What is Feminism? How is it different from Misandry?

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There was a time when being a feminist was a powerful stance. But now there’s a proliferation in mindsets that view the word with utmost disgust. Why is that?

People now see feminism as a disruption to society. They truly believe that it does more harm than good. Well, they aren’t wrong. Feminism is disruptive because it seeks to re-evaluate the social structure.

Most people don’t really understand feminism. They assume that it is trying to change the way society functions, so it must be harmful. They confuse it with man-hating. Feminism has become synonymous with misandry, and this has to stop!

In simple terms, feminism advocates equality, and misandry (similar to misogyny) advocates superiority.

I’ve seen celebrities say that they believe in the equality between the sexes, but they’re not feminists. That is an oxymoron. Feminism is, in itself, advocating for equality. It is like saying, I love to eat, but I’m not a foodie.

It is a fascinating and frustrating paradox. They’ve touched a phenomenon whose true definition has been decoupled.

When a word’s meaning stays the same but its societal temperature changes, it becomes weaponized against those who consider themselves part of the movement.

Feminism’s ill reputation is largely because of the Loudest Voice fallacy. In our digital age, the only news that reaches a wide audience is the one with extremist opinions. Influencers and content creators who express misandry (man-hating) under the banner of feminism will get about 10 million views, while influencers who express their opinion on the pay gap or other equality issues will not even get half as many.

The result of this fallacy: for most people, their exposure to feminism is not through literature or poetry, but through inaccurate portrayals in the media. Through this ‘rage-bait’ content, their fears of disruptions come to life.

Change is inherently frightening. When people believe their roles in society are being interrogated, they tend to get defensive (and in some cases, they attack). In most cases, it is men who perceive feminism as something evil. This is mainly due to two reasons:

They are accustomed to their position of power. If they can convince people that feminism is indeed about hating men, then they do not need to engage in active conversations of equality and adjust their own biases.
Some men believe that for women to gain power, men must lose it. This is called the “zero-sum game” myth. In most societies, a right for a man is a privilege for a woman. All feminism asks for is that this privilege become a right for women as well. Men will not lose their rights; women will just get theirs.

With that being said, it is not only men who view feminism as a curse to society. Women, who benefit most from feminism, are also scared of this word for one major reason. Many women believe that powerful feminists are defined by their careers. For homemakers who take pride in their domesticity, this feels like an attack. In reality, it is not.

Feminism is about giving women a choice, not forcing them into one.

Women who have careers are just as important as women who are homemakers. Feminism does not say women have to be career-oriented. It says women should be allowed to make their own choices. They should be allowed to choose to be a career woman; they should be allowed to choose to be a homemaker.

If you believe in the equality of the sexes, you are a feminist. If you believe that men and women deserve the same opportunities, you are a feminist. If you believe that women can be just as career-oriented as men, you are a feminist.

If you believe women are superior to men, you are not a feminist. If you believe men are superior to women, you are not a feminist. If you believe you do not need a man, you are not a feminist. If you believe you do not need a woman, you are not a feminist. If you believe that feminism is hating men, you are not a feminist.

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Feminism is not misandry.

Feminism does not hate men. It does not state that women are superior to men. All it is saying is that cerebrally, men and women are equal. If a man can balance his career and family without judgment, then a woman can too. It says, do not force women into a kitchen; let them decide if that’s where they want to be. It is saying that men can help with household chores because it is not only a woman’s job. If a man has the freedom to make choices, then a woman does too.

I am a feminist. I believe that men and women should be treated equally. I recognize that I need a man just as much as he needs me. I do not believe that women are superior to men. I believe we are equal. I am a feminist.

If you still believe feminism is about hating men, ask yourself this: Are you scared of change, or do you just not understand the meaning of feminism?