Feminism

Feminism is a word derived from Latin called Femina means women. According to the Random House Dictionary of the English language, ‘Feminism’ means the doctrine advocating social, economical, legal and political rights for women equal to those of men. Feminism is an organized movement for attainment of such rights for women started about 200 years ago in France. These are also other simple and different definitions on Feminism.

1. Against chauvinism.
2. For equal rights.
3. A social revolt against men living outside marriage.
4. Treatment of women as human beings.
5. Emotional adjustments in terms of needs for each other.
6. Psychological adjustments respecting each other.      
7. Feminism is for identification but not at the cost of insulting the partner.
8. Feminism is a movement for social reconstruction.
9. Feminism is a challenge to patriarchal thought but not anti-man.

To be frank, there is some historical movement for this feminism. It started in 18th century by a French school of thought called “Enlightenment thought” and this thought was mooted by a French feminist called Mary Wollstone for women’s rights and roles. Her life period was 1759 - 1795. In support of her thought, one British Liberalist and a great philosopher, John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873), started a movement called Women’s Lib. In continuation to these movements, an American social activist called Elizabeth Cady Stanton moved this cause in 1869 with an argument that man and woman are complement of one another for woman’s thought in national affairs to make a safe and stable government. In Indian scenario, we have some feminists like Mrs. Malathi Chandur, Ms. Malladi Subbamma, Ms. Ismath Chughtai, Ms. Jeelani Banu and Ms. Qurratulain-Hyder who also equally expressed their strong views for their identity but asked for full protection.

Following are the different theories on Feminism:

1. Relational Feminism: This theory advocates for sensible language behavior in respect of all relatives irrespective of their social status.
2. Individual Feminism: This type stresses and supports the concept of individualism dismissing all social rules and regulations. This theory says “My life and my decision”.
3. Humanistic Feminism: That means, human values should be protected in all aspects.
4. Psychological Feminism: This theory leads to indiscipline in the family. Traditional social values should be respected without harming the sentimental feelings of others to live under one roof.
5. Problemitising Indian Feminism:
The Indian Feminism is under threat because of the following problems:

a. An interference and involvement of the unsuited Western attitudes in the Indian life which are harmful to harmonious life.
b. Valentine’s Day on 14th February has a story. St.Valentine was saint of love. He was a priest, who served in the third century in Rome during the emperorship of Claudius-II. He ordered his soldiers not to marry and to protect the country but saint Valentine secretly performed marriages to young lovers. So, the king put Valentine in prison till death. It is believed that Valentine fell in love with jailer’s daughter and sent a letter before his death signed as “From your Valentine”. Thus Valentine’s Day has become popular. How does it suit our Indian system of life?
c. Beauty contests which don’t suit us.
d. Man is problemetising Indian Feminism in the sense that she gets strain as being a homemaker, and a professional turned her into a liberated slave. Shobha De, the famous Indian English Woman Novelist in her novel ‘Surviving Men’ says that our women cooked, made babies kept their men happy. Therefore, man should share in the domestic chores, social needs and provide comforts in the limits of the budget.
e. New lifestyle and attitudes are pushing young divorces. The amicable divorces are more in the modern age because of intolerance, non adjustments and emotional outburst.
f. Traditional method was that marriage used to be for life, a must have tonic for protection against all social vulnerabilities. It had an inbuilt system of checks and balances, roles and priorities defined for man and wife. Divorce was an extreme resource taken only if there was unbearable cruelty, dowry harassment, physical abuse, desertion, mental illness, impotence, infertility and bigamy. Now, it is a quick solution if partners fall out of step.

A good marriage is defined as: “The two (men and woman) can work together but one cannot replace the other and this would cause imbalance in life”.
–Sky Blue Mary Marin, Canadian Writer

Tips for togetherness:
1. Beyond the Apparent: Potential couples should take the trouble of getting to know each other very well because despite willingness to compromise and adjust, chances of trouble will crop up.
2. Don’t let it linger: Never sleep on a fight. Resolve differences as soon as they creep in.
3. Talk therapy: Don’t allow communication to break down. Exchange opinions.
4. Honesty: Both should be honest in all aspects and respects.
5. The Balancing Act: Equal Partnerships are built on equal sharing of emotions, rights, responsibilities and work.
6. Introspect: Don’t indulge in blame game by speaking lies. It is better to think before speaking to the life partner as we do for others who are temporary in relationship. The permanent life partners are the family members who will be helpful and available during sorrows and pleasures and such persons should be valued first.