The Aspects Of Female Empowerment That No One Talks About

Going beyond the tip of the iceberg.

I have always considered myself a feminist. Someone, who often takes the right stand at the right time, whether it is for women or men. The idea, to spread awareness about the reality of what goes on behind the curtain is something that fuels my fire. Before I talk more let me just clarify something for the people who still struggle with the idea of feminism.

Let’s just get it out there that..

Feminism = equality.

IT DOES NOT MEAN FAVORING WOMEN!

So, you’re either a feminist or you’re sexist, there is no in-between.

Having said that, it is also completely okay to not understand when you’re being sexist as long as you're ready to acknowledge, learn, and grow from there. It is okay to ask questions and reach out for help. It is all about unlearning and re-learning and as long as you have that kind of approach, you're sorted.  The more important thing here is that you’re trying to change and break that toxic pattern and mindset. And that is all that matters.

To put it "scientifically", feminism is a social movement and ideology that advocates for the equality of the sexes. It aims to eliminate gender-based discrimination, oppression, and systemic inequality. Feminism has been an important movement for decades, and its need has only become more apparent in recent times. One of the primary reasons that feminism is necessary is because of the ongoing gender inequality that exists in many societies. Women continue to face discrimination in various aspects of life, including education, employment, politics, and the justice system. Women also experience a significant gender pay gap, which means that they earn less than men for doing the same work.

Back in school, I was someone who always thought that we do not need awareness when it comes to feminism, I thought that everyone already believes in equality and there isn't sexism, to begin with. Well firstly, I was naive and secondly, the kind of family that I belonged to, was just amazing and I am so grateful for it. With working parents, equal contribution, and equal decision-making, I just assumed that's how the world worked for everyone. My bubble burst really loud once I reached high school and then college and it got worst once I stepped into the corporate world.

We do need awareness and I can't emphasize this enough. The saddest part is that it is not just the men but a very large number of women who need a change in their mindset. Unfortunately, I have met more sexist women than men in my life. And sure, I can blame the fact that we were brought up with a mentality where pitting a woman against a woman was the custom and the idea of sisterhood seemed far-fetched, but that is no excuse. Things are changing for sure, but not fast enough. We need feminism to challenge and overcome the cultural and societal attitudes that contribute to gender inequality. For example, there are still many stereotypes and harmful beliefs about women that are perpetuated by the media and society. These attitudes can limit women's opportunities, impact their mental and physical health, and create a culture of misogyny and sexism.

Furthermore, feminism is necessary to address the unique challenges that women face, such as reproductive rights and gender-based violence. Women have the right to control their bodies and make decisions about their reproductive health, but these rights are often restricted or denied altogether. Similarly, gender-based violence, such as sexual assault and domestic violence, is a pervasive issue that affects women disproportionately.

I also believe that rather than focusing on changing the mindset of people in their 60s and 70s, let's just raise better men and women.

One book that I would suggest you read and that impacted me in a big way was “Lean in”. With the publication of her best-selling book Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg contributed to the ongoing discussion on “empowering women to lead.” If you want to be successful, the book will push you to get into the game and take a seat at the places where you have not traditionally been welcomed.

The one thing that I am going to abide by for the rest of my life is “Learn how to raise your hand and keep it raised”

And God knows I put myself in seemingly uncomfortable situations, but, I am here, I am talking over and I am going to keep my hand raised till I get a seat at the table.

When it comes to finding out how to “lean in,” there is one thing we can’t change: the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day. As a result, women now have more to accomplish, but fewer opportunities to do it. On the whole, it is still as tough to do everything as it was a few years ago. Female strengthening has a more subtle component that we don’t talk about nearly enough. The author, Sheryl Sandberg, attempts to address this in her book by dedicating a section to “Making your relationship partner a true partner.”

However, consider a circumstance in which your accomplice is employed and unable to assist you, or in which you do not have an accomplice or do not have a competent, skilled accomplice. What is the answer to this particular situation? How do we deal with the fallout when we lean in too much to one element of our lives and various parts of our lives suffer as a result? What can we do to encourage this never-ending desire to achieve more?

