‘Koi samajh hi nahi ki matlab kya hai’: Shabana Azmi stresses the importance of understanding true meaning of feminism

Recalling an incidental during a sojourn to the US, Azmi shared however a pistillate criticised her for ironing her hubby Javed Akhtar’s kurta, questioning her feminist stance. “I was ironing Javed [Akhtar]’s kurta, and this pistillate said, ‘You telephone yourself a feminist, and you are ironing your husband’s kurta?’ When I said what has this got to bash with feminism, she said, ‘Meaning? Will helium robust your sari?’ I said, ‘I volition ne'er fto him bash that!’ Iski knowing bahot hullo weak, kamzor hain. Kya matlab ki ‘I americium not a feminist’? Have you adjacent thought astir it? There is nary clarity.” To her, the incidental reflected a anemic knowing of feminism, which, she said, is astir seeing the satellite done a unsocial perspective.

“The full regard successful the mode that you presumption the satellite is different. Men and women are different. Not better, not worse. That quality needs to beryllium celebrated. Equal but different,” she stressed.

Why feminism is misunderstood and immoderate communal misconceptions 

Sociologist Pranay Aggarwal, who besides mentors IAS aspirants, tells indianexpress.com, “One of the astir prevalent misconceptions is that feminism is anti-men — that feminists inherently dislike men. Another misconception is that feminism is highly rigid oregon adjacent extreme. Some radical besides presumption feminism arsenic an effort to regenerate antheral dominance with pistillate dominance, arsenic if feminists are trying to overthrow men from their alleged ‘rightful’ spot successful society.”

Shabana Azmi’s thought of ‘equal but different’ aligns with feminist ideals broadening the conception of equality to encompass equity and fairness, not conscionable sameness. (Source: Freepik)

A further misunderstanding is that feminism is lone astir women, helium adds, arsenic though it solely benefits women. This presumption misses the broader, nuanced thought that feminism challenges patriarchal structures that harm each genders, including men. Many radical neglect to spot however men, too, tin beryllium victims of patriarchy and would payment from the dismantling of these restrictive norms.

Aggarwal continues, “In India, there’s a wide content that feminism is simply a ‘Western import,’ a conception constricted to definite elite, Westernised circles, similar assemblage campuses oregon metropolitan areas. This framing tin obscure the profoundly rooted and divers expressions of feminism wrong Indian culture, making feminism look elitist oregon inaccessible to the broader society.”

Another crushed feminism is misunderstood could beryllium the mode it’s portrayed connected societal media, wherever caricatured, stereotypical depictions often overshadow much meaningful feminist conversations, states Aggarwal. 

How tin individuals make a much nuanced knowing of feminism that goes beyond stereotypes

“A nuanced knowing of feminism requires vulnerability to its affluent lit and history,” notes Aggarwal. Schools and colleges could play a important relation by incorporating cardinal feminist ideas into the general curriculum. Beyond ceremonial education, movie and media tin besides connection almighty insights, but these messages shouldn’t beryllium reduced to “soundbites” that trivialise analyzable issues, helium says.

“Moving beyond stereotypes requires a deeper engagement with feminism’s halfway values. Intersectional feminism, for instance, emphasises the interconnected quality of societal identities, similar race, class, and gender, which shapes individuals’ experiences and challenges,” says Abdul Nasir Shaikh, laminitis and CEO, Total Coaching and Mentoring Collectve LLP.

This position reveals feminism’s multi-faceted attack to addressing inequality, Shaikh adds, showing it arsenic a model that advocates for diverse, inclusive solutions. “By speechmaking feminist literature, engaging successful unfastened discussions, and listening to varied voices wrong the movement, individuals tin statesman to spot feminism arsenic a almighty unit for societal transformation.”