Is feminism still a demand for equality?

What is equality? The Oxford Dictionary states that equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities.

There is also a definition for gender equality: “The state in which access to rights or opportunities is unaffected by gender.” Both these definitions talk about equal access to opportunities and granting of the same rights, regardless of the gender. The feminist movement has been fighting for this exact equality for hundreds of years. Everywhere, women have been demanding equal pay, equal political opportunities and exposure and equal treatment, and they have been doing rightly so. Every human being deserves the same amount of respect and freedom simply because we are all creations of God. None of us have the right to dictate to the other, be it a man or a woman.

I, as a female, am a strong believer in the concept of gender equality and vouch for all women asking for the same rights and opportunities. And so my opinion might be a highly unpopular one among my female counterparts. I think that women have forgotten that demand for equality is why feminism became a thing.

Recently, I’ve noticed this trend, where any criticism directed towards a woman is deemed offensive. If a woman comments on a man, would that be considered sexist, too?

And men are not above women. The idea of gender disparity shouldn’t be used to protect ourselves. It is a serious misuse of the power of feminism.

- The reader is a student based in Dubai