First and foremost, we must be honest with ourselves about our assumptions and expectations and then determine whether or not they are reasonable. As women, we tend to dishonor ourselves (and one another) in the eyes of society; but, let us refrain from doing so. As a result, even though we have pushed our professional and social boundaries, we feel obligated to perform the remaining things properly at the same time.

And I’m not going to dispute that we are, in some ways, correct. It is still necessary to wash our clothes and take care of our house. We have to cook and eat something, don't we? All the bills need to be made on time too. The notion that everything should be prioritized in the same manner, and that we are not caring, loving, or dealing with our friends and family or ourselves if we choose to drop anything unimportant to the bottom of the list of “things-to-do,” is false.

I’ve begun to question these irrational views about what is or is not acceptable to me in terms of doing or not doing anything. I’m beginning to see that the expectation of being able to accomplish everything flawlessly (and without the assistance of others) is out of line and ridiculous.

Taking everything into consideration, my time is limited, and being in one place means that I am not in another. Unless I want to lose all respect for my time, I must begin putting more emphasis on its proper application. For example, learning how to decline additional duties, deferring some tasks that aren’t urgent or necessary, and being content with reconsidering tasks that can be completed by someone else, all of it is important.

It doesn’t matter if I’m the one who washes my clothing or someone else does. The only thing that counts is, that it gets completed on time. Even more importantly, if, after taking everything into consideration, I am willing to devote two more hours to another task or need a essential two-hour mental break to read a good book, then that time is not wasted, and the expense is justified in the long run.

Indeed, the twenty-first century is unquestionably a time in which women have a fighting chance. While it is difficult to appreciate the changes that have taken place but as a professional woman, when I think back to when I was a teenager, I am thankful for the progress that has been made. We live in an era in which women may do any task without restriction, but does this imply that we should perform any task without restriction?

Moving on, the next book that I am extremely excited about reading is My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future by Indra Nooyi, she has been my inspiration for the longest time and I am so excited to venture into the book as I am very sure it is going to be so amazing.

DO NOT FEEL GUILTY FOR PUTTING YOURSELF FIRST

I cannot cannot cannot emphasize this enough. My close friend has a driver who takes her to and from work on a regular basis. She may see this as a purely useful arrangement rather than an unnecessary expense. She is a successful businesswoman with two young children and a hectic schedule to keep up with. She has set aside a significant amount of time for herself during the trip time between the two destinations. The time she does not spend driving allows her to finish billable hours, make phone calls, prepare work paperwork, read a book, learn something new, or simply accomplish anything else on her to-do list that she is not now engaged in. prioritization is carried out correctly!

Many years ago, our mothers were publicly humiliated for providing cupcakes from a neighborhood bakery for our birthday festivities. It is about time for us to let that peer disgracing go. As friends, companions, and acquaintances, we must begin to assist them in making these particular decisions about how they want to or will handle the precious 24 hours they are granted each day. If this means that my colleague and I will not be meeting for drinks after work, then so be it. Furthermore, on the off chance that it entails that I pay my neighbor to water my plants and walk my dog when they arrive home from work, this is not anything I should be ashamed of.

I believe that in order to make considerable progress on these important challenges, we must consistently do self-checks:

“Is it true that I’m making the best judgments possible with my time? Is it necessary for me to make any changes?”

“When my gorgeous bestie decides that something else takes precedence over a meet-up, am I being a helpful friend by begging for their time and acknowledging where I’m failing?”

The realization that there is a limit to what a person can do on their own is necessary in order to just be the greatest version of themselves. To begin the process of elimination, we must identify and remove all activities that do not contribute value to our professions, our lives, or our pleasure, and we must do it immediately.

Requesting assistance is a sign of intelligence, and it is not something to be embarrassed by in any way. Deborah Tannen’s book You’re the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women’s Friendships is an excellent resource if you want to learn more about how to become someone supportive of others. I found Deborah Tannen’s book You’re The Only One I Can Tell: Inside The Language Of Women’s Friendships to be exceptionally insightful.

Feminism is also important for creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all people. Gender inequality not only harms women but also affects men, non-binary individuals, and people of all genders. By working towards gender equality, we can create a society that is fair and just for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity. It is a movement that benefits everyone and is essential for creating a better world for all people. In conclusion, the need for feminism is clear and urgent.

Let’s make sure we have each other’s backs! It is time to work on the sisterhood and nurture and loves each other.