WOMEN POWER

 INTRODUCTION 

Feminism is a way that all the women stand with their rights and independence. Political, economic, personal and social sides are considering to this theory. It is about altering people's perceptions of male and female rights (especially female rights) and advocating for equal rights. A feminist is someone who believes in feminism. Feminism originated with the Enlightenment in the 18th century. Feminism has three types. They are mainstream/liberal, radical and culture. Liberal Feminism is one of the most prevalent kinds of feminism, and it is institutionalized through the National Organization of Women (NOW). The fundamental ideas of this perspective are that men and women are similar in essential respects and should be treated equally.

HISTORY OF FEMINISM 

Depending on culture and country the feminists have different targets to achieve. Every feminist group has their own problems to win. Vote, work, earn equal pay, receive education and have equal rights in a marriage are some of them. The word “Feminisme” was created in 1837 by a French philosopher “Charles fourier”. There are four parts of feminism for four waves. The first wave for women’s voting right to vote, the second one for legal and social equality for women, the third wave for individuality and diversity and the fourth wave for sexual harassment, violence against women and rape culture. The fourth wave is known as Me Too movement. Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony are some of leaders to those waves.

 Physically and psychologically men and women can’t be same. They have different physical capabilities and women are smaller or weaker than men physically. Because of these things the equality is not fair. In my view, the physical weakness is not appearing here. There can be man who is physically weaker than women. But he has the same rights as man. Like this point the physical strength of women is not relevant here. The psychological strength is the only point that can consider. 

 FEMINISM IN EASTERN COUNTRIES

 Feminism in eastern countries is not at successful level. Until recently there is no right for women to learn in India. And ancient Sri Lanka girls must do house works but no right to learn in school. Learning is completely male right. When the girl’s marriage, the girl must be marry who the father like. And the girl must be done all the things what male person refers to do. Not only ancient, but also today India and many of eastern countries also doing this and control women in many ways. Dessert flower, Mayada and Jane Eyre are some of books that represent the bitterness of ancient world’s honor for a girl.

Today world also a family is conducting by father. Father’s order is consider to all members. Indian culture, still the father is the decider of his own daughters and his wife. In Muslim society, most of time feminism has no value. A man can marry more than one lady. And women must wear clothes to cover all the body sometime including her eyes but man can wear anything. Many of time a Muslim girl hasn’t right to learn because they get marry as soon as 18. According to all those facts, feminism is so weak point because of cultural and blind faiths.

figure 2: feminist protests

IS FEMINISM GOOD?

 In the time of Buddha, when “Prajapathi” ask to be a monk, it is refused by Lord Buddha. But after setting rules bhikkhuni sasana was established. This is the oldest evidence of feminism. 

Sometimes feminism treats men badly. Most of men don’t like the girls who are talking about their independence. It can be a reason for breaking a relationship. When in marriage life this point will be a very annoying point for man. In my view, if it is a true relationship there must be freedom to do what they want. If there is freedom, then women don’t want to fight for their dreams

According to my knowledge feminism is good concept. Eastern countries women have education right because of this feminism. Most of Sri Lankan girls and women don’t have much freedom as concepts of feminism. But we have some of that. Today world women are leading as men. They take salary equally as men. Women are clever in learning. And woman is no longer a servant of man. All of those benefits because of feminism.

FEMINIST LEADERS

 When talking about education off woman we can’t forget that the name Malala Yousafzai. Malala is a Pakistani activist for female education. And she is the youngest Nobel laureate. When Tehrik -i-Taliban Pakistan banned girls to attending school she awake her voice against them. She wrote a blog for BBC- Urdu when she was about 12. In 2012, she was attacked by Taliban Pakistan and after recovery she became an activist for education.

One of the most famous feminist is Emma Watson. We all know her as Hermonie Granger in Harry Potter film series. Emma Watson (born 1990) is now well-known for her work with the United Nations. Our favorite British actress captured our hearts with her emotional address at the United Nations, in which she positioned feminism as a battle not only for women, but also for men. She used the energy generated by her enthralling speech to launch the #HeForShe movement.

Hélène Cixous, Simone De Beauvoir, Naomi Wolfe, Germaine Greer and Doris Lessing are some of great leaders of feminism.

figure 2: Malala & Emma Watson

CONCLUSION 

Woman rights must be human rights. Woman is the human creator. Not a person who has no rights. Girls and women must have more independence and freedom in countries like India.

K. K. D. Sudeshika

DS1254

dilshinisudeshika@gmail.com