Time Feminism evolved!

If feminism stands for gender equality, then I'm a radical feminist.


However, I'm not happy with the name of the movement(s). I, as a "gender-equalist", like to be categorised as a gender-equality activist rather than a feminist.



This is for two main reasons.

I'm using gender-equalism rather than the more generic "egalitarianism".

The first reason is the name itself: F-e-m-i-n-i-s-t. I don't see any equality in that! It seems to be all about women. But gender equality is not just about women, it is about the whole community benefiting from raising the profile of women and advocating their rights. Gender inequality is harming humanity, not just women. It affects nations, economies, and life as a whole.

The second reason is the lack of consensus over the definition of feminism. People define it (and use it) in many different ways and contexts.


While many women groups (and I'm a proud member of one) have gained a lot for the cause of gender equality throughout history, the term may also be used in other contexts conflicting with what gender equality is about.


1- It is used by oppressive groups to propose limitation and censorship on women's clothes and mobility, so as to "protect" her.



2- It may be used by some "male" feminists to lure "grateful" women into abusive relationships.



3- It may be used by some female trolls to incur unfair gains or abuse men just because they are protected by feminism.

When comparing a man that makes his money by hard work, creativity, and progress (while not being abusive to women) and a woman that makes her wealth by silicon-stuffed curves. I would take the side of the man, not the woman, in this particular case although pleasing men is normally the reason behind such cosmetic trends. I'd say that women need to rise up to the responsibility of gender equality.



4- There is a competency gap that feminism seems reluctant to acknowledge. Women have been conditioned for long not to compete in the job market. Witch hunt, lobotomy, theocracies, colonialism (including Arab colonialism in the Middle East) have pulled women down across generations. Women must empower themselves and each other more in science and technology as much as they demand "protection"; so that equal opportunities - when reached, would work out for them and the world. Ask yourself, if you call yourself a (female) feminist, and you're not living in a community where women are normally cut, denied basic education, or financial independence; have you ever learned to operate a power tool, write a programming code, or build a shed; Have you ever repaired an electric switch or replaced a damaged fuse, or do you always ask a man when it operating any machine other than a car, a dishwasher, and a hoover? If you haven't, now is the time for learning and gaining skills, go for it!



5- Many time feminism slips into man-hate speech and will never blame women for contributing to the current inequality, while the truth is that a great deal of such inequality - and sometimes violence, is nurtured by women themselves. Take Female Gentile Mutilation as an example. Inequality is an ecosystem.

Girls queuing helplessly to be cut - picture from It’s Time to End FGM - GirlsGlobe (link to GirlsGlobe website) /

6- The existence of such a biased expression (which was OK at a certain stage of history) defining those who work for gender equality seems like asking for "women care" rather than overall communal synergy based on gender equality. Again, this is all implied by the name, the lack of precise definition, then by the practices of some irresponsible, ignorant or misinformed individuals/groups.


I have to admit that I myself became a man-hater at a certain stage of my life, because of all the violence and brutality practiced by and for men against women in the Middle East, but when I looked closer, I was stunned at realising the massive role of many women in sustaining aggressive masculine cultures. Women think of themselves as trophies or candy bars to be covered and protected, women who would "snatch" men from each other, women who are happy to commodify their bodies and women who get violent against each other to please men. I finally came to the conclusion that gender-equality may need self-liberation and empowerment rather than self patronizing.

Shocking: What makes women settle for such fake pride; being the highest shareholder!

Just look at the amount of money and fame a distinguished female scientist makes, compared to the wealth and fame made by silicon-stuffed* female entertainers, to know that women should work harder on liberating themselves while they ask for justice. Justice is a double-edged sword!

Again, it is not what feminism stands for that is the problem, it is what it seems to be standing for due to the biased name and the lack of consensus over the definition. It is time the term feminism gets firmly and terminally replaced by gender-equality (perhaps gender-equalism) and still be advocating women's right for equality when and where necessary; for the whole community to prosper!

 Relevant articles:
FGM & Circumcision: Two different battles.
* This is not about cosmetic surgery, and is not about a certain profession. All are respected. This is rather about voluntary self-commercialisation for profit or power, and is also about what women are comfortable to pride themselves in, while men prefer making professional and developmental progress.

FGM & Circumcision: Two Different Battles

A perspective:

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OmAhmed (a nickname meaning [mother of Ahmed]) was our neighbor 20 years ago. She visited once, and one of my little sisters burst into tears. OmAhmed looked at her and wondered: ِِAll this fuss because she pumped into a table, what will she do then when she gets cut?

- Cut? What does this mean? Why would a girl be cut?

Om Ahmed explained to me that a "good girl" must have her sexual organ (the clitoris)  cut that she gets to be like "lukewarm water" in bed. Otherwise, "she'll get on top of her man". She conveyed the horrific secret in almost a whisper.

She then told me about her unforgettable memories of it. How it "burnt like fire" for days and how she and her friends used to immerse themselves in the Nile water to relief the unbearable pain for a while. That was horrific to hear!

Later on, I learned how a woman's gentile has such a complex structure to prevent out-of-pain death while giving birth to a baby, and why she need a sort of attached "sensation organ" to complement her reproductive system (Al Saadwi, N. 1969; 1975)

Paradoxically, and because some cultures require a seemingly-analogous male cut called circumcision, this horrific process is often called female-circumcision as well.

However, if men would like to ban male-circumcision, they need to fight a separate battle - and get all the support they want. Male-circumcision and Female Gentile Mutilation are actually two opposing practices, in spite of the apparent analogy! That is to say, they're not different levels of the same thing.  

Apart from the well-known life-long medical complications associated with FGM [1], it is essential to note that

- Male circumcision does not affect sexual function, pleasure or satisfaction.  While;

FGM is practiced specifically to prevent sexual pleasure and satisfaction. FGM is an amputation resulting in sexual dysfunction.

Male circumcision is practiced in victory (speaking of the culture: I'm personally not for it): The emotional support a male gets for undergoing such (unnecessary in my opinion) process may outweigh the associated frustration. In Egypt, neighbours party to celebrate male-circumcision in rituals similar to those of celebrating a baby-birth.

FGM, on the other hand, is designed to cause a lifelong trauma, humiliation and an ultimate loss of self-esteem (silence). It is therefore practiced in secret gatherings; in shame! This facilitates subjugating women, keeping them under masculine provision and facilitates (justifiable) exploitation in return of protection. It simply turns a woman into a "grateful" tool of production and reproduction. A mutilated female can easily get to think of herself as a commodity, and to the highest privilege, a trophy!

This criminal practice shapes and reshapes communities, and its impact goes beyond all localities. It is a form of social engineering with two fundamental problems:

1- The gain the oppressor incurs is too immense to be given up - although the total effect is destructive. Evidence suggests that oppression of women and gender inequality are associated with poverty and loss of biodiversity.

2- The oppressed is not usually aware of the transformation her personality undergoes and thus cooperate with the oppressor to perpetuate the violent process.

Reference:

 [1] (Nawal El Saadawi: Women and Sex, Cairo, 1969; Women and Neurosis, Cairo, 1975)
 [2] Soliman G.S. Conservation of the Homo sapiens: The survival of the Wise; on the Cybernetics of education. available at [http://www.amazon.com/Conservation-Homo-sapiens-Cybernetics-education/dp/1499129246]