who tried to break those boundaries, are exploited, banished and at some place even got killed in name of being ‘witch’. Yes, we have a piles of law against those torments today, but did we allow our women to do everything freely? Don’t we renamed her as a ‘whore’ whoever chose themselves in front of family? ‘Witch’ or ‘ Whore’, words are changed surely, but that society? Is it changed?
Yes, maybe nowadays, women can go outside but does she felt safe?
Women were burnt alive during ‘Sati pratha’ in front of society then and now too, though it now happens inside but nobody raise a single voice about it.
There’s not even average woman according to men in our parliament, sports, business, jobs, nowhere.
A boy child is the only thing everyone was expecting then and still women foeticide is a real crime.
Unwilling sex, unwanted pregnancies, staying behind curtain, raise kids that’s what was happening in that era and still happening now.
Among all these years, if there’s anything changed, then it’s the circumstances and awareness not results. Nobody still doesn’t care about women’s choice, rights, feelings, burnings. And I’m not here to make excuses that yes, women empowerment happens. Sorry to say, but there’s still a long journey to go on.Feminists basically mean a society that provides equality in the political, economic, and cultural aspects for women. It has its origination in the ancient time of human civilization. Feminism struggle can be broadly divided into three major waves. The first feminism wave dealt with property rights and the right to vote. The second feminism wave laid its focus on equality and against gender discrimination. The latest and third wave of feminism, started, in the 1990s, as a result of backlash to the second wave, which was perceived as a privileging of white and straight women.
In ancient Greece, Plato advocated that women have natural capacities which are equal to men and they can equally participate in governing Greece. A 15th-century writer named Christine de Pizan protested misogyny at a large scale and advocated for equal rights and the role of women in the Middle Ages. Abigail Adams was a pioneer in providing access to basic things like education, property, and the ballot to women. A Rebellion began in the 19th century. Calls were made for greater freedom for women. Hands were joined with voices demanding the end of slavery. Some great strides were made when in the early 1900s New Zealand became the first sovereign state which gave women the right to vote. Australia and Finland followed the lead later on. The United States also gave the right to vote to bypass the 19th Amendment. American women earned the right to vote.
After world war 2, women finally began to enter the workplace in large numbers, following the Great Depression, which stole many workers’ jobs. They were paid low but they had more stable careers like housework, teaching, and secretarial roles. Women also actively participated in industries that were previously reserved for men. Rosie the Riveter became a feminist icon. The civil rights movement provided equal pay at work. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was among the first efforts to confront this still-relevant issue. After that, by the 70,s and ’80s, gender roles were attacked such as homemaking and child-raising. A landmark judgment was passed named Roe vs wade which guarantees women the right to abortion. Feminism during this era was also criticized because many believed that it was limited to urban white women.
The journey of the feminism cause has been a long one and it has traveled a long way. Still, newer issues are being raised such as #metoomovement. But still, the major problem remains in the form of a patriarchal setup. If we want to move into truly modern times, we have to shed this.Today, feminism refers primarily to the fight for gender equality, especially in political and economic arenas. However, there is still a need to continue the work that first-wave feminists started. On a basic level, feminism is meant to achieve equal educational and economic opportunities for women. Feminism have come a long way in establishing and defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women. Women have yet to fully achieve equality with men at any level of society, but the nature of second and third-wave feminism, particularly regarding social issues, has transformed.
We still have not achieved gender equality in all areas, but we have made big progress. Today, many women work outside the home and men are more likely to help with child care. Women have careers of their own and run companies. But it hasn’t always been like this. When women first began working outside the home, they were more likely than men to find jobs as maids, nurses, and secretaries, rather than as doctors, lawyers, or business executives. There were several reasons why men were the first to move into the labor force. The nature of their work was often more mobile than that of their wives. Also, until the 1960s, most women worked in low-paying “women’s jobs,” with a high proportion working in clerical occupations. This keeps median earnings of women well below men’s; as late as 1997 only 38% of full-time workers were women and among these workers they earned.
Feminism is often criticized as being too focused on women and not focused enough on issues that may be specific to men. Second-wave feminism is considered by some critics to have accomplished its goals and currently focuses primarily on female victims of oppression. In the third wave, feminist discourse has influenced mainstream society and culture in a way that has affected both women’s and men’s stances on gender-related issues. Ancient Greece was at the center of the first Western feminist movement and Aristotle was amongst the forefathers of feminism.
The feminist movement isn’t dead that’s for sure. It’s making its presence known and felt more than ever, with the #MeToo campaign being one of the many “uprisings” that women all over the world are staging to speak up about their experiences of sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination in the workplace. The idea that women were intellectually inferior to men was at its most baleful in Ancient Greece (with Aristotle being a major influence in this) but women were also regarded as equal only in their humanity and ability to make moral choices.
Being a woman is such a cruse in our society In ancient times. We have seen women who were ill-treated they were denied having education they were married early and if her husband dies practice of Sati use to perform in which was burned alive. This was the barbaric life of her in ancient times. Having a girl child was considered a bad omen and she was killed inside. Even saying NO was not her right she just has to say YES and if not she was beaten cruelly by her in-laws. She is considered to burn on her parents if born then on in-laws.
