Development Of Feminism In India

 Feminism is the notion that all humans are equal regardless of their gender. Feminism is uplifting women so that men and women are treated equally. It's not based on women having power over men; rather the idea is that women should have power over themselves. Most often feminism is misinterpreted as a 'women's movement' as it originates from the word feminine. But it's high time we realize that feminism is not just a women's movement, it's a movement for all humans. However it's also important to accept that women have been the prime victims of years of patriarchy and toxic masculinity. Feminism is an attempt to get rid of this notion dominance and subordination, to bring both genders on the same level. 

Even before the term feminism was introduced, we had some great feminist icons in our culture and history. Draupadi, Durga Maa, Sita, Rani Lakshmi Bhai and Chand bibi are examples of immense courage and power. India needs feminism because a women should not be considered a responsibility of a male throughout her life. Practices like kanydhaan and sati should not be practiced anymore in India. 

Women should not be a burden and marriage should not be the only reason for her existence. Nowadays, in many Indian households, males and females are treated differently. Priority for education and nutrition is given to boys as compared to girls where they are neglected. Feminism is important in India because a women is treated with disdain whether she is employed or not. A certain section of our society believes that it is an offence if a women is working well-educated and working, to support herself or her family financially. Even women who choose to raise their children full time over continuing their career are criticized. Working women in India earn only 66% of what their male counterparts earn for the same amount of work. A report suggests that India would be 27% richer if there were higher employment rates of women. 

Indian women on their periods are treated as untouchables. They aren't allowed to enter the kitchen, forced to sleep on the floor, they cannot be touched, spoken to, neither can they share the same table with others. There is alack of awareness about the methods of  menstrual protection. Data suggests that about 46% of women do not use hygienic methods of menstrual protection and 36% feel uncomfortable in buying them with other customers around. India suffers from something called "period poverty" because we lack enough sanitary products to cater to our menstruating population. 

It's time we recognize that feminism isn't about making women strong. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives this strength. Nobody should be afraid of being referred to as a feminist because it frees both men and women from the imposed gender stereotypes.