Tipping the scales

Okay, before I disappeared, I asked about feminism. Rather than go into long ramblings about the history of various movements, the different "waves", and anything else in tempting lengthiness, I'll just let Wikipedia do what it does best and let you decide whether or not you'd like to read and research further. I will probably refer to a few things along the way, so the Wiki might also come in handy for any needed clarification.

Feminism, not to over simply but to get to the point, added an important clarification to how people would talk about equality and human rights. Principles that revived democracy and the notion "that all men are created equal and... endowed with certain unalienable rights... [such as] life, liberty and property" (later changed to the "pursuit of happiness") forgot to define the word "men" appropriately. The various waves of feminism have fought to emphasize the fact that "men" in our understanding of who is entitled to certain "unalienable rights" refers to every human being. Where philosophies and ideas branch off depend on the interpretation of how these right should manifest themselves.

Whew! Okay, so now that we've got the real root of what feminism is, which includes much of what one of our male commentators mentioned, what's it got to do with anything right now? Are there any outstanding issues? Is there anything left to fight about? I mean, come on... Really, we all have everything we need and are in merry pursuit of happiness, right? Well, it's not exactly time to take up arms, but here are some things to think about.

Are gender roles part of feminism and if they are, how far should it interfere with equal rights?

To comment on this question, I would say when it comes to certain rights and issues of equality, there is no line between men and women to haggle over. Voting rights, property rights, a life free from any form of abuse... these are all things we'd happily agree belong to anyone and everyone. But what about when it comes to custody rights? Are women more natural caregivers and would therefore do better at providing for the needs of the children whose parents are divorcing? Isn't that putting a limit on the rights of the father? Luckily, courts address this issue case by case, but note that for the majority of cases, the mother is given preference over the father. What about maternity leave? While no one would be dumb enough to argue about who's giving birth and who needs a period of time to heal from the physical trauma, there could be a healthy discussion about who is responsible for taking care of a newborn baby. Doesn't the responsibility equally rest on the mother and the father? I know that here in Romania, there is equal maternity and paternity leave granted once a child is born. Does that mean other countries should be fighting for the same thing?

Whether gender roles are a result of nature or nurture, how do you determine when the paradigm needs to change?

For the first time, I have felt the undercurrent of discrimination for being a woman, and it has neither come from one specific cultural group, nor from men alone. Society has a way of hiding limitations on either gender through societal norms and interaction that is sometimes hard to put your finger on. I still have the right to vote, I'm not being openly discriminated against - is there really anything to fight about? Obviously "fight" is the wrong word and in fact, should only be used when horrendous human rights violations are threatening anyone, male or female. But subtle problems still pop up now and then. These take more time to identify and even more time to change, but as the world opens and stretches out to make more connections, we have the opportunity to share with each other bits and pieces of what is necessary to bring about a balanced change.

What things require our immediate attention?

There is no obvious answer to this question. Around the world though, are still numerous human rights causes needing support. Human trafficking, domestic violence, and other cruel and inhumane atrocities happen all the time and seemingly all around us. Does it really have anything to do with us? Does it have anything to do with feminism?

Human Trafficking:
One of the scariest and ever growing problems in the world today; the fact that it exists begs the question why anyone would be on the receiving end of what exploited people are forced to offer. It is an issue of human rights, including the cause of feminism. Society has to work hand in hand with law-makers and law-enforcers to bring about any real change.

Domestic Violence:
I'd like to include any kind of domestic abuse under this category because I see various kinds of abuse where both men and women are keeping the issue alive by abusing one another. It's definitely an issue that in many parts of the world is almost encouraged by tradition and societal norms, older women consulting their sons to beat their wives, wives blaming themselves and running back to abusive husbands. There are also angered women who victimize themselves and seek revenge on their husbands. None of these help bring about change.

Ultimate Message

The point to all of this is, as women, it's not just about fighting for our own rights. We have the power given to us by those early pioneers who ensured that "men" were not the only ones who can bring about change. We all have the power to do something, starting in our own homes and communities; reaching far beyond ourselves and into the lives of those in need. I find myself humbled whenever I get upset over trivial things as I recognize other people are forced to endure much worse.