Feminism and India

Lisa Haydon was in the line of fire recently when in an interview she said that the term feminist was overused and she did not like the word. The actress added that she didn't want to be a ‘career’ feminist.

Ankita Shrivastav actor

‘Long way to go for equality’

More than India’s understanding of feminism, I think it’s about the perception of feminism in today’s age. If feminism is about equal rights for women, about an end to gender discrimination, then yes, I am a feminist. And in India we have a very long way to go to achieve that equality. But that’s not the image of feminism we youngsters are exposed to. Today, a girl is judged by a certain section of vocal feminists if she chooses to prioritise family over career. We have gone from one kind of discrimination to another. Anyone who speaks their mind is controversial today. And God forbid if it’s a woman. I respect the women who are fighting out there for equal rights. But I also respect women who do small things — like educating their domestic help, teaching her how to read, so that she can live a little  more independently. Is this person a feminist? We’ll never know. It’s not controversial you see!

—As told to Aarti Bhanushali

Tejaswini Madabhushi, runs Hyderabad for Feminism

‘Anything about feminism controversial’

Indian feminism hasn’t done anything aggressive. We have fought against dowry or women education but nothing that should affect men in a negative way. But, the little changes that we have managed to achieve have shocked men so much that they call or term it to be aggressive. And this is true not only for men, but society as a whole has gotten used to a certain pattern of patriarchy that even little changes seem to be radical and aggressive. Hence, anything about feminism ends up becoming controversial. I think people do understand feminism and know it is about the equality of gender. They just don’t want it. When someone says they aren’t a feminist, that’s what they mean — they are sexists. I’m tired of thinking that people are nice, but the hard fact is they aren’t and they deliberately don’t accept this change.”

—As told to Sunder Raj

Dr. Bina Thomas, heritage consultant and writer

‘Feminism generates curiosity’

India is a classic example of a nation in transition in more than just the ‘developing nation’ tag. Along with an ‘emerging economy’ the educated urban community is caught floundering in transit from tradition to modernity, conformity to rebellion and gender bias to gender equality. So it’s only natural that a topic like ‘who is a feminist’ generates so much curiosity.
                  
—As told to Cris

Sucheta Sharma James, supermodel

‘We still have a long way to go’

India’s understanding of feminism goes back to movements like abolishment of sati and child marriage as well as empowering acts such as boosting education for girl child, equal legal rights for women, voting rights, etc. driven by father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi and activists like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Sarojini Naidu and many others. We have had even better examples in Rani Lakshmibai and her battle against Britishers for her throne and how she fought for her rights till her last breath. We as a nation, have come a long way; a lot has been accomplished but we still have a long way to go. In the present era, I feel that the idea or understanding or popular misconceptions about feminism are mostly driven by the power of immaculate journalism. We have to understand that all individuals have a voice and a right to express. Instead of scrutinising someone you disagree with, one must do what one believes in and join hands with those who are on the same page and keep moving forward.

Freedom to speak depicts what we as a nation represent — unified yet diverse; it is the charm of the country — we all have a different take on different things. Recent news of Kangana and Lisa merely show how differently unique these two talented girls are. They were raised in different circumstances, met with different experiences in life and so have different opinions. You can be a career-oriented person who also wants to go back and take care of her beloved family. It is a personal choice. Being bold and bashing men is not feminism. Being respected as a woman and having equal rights to do what you desire is feminism.    

—As told to Dipti

‘Feminism is subjective’

Anita Nair, author

Feminism is a very subjective point of view and textbook feminists would like to contain it within what they believe means women’s emancipation. I feel feminism is a subjective understanding of who you are as woman and where you stand in the world around you. What Lisa Haydon, Kangana Ranaut or anyone else might perceive feminism to be, might not be an accepted norm for many others. The important thing is to recognise it as it is. If I’m happy as a woman and doing things for my husband it doesn’t make me any less of a feminist. It’s about being happy about who you are as a woman with dignity in a world that is skewed with stereotypes.

—As told to Namita Gupta

Judy balan, author and blogger

‘They sound ignorant’

Do these ladies who are saying they aren’t feminists, really need anyone to write an article and point out how ignorant they sound? I think having said what they said out loud is punishment enough. It’s clear from what these ladies said that none of those women had a problem with feminism. They had a problem with what they thought it meant.