Feminism

Ideas about how people of different genders should act, look, and speak have existed for centuries. Many of these ideas come from past societies where power was held by and passed down through men — these were patriarchies. When people describe a patriarchal society today, they are describing a society in which men are still automatically seen as the heads of their families, where they’re more likely to be bosses in the workplace and the lawmakers in government. In this kind of society, people of other genders are largely unequal to men. Feminism is the belief that this inequality is wrong!

People who support feminism - feminists - want all genders to be equal. And feminism is not just a belief or a desire. Feminism is also a movement – feminists take action to try and create a world where everyone has the same opportunities and respect. Before we talk more about the work of feminism, let's consider some of the ways patriarchal ideas affect women around the world. In many places, women can't make decisions about their own lives — they have limited or no agency.

Sometimes this is because of laws that say, for example, a woman needs a male guardian's approval to seek healthcare or live alone. Other times it's societal norms that limit women's agency — for example, expectations that married women should leave the workforce. Patriarchal ideas don't only limit women's power to make decisions about their own lives — they limit their power to make political decisions that shape the world, too. For example, women are underrepresented in all levels of political leadership. In 2021, among all ministers and members of parliament across 156 countries, only one fourth were women.

Patriarchal societies also create economic inequality for women. It has been calculated that globally, women earn on average just 68% of what men are paid for the same work. In countries with the lowest levels of gender equality, the number is just 40%. This gender wage gap is part of the reason why around the world, women are more likely than men to live in extreme poverty. The patriarchal expectation that women carry the responsibility for housework and the care of children or other family members is part of the problem.

This leaves less time for education and careers outside the home. The United Nations reports that, across 83 countries, women carry out at least two and a half times more unpaid household and care work per day than men. But no gender is more likely to want to scrub toilets! Much of what is accepted as normal comes from the belief that things have ‘always been this way.’ Feminism works to challenge this misconception! So, how are feminists challenging these long-held beliefs?

Today, feminists are pushing for new laws and policies through petitions, protests, and marches. Their activism is also moving online, where social media allows campaigns to gain worldwide support. They are also educating people about gender inequality, and working to bring feminist education into schools. The idea of what it means to be a feminist is transforming as well! Everyone experiences inequality differently, often for more than one reason.

These reasons might be gender, but also race, ability, sexual orientation, age, or other parts of their identity. Feminism that tries to understand how the different reasons women and girls experience discrimination can intersect and affect their lives is called intersectional feminism. Adding intersectionality to feminism helps us better understand the extra work needed to break down barriers faced by all women and girls. This allows the fight for gender equality to become even more inclusive going forward!