“The revolution and women’s liberation go together. We do not talk of women’s emancipation as an act of charity or because of a surge of human compassion. It is a basic necessity for the triumph of the revolution. Women hold up the other half of the sky.”
–Thomas Sankara
I am an unapologetic feminist. And before you run for cover, let’s explore this issue a bit further. What is a feminist? Historically, this seems to be a rather scary, intimidating term that many shy away from. My male doctor just the other day told me that a feminist was a woman screaming at the top of her lungs, thinking she was better than everyone else. Feminists have been thought of as bra-burners and men bashers. An activist by the name of Lindsey told me she didn’t like the term “Feminist“. She said she’d rather refer to herself as a “humanist”. I’m wondering though, why being a feminist excludes you from being a humanist? In fact, wouldn’t it make you more of one? After all, women’s rights are human rights. Unless we’re not human.
For me, a feminist is one, male or female, young or old, who agitates for the right of girls and women to live dignified lives free of discrimination, violence, intimidation and one full of opportunities and choices. One who agitates for women to give birth without having to give up their lives, or be able to take control of their own bodies, and make the choice not to give birth. A feminist is one who believes women and girls should have access to the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as their male counterparts. Some argue this on the basis of the socio-economic argument; empowering women empowers the entire community. Living standards will improve, children will be healthier and more educated…but we can also argue that women deserve all the rights and privileges afforded to their male counterparts simply because they are women who hold up half the sky, as Sankara reminds us. We should value women as women, and girls as girls. Not necessarily because they are mothers, sisters, daughters and such. And although that is invaluable, if a woman is not a mother, is she not given consideration?
When men lift their hands to beat their wives or partners, let them also remember that this could be their mother, their daughter, their sister. Would they want their daughters to be beaten up senseless by their partners?
When I tell people, men especially that I work in the area of women’s rights, I’m immediately asked, “What of men’s rights?” We know that in much of the world, historically and presently, women have been at a disadvantage. They have been marginalized in terms of political participation, in issues of their sexual and reproductive health rights, in terms of economic and business opportunities and the list goes on. To quote another, “Men never died as a result of having children. Unless their children killed them.” The fight for women’s rights need not come at the expense of men’s rights, as many believe. In fact, the realization of women’s rights leads to the realization of human rights which is beneficial to men.
Lastly, we are not men bashers. At least not the majority of us. In fact we believe that we can’t win this battle alone. We believe that we must work with our male counterparts to achieve our goals of equity and justice.
Men, remember, just as you hold up half the sky, so do we.
aliben86
Unapologetic Feminist
20 Apr 2012 2 Comments
by Nebila Abdulmelik in Political Commentary, Social Commentary Tags: bra burners, emancipation, empowerment, equity, Feminism, Feminist movement, Gender equality, human rights, men bashers, Men's rights, Reproductive rights, revolution, SRHR, Thomas Sankara, Women Rights, women's rights
–Thomas Sankara
I am an unapologetic feminist. And before you run for cover, let’s explore this issue a bit further. What is a feminist? Historically, this seems to be a rather scary, intimidating term that many shy away from. My male doctor just the other day told me that a feminist was a woman screaming at the top of her lungs, thinking she was better than everyone else. Feminists have been thought of as bra-burners and men bashers. An activist by the name of Lindsey told me she didn’t like the term “Feminist“. She said she’d rather refer to herself as a “humanist”. I’m wondering though, why being a feminist excludes you from being a humanist? In fact, wouldn’t it make you more of one? After all, women’s rights are human rights. Unless we’re not human.
For me, a feminist is one, male or female, young or old, who agitates for the right of girls and women to live dignified lives free of discrimination, violence, intimidation and one full of opportunities and choices. One who agitates for women to give birth without having to give up their lives, or be able to take control of their own bodies, and make the choice not to give birth. A feminist is one who believes women and girls should have access to the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as their male counterparts. Some argue this on the basis of the socio-economic argument; empowering women empowers the entire community. Living standards will improve, children will be healthier and more educated…but we can also argue that women deserve all the rights and privileges afforded to their male counterparts simply because they are women who hold up half the sky, as Sankara reminds us. We should value women as women, and girls as girls. Not necessarily because they are mothers, sisters, daughters and such. And although that is invaluable, if a woman is not a mother, is she not given consideration?
When men lift their hands to beat their wives or partners, let them also remember that this could be their mother, their daughter, their sister. Would they want their daughters to be beaten up senseless by their partners?
When I tell people, men especially that I work in the area of women’s rights, I’m immediately asked, “What of men’s rights?” We know that in much of the world, historically and presently, women have been at a disadvantage. They have been marginalized in terms of political participation, in issues of their sexual and reproductive health rights, in terms of economic and business opportunities and the list goes on. To quote another, “Men never died as a result of having children. Unless their children killed them.” The fight for women’s rights need not come at the expense of men’s rights, as many believe. In fact, the realization of women’s rights leads to the realization of human rights which is beneficial to men.
Lastly, we are not men bashers. At least not the majority of us. In fact we believe that we can’t win this battle alone. We believe that we must work with our male counterparts to achieve our goals of equity and justice.
Men, remember, just as you hold up half the sky, so do we.
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