Feminism is the radical notion that women are people. ~Cheris Kramarae and Paula Treichler

The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, "It's a girl." ~Shirley Chisholm

Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn't have what it takes." They will say, "Women don't have what it takes." ~Clare Boothe Luce




To tell a woman everything she may not do is to tell her what she can do. ~Spanish Proverb

myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a door mat or a prostitute. ~Rebecca West, "Mr Chesterton in Hysterics: A Study in Prejudice," The Clarion, 14 Nov 1913, reprinted in The Young
Rebecca, 1982

The little rift between the sexes is astonishingly widened by simply teaching one set of catchwords to the girls and another to the boys. ~Robert Louis Stevenson


Feminism and its dreaded implications were something which was celebrated in the month of March to it being Woman's History Month. Feminism is often seen to do with women rights and is often associated to symbolize some kind of radicalism as well to be mainly to do with certain sect of women. There have been prejudices with regard to feminism and feminists which has come to the platter of many discussions. The feminist movements started in Europe and later moving to North America and it is only lately that it entered the third world and then to Asia. Feminism has often been seen as a western concept which doesn't find a place in India and the South Asian society and its often seen as a reason for the dismemberment of the culture and society. But history and theory of feminism is something found floating everywhere and that's not something i wanna discuss on my blog.

Well i m here to discuss something related to feminists and people perceptions of them . I have been a big time feminists for years and i have no qualms about admitting it as well. But then when people meet me , they are more or less in denial about me being a feminist. Infact i have observed that preconceived notion floating always with regard to people forever. I feel preconceived notions are something which doom the reality of anyone. I remember people used to be aghast at my religion and my attitude towards life. I remember when i shifted my place after my school to a place which compromised of more traditional people then i used to stay ....people had problems about my religion, to my ambition and to my life. Well just because i could wear anything doesn't mean i can't be from a specific religion....just because i was not married after school and was ambitious doesn't mean i don't qualify to be a perfect girl.......and just because i m a rebel and i don't give a damn , doesn't mean my parents must be sick of me! But that's how preconceived notions are like and they didn't existed only before but they still exist .....and i still fight them......a person's sweetness can also seen to be a fake mask in today's world and that's how the word FEMINISM has become the F-word

Feminist is in its notions in Delhi has often come to mean the LSR girls. the girls spotting a boy cut, Khaddi look who don't give a damn about looking good and in gest who r men haters and last they have to lesbians....... i guess people in india haven't really grasped the meaning of feminism. Feminism doesn't stand for hate or fanaticism.....it never did! Infact Feminism in America flourished along with the black movement.....it was a kind of demand to be recognized as a human and given all the rights which a white man were getting.

But still according to people i don't qualify to be feminist....because

- i sport long black shiny hair
-i dress stylishly and i look good with some amount of makeup
-i don't hate men- on the contrary i have had the best male friends
- i m straight and have been in relationship- gosh thats mean u cant ever be a feminist
- i m proud to be a women and m not tomboyish nor ever wanna be like males

To add to all this is the further conception of only a woman being a feminist. i sometimes wonder what a crap is that. Today i can vouch on this forum that my quest with feminism started back in college and the teacher who made me so enthusiastic about feminism was a male...infact till date he conducts plays related to women empowerment......

So u see another of those conceptions!


Its true Indian society and its concept has been different and that's one reason Feminism is often seen as totally aghast to its culture. Feminism is never about superiority or inferiority but rather about right to choose and then it remains what one chooses freely. But more than anything in India what is feared is equality---whether in house or even in the parliaments. The demand for equality is what is panicking the Indian men......Equality in houses is a demand which is leading to more and more divorces.........and Demand for women rights is still far from becoming election issues even after having powerful women but once its there....there would be more breakdown in systems......as at the end of day its all about Male Ego!

That doesn't mean Men with strong belief don't exist ...They do and they do exist big time......but then they have to come to main frame and so do have is the centrality of the girls who don't cohere to notion of "Typical Feminist" and its only then can Feminism can wipe to be a F Word!

India is changing and so are the concept so i just hope this one F word stop from being the Dreaded word to the word of real uplift in the real arenas of society!

Crossposted@My Personal Blog