3/10/2018 2 Comments International Women's DayThursday 8th March. International Women’s Day. A day celebrated by women and men all over the world, to appreciate female achievements throughout history and across the globe. On this day, we hold our glasses up to a gender, which was once considered the subordinate, the insignificant and powerless, who have made such remarkable advancements in social, economic, cultural and political equality in society. There is no doubt that such societal amelioration couldn't have been as effectively achieved without certain members in our community, both historical and modern, striving to make a change and standing strong for what they believe in. The Suffragettes, and their both peaceful and radical movements towards achieving a woman's right to vote. Eleanor Roosevelt, taking advantage of her title as First Lady to take inspiring actions on female equality in the working environment - giving them a stronger voice and security in our Capitalist society. Maya Angelou, using her persona as an African-American female and her powerful voice as a writer to attack both racial and gender discrimination. The list could go on and on, and I hope more and more activists can be added, because although (especially in our country) women have reached a respectable equal place in society and have been in such a place for some time now, other cultures in the World have not quite reached the same outcome. Therefore, I am in complete support of dedicating this day to female empowerment to both appreciate all the hard work orchestrated by certain figures since the First Wave Feminist movement and to give hope to women around the World who we have not quite reached out to. And to support this day, I have seen all over social media, people honouring the women they are most inspired by: their mothers, their friends, their partners, their role models and mentors - and it's refreshing to see people appreciating those outside of the 'media's eye' and the celebrity campaigning, because the little personal acts of female empowerment are just as important as the global ones. So, let me briefly do the same, and honour the following women in my life: my mother, both my nannas, my sisters and my friends, who each support me and keep me grounded in their own unique ways - whether through providing me with motivation, reasons to smile, reasons to laugh and means to have ambition. However, it is not only these women in my life that make me the woman I am today. And brings me on to the main point of this article I am writing, and that is that men should also be included in the celebrations and appreciations on International Women's Day.
I refrain from digressing into too much of a political rant over who I would normally refer to as "Feminazis" or the disciplinary Divas that some modern day feminists shape themselves as, critiquing men and turning an equal society in a Matriarchy (which is just as poisonous as our once Patriarchy). But, I do feel that men seem to be getting the brunt of some feminist movements that have been occurring recently. Since feminism has become such an important topic in society, it has also become equally as prominent in the school curriculum (through studying feminist literary texts, social constructs of genders and the female role in the media) and it makes me feel uncomfortable to witness a male feel uncomfortable when such topics are brought up (purely out of fear of having an opinion on it in case of extremist-female accusations). Although historically seen as the most dominant gender, having most control over and responsibility for subverting the female role, such societal amelioration since has caused men to support female empowerment as well. Real and effective feminism is not about women superiority and acting revengeful towards men, but it is about equal rights and opportunities for both genders - allowing both to have voice. And because of this, I feel it is not right for a man to feel inadequate and uncomfortable when it comes to feminism. Those in society who maintain traditional, discriminatory values are not only male, but females as well - some even that mask themselves as feminists, but among their extremist ideals, are producing dangerous sets of values that restrict women of particular identities and making certain roles in our community feel out of place (for example, Germaine Greer and her trans-phobia, and her strong opinions on contraception which could be seen as limiting women of their sexual freedom). If we are going to celebrate these famous feminist figures on International Women's Day, we should then be celebrating the male famous figures that also have had their contribution to female empowerment - as they prove you don't have to be a woman to be a feminist. Prince Harry, "When women are empowered, they immeasurably improve the lives of everyone around them - their families, their communities, and their countries. This is not just about women, we men need to recognize the part we play too. Real men treat women with dignity and give them the respect they deserve." Will Smith, giving his daughter identity and control over her own body from a young age, teaching her to grow up knowing that the only person in charge of her is herself. Ashton Kutcher, addressing the importance of sexual freedom and confidence among women outside of reproductive needs. Barack Obama, supporting the Times Up campaign and refusing to give up the fight against pay discrimination. And again, the list goes on. I've written this article from a reasonably feminist perspective, although (like said before) I identify myself as more of a equalist (which I feel has a broader approach to equality, between genders, race, sexuality etc.) So, I am about to add some controversy to the media feed surrounding International Women's Day and honour the male figures in my life who have also made me the woman I am today: my father (who has taught me the importance of having a strong work ethic and being independent and has mostly encouraged me to embrace who I am and what I believe in), both of my grandfathers (who have also supported me and showed me strong paternal love), my friends (who prove that a valuable relationship between a man and a woman does not have to be based on romance) and even my brother (who has showed me there is nothing wrong with vanity and self-confidence, and that sometimes you do just have to be a dickhead to get things done.) So, both men and women should be encouraged to celebrate such an anticipated day, because, as a united and equal force, we are much more stronger and effective.
