Feminism

I think I am a feminist!

Yea I think so…now that depends on what your definition of feminism is.

According to Wikipedia, Feminism is a discourse that involves various movements, theories and philosophies which are concerned with the issue of gender difference, that advocate equality for women, and that campaign for women’s rights and interests. So you can say I am a feminist, I campaign o, but not like carrying placard about! just that in every discussion I have the opportunity to be a part of, I do not hesitate to say that men are no different from women in terms of IQ, status, achievements, rights etc, just that their genetic make ups are different. Also I get so very angry when women are relegated to the back in some discussions claiming they are not intelligent enough or…you know, these guys will always find excuses. What gets me mad the most is when a woman is driving especially in Nigeria, and she makes a mistake or makes a daring move, you hear remarks such as…”aaaaaahhhhhh, na woman” gosh how that grates my ears. I really could slap any body even a woman that says that near me. What I don’t understand is what it means. I drive and I know that anybody can make a mistake but when each time any woman makes a mistake you blame it on her gender, I think that is very dumb.

In my discussions on feminism, I have heard all sorts ranging from “that is so true” to “women really can not be compared to men” to “its a man’s world, women can’t win the fight” to “feminism is not biblical so its not Godly and right” etc. Its so amusing. Helloooooo I am a Christian, and a born again one at that. I believe strongly in the bible and any principle not based on the bible will not work. The bible did not say women should be trampled upon and if I remember correctly feminism started when women decided to speak up about ill treatment from men under the pretext of-You were created to serve me(leaving the help out of it), you are to submit to me as the bible commands therefore I am superior to you . A wife’s or woman’s submission has nothing to do with being inferior or unintelligent. Every person on earth has to submit to someone or some thing, so don’t make ours(women more burdensome). Men submit to their authorities. Women submit to theirs. What’s the big deal? . Biblical submission is not about tyrannical overlords forcing their underlings to kow-tow. It is all about Christ and His Bride, and that picture is one of beauty, love, tenderness, protection, and mutual honor. So what has trying to prove these points got to do with not being biblical or not submitting. You all will agree with me that this patriarchy thing has so taken over the world that women are just used as tools to get things done and means to ends i.e baby making machines as some will put it. Just put her at home to clean the house, cook for you and make babies…so shallow.

What feminism really is about is raising questions such as -”why stone only the woman to death when both she and the man committed adultery or fornication as the case may be in places like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan?” “Why see a woman as impure because she is on her menstruation and therefore ban her from being at some places?” “Why do people claim a woman has slept her way through to the top because there is no way a woman can be better than a man?” I still find all these baffling.

Even as I write this, there are people around me who ask if I am sure of what I am saying and writing… women o. Look ladies, no one is telling you not to respect your husband or cook for him or to be all career and not care for your homes. What feminists are saying is God has called you to be the best you can be so don’t let any situation or ideology or persons tell you otherwise. If a man can be president so can a woman. The fact that the bible tells you to be submissive does not mean you should be a door mat. Ever read proverbs 31:10-31? What did the bible say of a virtuous woman? She must be industrious, she must be smart, she must be intelligent, she must be hardworking, She must take time to look good( verse 22). Please pay close attention to verse 14, go ahead to verse 16. Does that woman sound like someone who settles for anything that is thrown her way and just goes along with every thing cause she is supposed to be submissive. She regards her husband, has a mind of her own and makes good decisions with it. All feminists ask for is to be seen as human beings and not items, to be believed in and have confidence in. Not to be told we can’t go to school because our place is in the kitchen cooking and tending to the buttons that fall off our husband’s clothes is our life calling. Tell me if that is all, if we can ever be the virtuous woman God wants us to be.

I understand that there are fanatics and extremists. People who take things too far and fight for things they don’t even understand. Yes there are people who have given wrong meaning to the words feminist and feminism. All feminism stands for is to see women as equals as men, of course not genetically and biologically but sure not to be treated as inferior. Is that too much to ask?

I am a feminist and I am proud to be….any questions?