By Yasmine Sakr, staff writer
By textbook definition, a feminist advocates for women's rights based on the equality of the sexes. Yet for decades, the feminist movement has been delegitimized by the perception that feminism is synonymous with misandry. Misandry is defined as a hatred for or prejudice against men, which directly contradicts feminism. This false narrative has been utilized to deter women from joining the movement and fuel men’s hatred towards being a supporter of the cause. The truth is, real feminism has nothing to do with achieving female dominance. In its purest form, feminism is advocacy for all genders to have equal rights and opportunities; any person who says otherwise is not a feminist and is devaluing what generations of women across the world have fought for. When asking people about feminism, many might say sexism is a thing of the past. So, why would feminism be necessary if women have already achieved equal rights? The truth is, there is still much need for feminism: women and young girls today still face damaging stereotypes, wage gaps, and gender-based violence. Combatting sexism and misogyny is not an easy task—feminists need as much help as they can get to achieve justice for women and girls who face inequality every day.
As found by the Center for American Progress, the average working white woman in the United States received 84 cents for every white man's dollar in 2022. The average black woman received 69 cents, and the average Hispanic woman received 57 cents. In this day and age, these numbers are appalling and cannot set up women for success, rather making it more difficult to avoid economic insecurity and increasing the risk of poverty later in life.
Other than working to end the gender pay gap, the attack on abortion rights is also a key reason why we need feminism in the modern age. While abortions may be considered unethical, it is more unethical to not allow a girl who has been assaulted or a mother who will die in childbirth to not get an abortion in exchange for the life of an unborn child. Additionally, single mothers are exponentially more likely to go into poverty, particularly because the father is not always required to assist with financial support. Many women have no choice but to drop out of school, work multiple jobs, and subject themselves to long-term vulnerabilities such as working in prostitution. In fact, a study conducted in Maryland, USA, found that 36% of women join sex work in order to get necessities such as food and shelter. If marginalized communities of women were more supported in America, they may be able to avoid having to get an abortion altogether; however, denying women reproductive freedom is a direct attack on bodily autonomy and delegitimization of women's rights.
A shocking fact for many Americans is the number of women and children who are trafficked and exploited in the United States. People want to turn a blind eye and believe that it is only a thing that happens in other countries, yet a minimum of 800,000 people are smuggled across borders annually. Across the world at any given time, there are 27.6 million victims facing exploitation and abuse. Trafficked victims are often deceived, forced, or coerced into vulnerable situations, making it easier for traffickers to force them into labor and slavery. Additionally, the majority of victims are women with no voice or support to help them. We need feminism in our world to continue raising awareness about the prevalence of human trafficking and advocate for policies and laws that protect victims, prosecute traffickers, and prevent exploitation. Beyond the United States, feminism is necessary to protect and empower women globally, especially in places with restrictive governments, war, and apartheid regimes.
Western feminism needs to become more inclusive when addressing the needs of the international community. For example, as said by Rutgers professor Sahar Aziz, Western feminists only want to save Muslim women from Arab governments and groups but not from the US government, Israeli government, or Zionist groups who are causing them even more harm. The struggle to end the dehumanization of our Palestinian sisters should be one of the major feminist issues right now, even among white men and women who are not affected. Feminism is not only about saving women from “oppression” brought about by Islam or wearing the Hijab. It is about fighting for all women to wear and practice whatever they want without being harassed or targeted. Similarly, feminism needs to be more widely recognized in the fight for rights in African countries. African women have been fighting for decades to achieve not only rights for women and girls but also to gain independence from colonialist oppressors and demand racial equality. Present-day feminists are challenging the political and patriarchal norms that are holding them back from liberation, all while fighting unfair societal norms and poverty that take away from female prosperity. In her analysis of African feminism, lawyer Furaha Saungweme emphasizes that feminist tactics have strengthened the public condemnation of several unjust occurrences, such as child marriage and violence against women; however, there is still much work required for true equality and opportunity for all.
In conclusion, the feminist movement is essential and will continue to be so until all women and girls across the globe are treated with equality and not subjected to misogyny in any way, shape, or form. Feminism works to combat the gender pay gap, severe restrictions on abortion rights, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, colonial oppression, and so much more. Unfortunately, there is a negative stigma surrounding the perception of feminism, and it discourages people from openly admitting that they support the movement. Through educating the public on the change that can be evoked through feminism and encouraging people to join the movement, we can make the world a better place for everyone, regardless of gender, by helping under-represented women, promote more inclusive societies globally, and finally make sexism a thing of the past.
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