Why Feminism is Bad...
By Mosir Khan
Feminism which refers to the belief in the social, economic, and political equality of the sexes, is
unassailably the preemptory movement to check male chauvinism and female oppression. Led by
the female ideologists and gaining popularity through 19th century, it was a reaction against men’s
neglect of women in politics and other walks of life and female discrimination and oppression.
Though the concept has achieved much success in the western countries and developed countries, it
has done much in the emancipation of women in the developing and underdeveloped countries and
given women a sense of individuality and manumission.
However, in the light of the progression of the movement one must not turn a blind eye to the
detrimental affects it ushers.
Firstly, women might be inclined to presuppose that ‘all’ men are alike and were responsible for
disregarding women’s role in society and subjugating and suppressing women in general, in the pre
feminist era. They might thus tend to neglect the fact that there were other strong social institutions
that were responsible for their suppression, namely religion. In India good example, is the practise of
Sati, which was not concocted by a gathering of all men alone. Moreover, it’s surprising that women
conformed to such practise. One should note the status conferred to women by Semitic religions is
not that of equality. Yet, women along with men are ardent followers of these religious teachings.
Secondly, a female feminist for instance might try to see every action of man as adverse action. A
gentleman’s courtesies might be construed as sexist and indecorous behaviour. A gentleman who
once happened to carry a chair for a woman who happened to be a fervid feminist had to suffer as
the woman delivered a lengthy lecture on how disgusting it is for men to think women are weak,
with all contempt and scorn. Are they as robust as men?
A feminist reading of a particular text or interpretation of art could be astonishingly prejudiced
against the male gender. Even Shakespeare who was, in essence, a humanist, who explored the best
and worst qualities of both sexes, has not been spared and labelled as a misogynist.
Feminism might lead to misconception and fallacies on the part of women. Like every slave who
generally has an aversion to his master, like every prisoner who despises the warden, avid feminist
women have tendency to loathe men, categorically.
Thirdly, feminism may pave the way for self idealization among women. Defeating the very purpose
of feminism it may and has given rise to sexism and radical feminism in which women deem
themselves to be superior to and only better than men.
There are several other issues that have cropped up relating to feminism. F. Carolyn Graglia, author
of Domestic Tranquillity: A Brief Against Feminism asserts that sexual revolution has had a harmful
effect on women. Prior to sexual revolution, she claims, women controlled the aspects of their
relationship with men; most women chose to forgo premarital sex, at least until marriage was
imminent. Graglia contends that sexual revolution, by making casual sex the norm, deprived women
of the social support they needed to refuse sex. Having absorbed the feminist teachings, women
became confused and diffident as to their right to control the nature and extent of premarital sexual
activity. Leslie Anne Carbone writes that “The feminist movement has weakened the foundational
institution of life-the family-by blurring ...the roles of husband and wife.”
Electronic copy available at: [Link]
Marriage has long figured as a target of feminist reformers. Since the early 1960s, second-wave
feminists have campaigned to secure women’s complete freedom from marriage. Some feminist
campaigns have even given the clear impression that liberation of women required their liberation
from children. With ideas like these floating around, it is no surprise that a woman in a family would
be beguiled into severing her ties with it, which could tremendously affect the children and in turn,
the society by adding the number of juvenile delinquents.
Feminism has inculcated repugnance towards men among women. Feminism therefore is
contradictious to its motive of bringing men and women together on the basis of equality. Instead it
pitches women against men and divides the society based on gender: women and men, where
women are vying with men for everything and have failed to realize that men and women either
equal or not cannot exist without each other.
Reference:
1. Britannica Online Encyclopedia
2. Jennifer A. Hurley. Feminism Opposing Viewpoints. USA: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 2001. (Pg. 87- 90)
Electronic copy available at: [Link]
