Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Feminism demands egalitarianism


Equality has been existing for an eternity, in varying forms and shapes. At times insignificant, at times emphatically essential; and over the years it has seen itself being accepted in varying manners. Literally defining, Equality stands as uniform or equal status and opportunities provided to one and all, indiscriminate of any human-decided factor.
There was a time of the reign of inequality, by the dint of the prevailing motto –'
Might is right', at times a partial equality, decided by caste, creed, color, title, sex etc., but in a world of today, equality and absolute equality is the call of the day. Discrimination on the basis of anything has been termed as a punishable offence, by the constitution, provided equal work is done. So, it obviously implies that I stand in support of the statement that men and women must enjoy equal rights, without a second thought.
I believe when I state equal rights, I mean not merely the fundamental rights, provided by our constitution, but every pother right that one can claim legally and which though seems superficially of trifle importance, is of unfathomable significance to one. Putting aside political allusions, if religious references are taken into consideration, then the bible holds the statement –'
Dust thou art, to dust returnest', which if explained in simple English means that all are made of dust and shall return to dust. Doesn't it mean that all are the same for the come from one source and throng back to the same, devoid of any discrimination? Besides, most holy scriptures emphasize on the importance of equality.
Men and women – classifications of the human society on this, don't hold good in any respect, for both are capable, sensible and efficient in equal amounts. If both can stand independently, earn a livelihood, if both can make out what's right and what's wrong, can read and write and do anything and everything the other is capable of, then there remains no factor on which such a classification can be based. And now that there is absolutely no concrete reason behind this discrimination, why not a provision for equal rights, status as well as liberty for both?
Once in the nineteenth century, there was a strong revolt by the woman suffragettes for their equal rights against those given to men, in the English nations and they did ultimately succeed. It was the ignorance of the people that had compelled the women to plead for their rights, but today, since the realization has almost dawned, such discrimination for rights, shall only be termed sheer injustice, insensate and baseless.
A line of discrimination is drawn when there is a difference in the capabilities or efficiency of both, but if men and women are considered, there is entirely no difference. So, where does the question of providing unequal rights arise from?

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