I'm terribly sorry for the topic of this post (no really, I am) because it's so bloody overdone. I've never seen a personal blog without some reference to it somewhere and generally they're all saying variations of the same thing. I try not to write about things when I feel I can't contribute to the debate because.. well, what's the point in reading the same opinion (no matter how relevant) regurgitated for the umpteenth time unless it actually gives another perspective? If I want to show my support for something I share it on my Facebook page, there's really no need for a blog about it. Now for the sake of clarity I've phrased this in question form, I apologise if this comes across as patronising.
Why are you doing this to us then Siobhán? WHY?!
Well recently someone showed me an article in the Guardian on the subject of feminism and gender equality. While it went into the complications of gender equality vs feminism vs everything else, it made me realise that I've never actually seen an article or post of any kind that puts forth my feelings on the matter. This article got some of it, but there are still bits that I disagree with in there and that always seems to be the case. Also my feelings on the matter are quite difficult to express so I usually end up conceding the argument quite quickly for lack of energy.
Ok, to start with: what is feminism?
You're probably reading this thinking "Jesus Christ, how flipping condescending is this person? Any reasonable person knows what feminism is!". Unfortunately this just isn't true. I've witnessed many different attitudes and definitions, and I'm not even an activist. Depending on who you ask, feminism can be defined as the promotion of women's rights, the promotion of equal rights and/or the demotion of men's rights. This isn't even including those who think one gender is inherently better than another and still call themselves feminists1. As the original article stated, it's not as simple as
The definition of feminism that I think is most reasonable and sums up my feelings on it best is this:
Feminism is the promotion of women's rights, with the aim of creating a society where women and men exist as equals.
So you're a feminist then, by that definition?
No, not really. By the above definition it's a movement that I definitely support, but I wouldn't call myself a feminist. My only real issue with feminism is that it focusses primarily on one gender - even in its name. This means that people look around and see women in power and think "Great! We can be done with this whole feminism malarkey now!" or see a man passed over for promotion in the name of feminism and think "Feminism is putting men at a disadvantage, they've gotten what they want and now they're just being spiteful!". In my experience, using 'gender equality' instead of 'feminism' cuts out this problem quite well.
If 'feminism' and 'gender equality' are both working towards the same goal then what's the difference?
To me the difference is sustainability. I have no idea what the future will hold for gender roles and gender equality. In my grandmother's time she legally had to give up her job when she got married, my mother on the other hand kept her maiden name and has had a thriving career, only marrying our father when my sister and I were 9 and 6 respectively. A large reason for my parents getting married when they did was the fact that Irish law recognised the rights of a married mother over those of an unmarried mother living with the father of her children, yet in 2012 we passed a referendum that went a long way to remedy this.
With the development of our society so uncertain, I feel it's important that we allow for equality in every long-term decision we make. Here's a somewhat controversial example of what I mean:
There's a business (roughly 25 years old, not family owned). The CEO is male, as are 19 of the 20 board members. Over the years there have been many qualified women who have applied for positions in the company but somehow almost all of the female employees are working at very low level stations and usually as secretaries or assistants. There's an atmosphere of acceptance when it comes to sexual harassment and aside from a yearly 2-hour talk there is nothing done about any complaints.
All in all, a misogynist and oppressive atmosphere has built up over the years and it'd suck to be a woman working there. It's the next bit where the opinions start to differ.
Feminism: Firstly, affirmative action. We implement a system whereby there have to be at least 7 female board members at any given time, as well as similar requirements at various levels of the organisation. Secondly we increase the number of sexual harassment seminars, make them compulsory and make sure that the protocols for reporting such behaviour are easily followed and the punishments enforced. We then need to have a good long talk with this CEO fellow and make sure he understands that he will be monitored and there will be consequences if this continues.
Gender Equality: Firstly, affirmative action. We implement a system whereby there have to be at least 7 female and 7 male board members at any given time, as well as similar requirements at various levels of the organisation. Secondly we increase the number of sexual harassment seminars, make them compulsory and make sure that the protocols for reporting such behaviour are easily followed and the punishments enforced. We then need to have a good long talk with this CEO fellow and make sure he understands that he will be monitored and there will be consequences if this continues.
There was one difference there. Just one. The thing is though is that, for me, that one difference turns 'positive discrimination' into 'equal opportunities hiring'. It allows for nobody to feel like they were discriminated against for their gender, and if the situation were ever reversed it allows for the same problems not to arise again.
But women are disadvantaged already! That's like splitting €100 equally between someone with nothing and someone with €50; the person with nothing needs to be given more to make it equal.
Yes, as it stands women are significantly disadvantaged. But is it not equally wrong to give one person the full €100 and leave the other with just €502? The gender equality plan is giving women more than it's giving men. In the original structure women were guaranteed nothing and anything more than that was an anomaly. Men, on the other hand, were given more than their fair share of opportunity, given that 50% of the competition was automatically dismissed. The women here have received much more from the scheme, as they should have. It just allows for men and women now to be at the same starting point. We've given €75 to the women, €25 to the men and hopefully set the stage for an environment where the two genders are equal and the majority gender depends only on who deserves to work there.
See how happy we would be if we all weighed the same?
To sum up..
I think in an ideal world men and women would be treated equally, but currently this isn't the case. I believe that promoting women's rights in the form of mutual rights will be more efficient in getting to this ideal world. I also think that history shows we can evolve quickly as a society and mutual rights guarantees that misogyny and other forms of inequality don't raise their ugly heads again as they are so keen to do. I think that the term 'gender equality' has a more clear definition than 'feminism' and that is why I prefer using it. There are a bunch of other terms floating around the place but these I find are the simplest and most well-known.
Thank you for your time, I sincerely hope I didn't bore you to death. Oh and no applause necessary lads, I've got it covered..
1 Not just putting women above men, but I have also seen people who see it as akin to animal rights - you should treat your dog well, but you wouldn't let it vote.
2 The reason I use these numbers is because I want to emphasise that I do believe, no matter how much we give women, that men will never be as disadvantaged as women once were. They will always have their €50. I do still think it's better though for everyone to have €75.
