Assalamualaikum
"Kenape kene celebrate International Women's Day ye? Kenape asyik nak kene hargai perempuan je kenape takde International Men's Day?"
Firstly, I just google it and guys, International Men's Day exist! haha. there you go, don't complain.
Secondly, International Women's Day is not just a day to celebrate or appreciate women or a day to shower us with gift...not that I am complaining keep the appreciation coming :P but it is also a day for us to reflect, and remember that the fight for women's right is still far from over.
Now, when we say women's right or equality or feminism, some people view it as something negative. Saying that we are extremist trying to fight men and we're trying to push them out. Although I agree that some are indeed too extreme, the majority of us don't actually want to fight man.
I am a feminist and here is what feminism is to me:
Equality doesn't mean that we're seeking a world where everything is balance. I don't dream for every profession to have equal number of men and women. Feminism doesn't mean that I think women are the best and we are above men. I don't seek to be a queen and control my husband. It's delusional of me to think women are better at everything. I am a feminist and I still think men are better leaders and bosses.
Above all, it does not mean that I don't need men in my life. I do. Men play important part in feminism too. Imagine if Malala did not have her father to support her in everything she wants to do such as pursuing education and politics, she would never be the Malala that we know now.
What feminism means to me is for us to try to find a a way to co-exist, men and women, without anyone stepping on our rightful rights, as women...the right to work, the right to vote, the right for equal pay, the right to speak up, the right to go out, the right to drive, the right for education, the right to live and the right for protection. Some are not applicable to Malaysia because Malaysian organisations and companies are alhamdulillah not gender-bias. In that department, Malaysia is good.
However, we are still fighting for our right for protection. I even wrote an entry back in 2013 discussing about the same issue. We, women, have a right for protection, and you men, were supposed to protect us. Not catcalling, not rape, not kill, and not to abuse us. Until we get a world where no mother is condemn for giving birth to daughter when her husband/parent-in-law wants son, no wife is beaten by her husband, no grandfather/father/brother/friend rape a granddaughter/daughter/sister/friend and girl can walk freely on the street without men catcalling, this fight is still far from over.
In the name of humanity, of making the world a better place, men and women need to join forces to fix this problem...and that is what I think about feminism and why International Women's Day need to be celebrated....reminder of the fight for women's right.
I am a feminist and here is what feminism is to me:
Equality doesn't mean that we're seeking a world where everything is balance. I don't dream for every profession to have equal number of men and women. Feminism doesn't mean that I think women are the best and we are above men. I don't seek to be a queen and control my husband. It's delusional of me to think women are better at everything. I am a feminist and I still think men are better leaders and bosses.
Above all, it does not mean that I don't need men in my life. I do. Men play important part in feminism too. Imagine if Malala did not have her father to support her in everything she wants to do such as pursuing education and politics, she would never be the Malala that we know now.
What feminism means to me is for us to try to find a a way to co-exist, men and women, without anyone stepping on our rightful rights, as women...the right to work, the right to vote, the right for equal pay, the right to speak up, the right to go out, the right to drive, the right for education, the right to live and the right for protection. Some are not applicable to Malaysia because Malaysian organisations and companies are alhamdulillah not gender-bias. In that department, Malaysia is good.
However, we are still fighting for our right for protection. I even wrote an entry back in 2013 discussing about the same issue. We, women, have a right for protection, and you men, were supposed to protect us. Not catcalling, not rape, not kill, and not to abuse us. Until we get a world where no mother is condemn for giving birth to daughter when her husband/parent-in-law wants son, no wife is beaten by her husband, no grandfather/father/brother/friend rape a granddaughter/daughter/sister/friend and girl can walk freely on the street without men catcalling, this fight is still far from over.
In the name of humanity, of making the world a better place, men and women need to join forces to fix this problem...and that is what I think about feminism and why International Women's Day need to be celebrated....reminder of the fight for women's right.
