#womenwecan smashthepatriarchy genderequality

[reannmel]

Women, We Can

       Patriarchy is a system of relationships, ideas, and values that structure gender inequality between men and women and is rooted in political, social, and economic systems. It has been critiqued for conceptualizing men and women's unequal relationships in a way that is too universalizing and encompassing. Attributes that are considered "feminine" or related to women are neglected, whereas attributes that are considered "masculine" or related to men are favored. Both the private and public realms are structured by patriarchal relationships, assuring that men dominate both. In order to maintain patriarchal ties, feminist studies explores the histories and geographies of patriarchal interactions to show that patriarchy manifests in dynamic and adaptable ways. These theories examine the connections between patriarchy and capitalism, colonialism, and nationalism, proposing that patriarchal relations operate across scales in ways that not only define but also order social relations in hierarchical relationships.

        Male-dominated power structures pervade organized society and individual relationships in a patriarchal society. Men become churlish about how they treat women because this system has given men more power than women, and men enjoy some privileges that women do not. Patriarchy acts as an opaque barrier that restricts not only women but also males. Limits in terms of their ostensibly assigned responsibilities, emotions, ability to nourish, and health-promoting behaviors. It's a never-ending demand on men to adhere to a restricted definition of masculinity, compete with one another, and prove their manhood by rejecting their humanity and abandoning their individuality. Men display miscreant behavior to women in a variety of ways, including being domineering, aggressive, worldly, sexually experienced, insensitive, physically intimidating, ambitious, and demanding. Men always turn into naysayers who knock down every proposal originating from women, no matter how promising it is once it comes from women. They question every action, strategy, and, in general, anything that comes from women. It would be invalidated since women at the period were thought to be irrational and were just supposed to dress in traditionally feminine ways, be pleasant, nurturing, and accommodating in the sense that saying "no" in any case would be absurd. 

We live in a world where a few powerful oppressive systems are at work; one of them is gender inequality. Gender inequality is defined as any unequal treatment based on gender, including privilege and priority. We are subjected to discriminatory gender norms about expectations, access to resources, and opportunities from the moment we are born, with lifelong effects - in our homes, schools, and communities. As previously said, people are expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct themselves according to their assigned sex.

        There is always a gleam of hope for women, no matter how dark the circumstances are. Many feminists and advocates have helped to illuminate the society for women and young girls. Malala Yousafzai, who was 11 years old when the Taliban proclaimed on the radio that females would no longer be allowed to attend school in Pakistan,  and she was one of them. That's when she discovered that education entailed more than just reading books and completing homework. The fact that it was already promoting women's empowerment. Yousafzai began advocating for girls' right to education, and the Taliban swiftly identified her as a target as a result of her activity. Yousafzai was shot as she returned home from school in October 2012. She resumed her advocacy after months of surgery and recovery, becoming one of the most outspoken advocates for girls' education in the world and the youngest Nobel laureate at the age of 17. "I raise my voice not to shout, but so that others without a voice might be heard," she added. We can't prosper if half of us are kept behind." Women are also entitled to fundamental human rights such as food, shelter, and employment, in addition to education. In this case, there is also a demand for action against violence and crimes such as domestic violence, rape, and human trafficking. These efforts being exerted in the past and continuously in the present time is gradually breaking down the stigma and making way to a luminous future for women.

       Gender equality is a requirement for a peaceful, prosperous, and long-term future, as well as a basic human right. Gender equality refers to a world where men and women, boys and girls, have equal access to resources, opportunities, and safeguards. Empowering girls and women while they are young has been shown to have long-term and compounding benefits throughout their lives. Girls are given the tools and abilities they need to be good changemakers in their homes and communities when they are encouraged to participate in civic and political settings. Girls are the experts on their own lives, goals, and needs, and they are powerful forces for gender equality in the society. 

       Women are more than just  child bearers, caretakers, to stay at home, do chores, and are always gentle and soft.  Women can be strong, independent, willful, and logical too. We women are more than the labels and roles being set by the previous patriarchal  society.

References:

Patriarchy. (2020, January 1). ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978008102295510206

We are all victims of a patriarchal society: some just suffer more than others. (2021, March 9). Cordaid International. https://www.cordaid.org/en/news/we-are-all-victims-of-a-patriarchal-society/

What Is a Patriarchal Society and How Does It Relate to Feminism? (2020, January 24). ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/patriarchal-society-feminism-definition-3528978

#womenwecan smashthepatriarchy genderequality