Feminism as a Platform for Communication

Feminism has come to mean many things over the years. Sometimes it is used as an excuse to be angry. Other times, it is used to further the divide between the liberals and the conservatives. And while everyone has their own claim to the word, the original intent of Feminism is found in equality. It is, first and foremost, a platform for discussion—where it is safe to ask the hard questions and understand where each side is coming from.

Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly evident that few see Feminism as a platform. People are quick to accuse, as was the response to Emma Watson’s recent braless Vogue photo-shoot. Attacking Watson for allowing more men to objectify her, many argued that she could not possibly reveal her breasts and then expect men to take her seriously.

This may have simply been an issue of propriety, but many were furious that Emma Watson (who actively advocates for women’s rights) put Feminism to shame in the name of sexual freedom. At the same time, others laughed at the incredulity that so many were overreacting to two naked breasts. Such outbursts only seem to frustrate progress in gender equality.

As for us intern reporters working for The AsiaN, we decided to treat Feminism for what it was and created a platform for our thoughts. All three of us come from different backgrounds: Alessandra Bonanomi from Italy, Amiira Ismail from Finland, and Eui-mi Seo from Korea—our lives were drastically different from one another but once the conversation began, we discovered that while we aware of the negative treatment many women receive, personally, we grew up in a very gender-equal atmosphere.

Our parents never defined for us the way we were to live; that was always up to us. Our career paths were ours to pave. Of course, along with the way, we heard many comments such as, “You’ll get a boyfriend easier if you smile a lot and act mysterious. Guys like that.” Sometimes it was, “Don’t worry if you don’t get a high-paying job, just find a rich man, that’s all you need.” They stung, but they were never directly aimed at us—only women in general.

Truth be told, we have come a long way. Internationally, the issue of women’s rights is largely dealt with; take the International Women’s Day for instance. Indeed, quite a number of formidable leaders are women. Yet, data reveal that though things are fine for a select few, the majority of women still do not receive equal pay for equal work and are having to prove themselves to groups of men who are unwilling to see past the gender veil.

And often it is not the words, but the thought behind what is uttered that does much of the damage. It does not matter that men like women who smile a lot, it matters that men expect women to be happy all the time despite what they truly feel. The issue lies in the fact that when personal preference becomes the preference for a whole bunch of men, women have to make a choice: either to accept society’s given role or to go against it.

Thus, the remainder of the work is educating the next generation. It starts with the family—where many of one’s values are instilled. Mothers and fathers alike should educate their children to develop a healthy view of gender and to grow up expecting to be respected according to their character and not sex or physical appearance. It should be a given that men and women are equal though different in their physical makeup. Finally, we must teach our children that it is alright to question and to debate, but never alright to attack one another—either male or female—on the issue of Feminism. We must first listen in order to arrive at a partnership of effort, which is crucial if we are to make any difference.

Eui-mi Seo, Reporter for The AsiaN