I don’t think anyone, with any degree of intellectual honesty, can say women hold equal status to men in India. And yet, the need for feminism is strongly contested by men and women alike. Let’s look at the 5 main arguments against it.
Yoga isn’t just about fancy poses and sun salutations. Yoga is about finding balance, and incorporating a daily yoga routine is easier than you realize, and can even make you better at work.
Representation matters. It means having role models, people we can relate to and emulate. It creates awareness, cultural shifts, and policy changes. Let us highlight leaders like Priya Babu and Akkai Padmashali, and let us focus on our shared humanity.
From slapstick to satire, comedy comes in various forms and mediums. It can be silly, it can be hurtful, and it can be change making. Novelist George Meredith once said that the true test of a civilization is how comedic ideas and comedy thrive, and that the true test of comedy is if it “awakens thoughtful laughter.”
In the face of complex and entrenched social issues, such as gender roles and stereotypes, comedy is more than expression; it is dissent. At its best comedy forces us to challenge what is, encourages us to laugh freely, and makes us more ‘thoughtful.’
If we want more men to support women and feminism, we need to clarify a key point. Feminism is for women. It looks to solve the issues women face, and endeavors to create more equitable opportunities. But, feminism also benefits men. Society doesn’t just place restrictive gender norms on women, men are also expected to meet unrealistic and unfair expectations based on their gender. It’s society’s outdated understanding of manhood that inhibits men from being able to feel and express their full range of emotions. It places worth on a man’s ability to earn a living, over his ability to love and care for his family. It perpetuates violence against women, as it believes men are too animalistic and barbaric to control their baser urges. This system blames women, and in the same breath ignores male victims of abuse and sexual assault. We live in a system that dehumanizes and belittles men. Feminism says men are much more than this.
Over the past few weeks seven Indian men were interviewed about their perceptions, understandings, and even barriers to feminism. They were chosen because their work either directly or indirectly correlates with helping Indian women gain opportunity and equality. Though their work and views vary, they each impact women and society at large. In their own ways they dismantle systems and build platforms for women. To add value to their previously shared insights and to show appreciation for their work, Shenomics presents #HeforShe.
What shapes a man? This isn’t about antiquated gender norms or archetypes of manhood. This isn’t even about anatomy; it’s about men who believe firmly in the equality of all people, no matter their gender.
Male feminism in India is, unsurprisingly, as diverse and nuanced a movement as the country itself.
This International Women’s Day, dress soulfully and give consciously! Shenomics is proud to present India’s first Conscious Closet Party. As a coaching platform that focuses on mindfulness, social impact, and women, it’s no surprise we wanted to do something creative that would embody our values… and expand our closets. Bring some, take some, and donate the rest!
“The single most important career decision that a woman makes is whether she will have a life partner and who that partner is.” ― Sheryl Sandberg, Renowned business leader, Activist and Author