2 Comments
2/23/2018 0 Comments Emma“IF YOU STAND FOR EQUALITY, THEN YOU’RE A FEMINIST. SORRY TO TELL YOU.” It looks like our Beauty won’t halt on tackling society’s Beast: inequality. And there is no wonder why. It’s no wonder actress and activist Emma Watson is a role model for many young women today. There’s no doubt that she’s the Belle in the celebrity ball, and her intelligence and intellect evidently hold no boundaries, from her straight A grades at GCSE to her bachelors degree in English Literature - and, by god, does she have stamina... From the moment she mastered her first spell fixing Potter’s glasses as gregarious Granger to the moment she baffled the ballroom as bookish Belle, she’s had no trouble battling society’s expectations on the role of a female. Until now. Until the moment a critic dared to question her feminist ideals after a flaunty image of the actress is shown in Vanity Fair magazine. But does that stop our Emma? Absolutely not. “I really don’t know what my tits have to do with it.” Watson states during her BBC interview with Beauty and the Beast co-actor Dan Stevens, “Feminism… it’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality.” Emma is no ordinary female. She is a Watson Woman. And a Watson Woman believes no woman is ordinary. She makes intelligence more sexier than before, diligence endearing and independence thriving. She has no shame nor regret “I’m so thrilled about how interesting and beautiful the photographs were.” (she states, despite the blow to her beliefs and values by mischiefs of the media, she admires the work behind her latest shoot, whether breasts are in sight or breastsare in mind), she thrives on individuality “I truly truly believe that beauty is something that comes from within”, AND she waits for no-one. “If not me, who? If not now, when?” I really could not have said it better myself, Emma. In July 2014, Watson was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in honour of her passion for women’s rights and then her involvement in educational opportunities for females around the world after visiting countries such as Zambia and Bangladesh. Her motives, however, were clearly outlined in her ‘HeForShe’ speech to the UN headquarters in the Big Apple New York the following September, where she stated that “fighting for women’s rights has become too synonymous with man-hating” and she shows full confidence in her opinion that “this has to stop!" Watson speaks out to many individuals within society, and subconsciously heals the split between certain feminist ideologies—which is known the be between the pro-feminists and the anti-feminists, also known as those who type-cast feminists to the extremists who seek male redemption and women superiority. The Harry Potter actress… oh wait , Watson (sorry, Emma...) backhands this type-casting—almost to the point we forget that women were ever at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Because she enforces a new wave of feminism: one that appreciates how far women have come, one that embraces equality for both genders, and ultimately, one that changes the image of a feminist from being a repressed angry spinster with her top-button done up to, well, anyone that makes up our community. The sure-footed and sexy, the intellect, the illiterate, the power-hungry and the preacher, man or woman, witch or wizard—everyone and anyone can be involved in this wave of feminism. Like the new generations’ Carol Anne Duffy, Emma Watson is ‘the World’s Wife’ and she’s giving women a voice and questioning all obedience, sexual repression and dependency that historical gender ideologies had foreground for the female population. And women are becoming more confident in themselves and are beginning to embrace womanhood and all the natural amenities that come beside it—maternity, strength and passion combined. So, Emma, we support you and we have no doubt in your feminist motives, and no critic nor photo could ever change that—breasts or no breasts! |
Jem DuttonStudent Blogger. Archives
April 2018
CategoriesAll Current Affairs Lifestyle Narrative Journalism Opinion Articles Personal |