But now there is some relief she is getting aware of her rights even society is now accepting her. This fight was long to get justice but she gets some and she strive for more. If we see Sati Pratha was ban by the British she came up like a fire. If we see Padmavati she was a woman of honour she did not accept herself to be the slave of other people and decided to die with her honour. Many women have shown how brave they were like Rani Lakmibai, Hazart mahal who fight till the end and did not surrender.
Since the development of our constitution has provisions for women and many women came up to get their rights by approaching supreme court like daughter’s right on property, triple talaq act, alimony for women after divorce, women in short service commission are some of the judgements after the enhancement of constitution. Albeit there is the fight to be fought against unjust and make justice.
There many live examples in our life every day in which women are fighting to get their rights.Over the years, the feminist issues concerning the right to vote, educate, make decisions, the choice to work, etc., have changed. Returning to the early 19th and 20th centuries, the concept of feminism began in England, as we know from history. It might have started in other countries as well, but approaching the euro-centric perspective, this is what we know.
Earlier, women were expected to focus on the household, and even if educated, it was to be a teacher or a governess, i.e., roles that suited them. While England and other European countries had different feminist issues, in the Indian subcontinent, women were not allowed to step out like men in society. One of the first feminists in India could be Rani Lakshmi Bai, who fought like a strong woman against the English men. Soon, feminist issues became the same across the world. The women had to fight for their education, right to vote, right to work, etc. Over the years, the barriers have been removed, and the effort to empower women has increased. Though there is a long way to go, the journey to reduce feminist issues has begun.
From Sati to having a right to continue life after their husband’s death, women have liberalized themselves over the years, and the journey continues. One of the first Indian feminists, Ramabai Ranade, found her way to educate herself in a society where it was a sin for a girl to learn. She started an organization as Seva Sadan in Mumbai that helped women to stay independent. It was way before independence, but she was a revolutionary pillar of women’s rights.
In the contemporary world, women do hold the opportunity to educate themselves and stand their chance in the competitive nation. Women have been creating a work-life balance successfully. Also, they are emerging as aspirations to do more in society simultaneously. Of course, we still have a long way to go.
Lastly, I would say that the balance in women’s rights is yet a gap in various regions and religions, but we expect the change soon. Also, one must remember that feminism is about equal rights and not the idea of doing more against men because that would be inequality then. Many misinterpret feminism today, but I hope people will understand that it is about empowering women but not putting them on a pedestal or playing a woman’s card.
I would say we have come a long way ahead compared to ancient times. The situation now is much better than ancient women’s. Today’s women are a lot more confident and intolerant than in ancient times.
There has been a lot of evolution ever since ancient times and women have learned to fight for themselves. It’s really remarkable to witness how women are now fighting for and also have gained equal rights in every field. Today women are bravely breaking many stereotypes and freely living their lives. Though I won’t deny there are also many things which are still the same and yet to be changed like objectifying women, normalising of trans women. Still there is a constant attempt of suppression but I believe one day it will change too.
Today women dare to choose their career. Today women stand against injustice and don’t tolerate any misbehaving. Today women are independent and soaring high in the sky. There is no field where women are not excelling.
In ancient times women were only focused on family and children.There were a lot of restrictions on women. Women were not even allowed to step out of the house. There was violence too though there is still violence used towards women even now. Women were only seen as accessories and she had no identity.
Today women are striving hard for their identity. Women were limited from various rights like right for education as for them women are only expected to cook and bear children. Women were objectified and women were scared to resist and thus heavily dependent on men.
Today I am happy to see that the majority of women are working hard on themselves and love themselves and don’t need to depend on a man. Today women openly express their views. Women are also guiding people and raising their hands to support each other. Practically speaking women are ruling the world and let’s also not forget there are Razia Sultan, Maharani Laxmibai who were rulers and fought hard for the country. The only difference is the situation . But still I feel we have long way to goThe thing which ancient feminist started for women equality is still women need , People taking time to think about what is gender quality , rights… women’s still didn’t get much freedom as we compare to last 100 years , modern feminism still fighting for rights , freedom , equality and opportunity. Ancient feminism are started in the early 19th century & still going on , The ancient feminism is plot in three different part , 1.) The beginning 2.) The mid 19th century & 3.) The 19th century ; The beginning is all were started people asking question for women rights because of education and the beginning of mid started when india demanding for independent , around 1915 mahatma Gandhi started women’s moments from the quit india movement and the last phase started when people fights for women equality , fair with females , rights to political party & in the job place. There are types of feminism – feminism , radical feminism , black feminism , liberal feminism , eco feminism , Marxist feminism , socialist feminism , cultural feminism , post modern feminism , individualist feminism and separatist feminism . There are also few interested types of feminism like CYBER FEMINISM & ECO FEMINISM. Their are feminist theory which theoretical or philosophical fields , Many from us know that modern feminism is Good but it’s also getting worse because their are different types of feminist , the one who’s asking for equality , freedom & empowerment & their are also feminist who only asking for women rights not for gender equality if you don’t support them they will even discriminate against you , We already know that women’s not getting paid as much on same post compare to man But the other feminist they don’t ask for equal rights they want to push man out of the workplace , they are spreading wrong message to the world about feminism , Feminist is known for who fight for equality , opportunity , freedom & rights but not for only one specific gender or brain wash people for one gender or revenge.
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