Feminism: a relic of history or a need?
- Olympus News
- Mar 7, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 16, 2022
By: Tracy Anthony Kresna, Jessica Metta Hendrika
Collaboration with Binus Dead Poets Society
Women’s day is coming soon on the 8th of March, yet some people still don’t know much about the feminism act, like the definition of this widely-used term or why it’s such a big deal in the first place. This article discusses some basic things that one should know before forming an opinion on feminism.
What is Feminism?
Feminism is the belief in full social, economic, and political equality for women. It incorporates the position that women are treated unjustly within societies, that men are prioritized. It is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that has largely arisen in response to western traditions that restricted the rights of women. Not only is it a relic of past events, it is also a need in our community today, since we are still facing the problem of sexism.
Why Men and Women should be treated equally
Gender Equality is crucial in our community for a multitude of reasons. Not only does it save lives, it also improves the state of our economy. When women are provided with the same education and opportunities as men, they can improve the establishment they join, like increasing the profit margin of a business company or conducting deeper research on an inadequately-researched medical condition. Giving women the same legal rights as men protect them from domestic, sexual, and economic violence. It will also greatly improve racial equality in the community, since gender and racial equality are closely linked.
Deconstruction of Gender Roles
Gender roles place both men and women under social pressure and judgement, forcing them to fit into the stereotypes that society expects from each individual. In the past, women hardly received proper education and were often sold off as brides for money. However, nowadays, as feminism surfaces and provides women with equal rights, women are able to pursue a brighter and more independent future. Men are no longer confined to the role of their family’s breadwinner and the same goes for women.Without the burden of traditional gender roles weighing us down, both men and women are finally able to choose their own happiness.
Updates on Feminism
Since its rise in the mid 1990’s, feminism has spread globally in more ways than one. Several organisations have been founded to support the feminism movement and some examples include the National Organization for Women (NOW), SERUNI - Serikat Perempuan Indonesia (Indonesian Women's Organization and many others that fight for gender equality. Feminism is about every gender having equal rights and opportunies, respecting the diversity of women's experiences, identities, knowledge and strengths, and striving to empower all women to realise their full rights.
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