No, saying
"It has always been like this"
or "That's how it has always been"
aren't
enough justifications
for millenia
of injustice.
Patriarchy,
patriarchy.
We shout.
Often memed.
Stereotypes
get flung around
from viral
videos of rage.
Often,
showing smug calmness
and
emotional stability
feel like
the gatekeepers of truth.
The ones who
seem to make sense
rhetorically,
with semantic wits.
Even
birthing stances
such as
anti-feminists.
These
stereotypes and prejudices
are
diverting the conversation.
A
conversation deeply needed.
Political
equality was the first wave
Socio-economic
equality was the second wave.
And the
rights ignored by the second wave
was focused
on the third wave.
Intersectionality,
a closer look with race
and other
factors being focused on.
And finally,
the fourth wave -
empowerment
of women, digital feminism.
And none
should be dismissed
since they
are fights not won
but slowly
pushed.
Backlash
happens, and the fights won
they get
stripped bit by bit.
Some even
consider it a slur, a bad word
an insult to
call someone.
Equality is
radical indeed
when the
status quo has inherited injustice.
Feminists
and their aim
of gender
equality;
is indeed
noble.
And being
ascribed a male at birth
we often
have to acknowledge
how systems
of patriarchy
have been an
obstacle for women.
Speaking as
a man
I'd rather
an equal competition
than the
folly of old patriarchy.
I see
feminists as comrades,
progressives
working on improving society
and tackle
the ignorance which birthed
the status
quo we wish to dismantle someday.
Freedom is
merely privilege extended
unless
enjoyed by one and all.
Chawngthanmawia is our 1st sem student, and this was his prize winning entry at the recent Gender Equality Writing Competition, which earned him a cash prize of Rs. 2000/- and a certificate.
