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Financial IQ

THE GENDER

AGENDA-I’M

FEMINIST

“Feminism”

The word brings a perceptible shudder to The second wave sought to correct cultural
men and women alike. Feminists are now and policy inequalities between the two
famously known for being angry, intolerant genders, and the third wave was a culmination
and on a frenzied mission to shame and of both. This third wave emerged in the mid-
eradicate the entire male race. 90s and sought to expand the movement
even more by aggressively addressing issues
Women who love the ideology of marriage, of racism, classism and sexism.
children and cooking hot meals for their
family, are afraid of being shunned by their These waves have over the centuries
fierce, liberal sisters and branded “old- culminated into the unprecedented freedom
fashioned” and “oppressed.” Men want and rights women world-over enjoy today.
to participate in the social dialogue and Yet, it’s not enough as any modern feminist
defend and explain themselves but quiver in will tell you. Sexism, misogyny, all forms of
apprehension of the expected backlash. So abuse and inequality are still rampant in every
they quietly sit in the shadows, bewildered corner of the world. Women are still fighting
and outnumbered. to be heard, respected, recognized and
rewarded. It’s not just a fight for feminists. It’s
This is not the scenario that true feminism a fight for every woman.
should conjure. In order to understand
what feminism is not, perhaps we need to And for the woman in heels who has left
understand what it is. The Oxford Dictionary the kitchen or is in the kitchen on her own
defines a feminist as ‘a person who supports terms, it’s a war. As her career and business
the belief that women should have the same takes flight, she needs to develop a profound
rights and opportunities as men.’ Merriam- respect for the women who started the
Webster defines feminism as 1: the theory of fight for equality. With every hardship she
the political, economic, and social equality of faces, every lost or stolen opportunity,
the sexes. 2: organized activity on behalf of every catcall, unwelcome touch, disparaging
women’s rights and interests. remark, condescending repertoire and unfair
judgment, she needs to celebrate every
In the latter part of the 18th century, woman who continues to stand up for her.
thousands of women in the western world
pioneered campaigns known as the feminist The man who loves a driven and ambitious
or women’s movements. These women rose woman needs to allow himself to see
as one to demand reform on issues affecting feminism as something much more than an
them, and perhaps even more importantly, angry social media movement. In the midst
the freedom to make their own choices. of the #MeToo and #MenAreTrash hashtags,
he needs to remember that these “Internet”
The feminist movement is widely believed to voices belong to every female in his life,
have been first churned by a medieval author whether he’s aware of their struggles or not.
named Christine de Pizan, who is purportedly
also the first recorded woman in history to And if in his personal and business endeavors,
have made a living out of her writing. he often feels like doors of opportunity have
a lock on them, he needs to know that for the
The movement was spread out in three women in his life, these doors have multiple
waves, each representing a different focus in locks. The agenda is not female; the agenda
the movement. The first wave centered on is gender.
women’s suffrage, or simply put: the right of
women to run for political office and vote.

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