Misconceptions about feminism

“I am not a feminist, but I believe in gender equality.” How often have you heard this phrase? This seems paradoxical to me, but unfortunately not to everyone.Its heartbreaking to see that people – both men and women – are choosing not to identify themselves as feminists. Feminism has increasingly been associated with negative connotations and has become synonymous with ‘man-hating.’ Why? Here are some common misconceptions which are simply not true:

1. Feminists believe that women are better than men:

Contrary to popular opinion, feminism is completely the opposite. Feminism by definition is the advocacy of women rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. Feminists do NOT believe that women are superior or inferior to men, but rather that they are EQUAL. As per World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2022 report, around 2.4 billion women of working age do not have equal economic opportunities. The gap between men and women’s expected lifetime earnings globally is US$172 trillion! I could go on and on. The point is, women are still not equal to men in terms of economic participation, political representation and organizational leadership. Hence, women empowerment is a necessity in today’s world, not an added burden.

1. Only women can be feminists:

Men often feel that feminism is an area where they cant have any impact. However, in reality, equality can only be achieved if everyone, all genders, work towards it together.  We need to stop viewing this as two opposite ideals, but rather a united force. Men can be feminists too and it’s not wrong, rather it’s something to be proud of. Infact anyone who believes in gender equality is technically a feminist

3. Feminism only benefits women: 

It is a fact that gender equality would not just benefit women, but also men. Today, men suffer from male stereotypes too. For example, society and they themselves are compelled to believe that they should be “strong.” In 2020, the number of men who died from suicide was 3.88 times that of women largely because men are less likely to ask for help for fear that it would make them “less of a man.” As Emma Watson said in her famous speech at the UN, “If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled. Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong.” Achieving gender equality gets rid of these stereotypes that are detrimental for our society as a whole.

While yes there are women who misuse the feminism movement to their own benefits, but that doesn’t mean it can be generalized for all feminists. I would be lying if I said I didn’t once fall prey to these misconceptions. However, after doing my research, I am now and will always be proud to call myself a feminist – someone who believes in gender equality.