Feminism, women's rights

Didn't win the Guardian competition with this article, therefore I open it up to criticism, adaptions etc...

Many would possibility consider the rights of women completed; after all women are seen in the media, in politics and in high-ranking position, but actuality this is the minority, or just the few lucky ones. In reality the world over, women are suppressed - economically, religiously, politically and sexually. It is set up through a masculine governed culture that ranks women as lesser beings, placing their opinions and rights as secondary, and in many countries their education as completely unnecessary.

 

The list of problems that are facing women is extensive - from the illiteracy rates in many respected nations, to the women who are enslaved in workhouses and brothels. For example, the persecution of rape cases that are convicted in this country is less than 5%. Add to this the increasing acts of violence against women not only in England, but Europe and the world, and we can see that the Women?s movement; still has a long way to go. Yet, females are criticised for pointing out this crimes, which are committed against half of humankind.

 

If one, as I sadly discovered in my university seminar only a few months ago, is to declare oneself a feminist - you faced raised eyebrows and derogatory comments - and sadly, I doubt that this is uncommon. And worst, a majority of this hostile reaction was from my fellow female peers. It is, as though; it is considered unfeminine, to be a feminist. Arguments that I heard, and tried not to laugh at, is the thought that women are somehow endangering the male ego, which seemed to point, rather at fear of altering the established order of things, perhaps even making it fair (an absurd demand, of course). But who would want to give up their advantages, when they have been so irrationally handed out?

If there is a fault, obviously this misogyny is one, but we females can also take a part of the responsibility for probably re-address the balance. This I think can be pin pointed to the lack of unity in the Feminist movement ? this is not solid base for all of us to unite behind. But surely we all want equal rights?

Therefore perhaps a new definition of what it is to be a Feminist is needed; one that, women from a supposedly free and educated country such as England, will not feel embarrassment to be proud of. They will want to stand and say they are entitled to their equal rights, if fact it is something that they deserve -

 

The right to say and think as they please.

The right to vote.

The right to pursue their education, and career, as far as they choose.

The right to equal pay and the chance to compete for the best careers available.

The right to wed, whom they choose, without intervene from any source. Or the right to remain single should they decide.

The right to raise their children, with support from their husbands/partners.

The right to own property, land and moneys.

The right to sex, with whomever they choose.

The right to refuse or worship whichever religion they should choose.

 

Most of these listed above are, in fact human rights, but ones that, in certain situations and places remain elusive for many thousands of women. This is what Feminist should have established and enforced, and what, we, as females should be as one in achieving. These entitlements are justly ours, ones that through history, governments, and even our own fathers, husbands, brothers and friends have unknowingly or intentionally taken from us. We are given roles that we must play out, ones that have come to define us, but ones that also seep away our potential.

These roles that force women to consider beauty, above their health, intelligence and well being (for what else is the blind stupidity of the modelling world?s obsession with size zero?) I do not deny that it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy with females unable to escape the ?vital? importance of looks, nor do I condemn those who value their appearance, but it cannot and should not be the only quality that is required for a woman. It is something that turns them into the walking wounded, from ancient Greece with Helen of Troy, down to the unfortunate Ana Carolina Reston (who was only twenty-one when she died from anorexia in 2006.) These women are tragic examples, of placing so much importance on beauty. Women are not given the right to dismiss the imagined glory of beauty; they must fight even nature to preserve some false ideal, and sometimes they must even die for it. Nothing as fleeting as beauty should be worth that.

 

The ability to dismiss the significance of beauty is hard indeed, the right to do so; is perhaps even harder. What women so fundamentally lack is choice. Everything is so laid out, that making an independent decision is a constant battle. This lack of choice in the pursuit of the ?ideal? good looks highlights a real issue for women - the basic right to make a decision, on their own, and that one that will not gander criticism from either gender. Should a woman wish to develop her career; she should not be seen as cold or uncaring, nor should a woman who decides to have a child, be undermined as lacking in ambition or wishing for an easier time. Both these commitments should be valued, for both are worthy contributions to society. For this to happen changes must be effected. It should be an attitude that changes, we as individuals - both male and female - and in various different ways must change how we perceive one another, and stop attempting to prevent what is only fair and just.

 

Women?s suffering as gone unanswered for too long, it is high time that rights that women deserve go ignored. I hope naively perhaps that the world my daughters live in will be better, one, which they shall not fear.