Why you are a feminist and don't even know it

“I like feminism as much as I like men with ugly shoes…. there, I said it!!” read the Facebook status message of a young girl I know a few days ago. She is not alone in her sentiment. Lots of people- women included, find the term ‘feminism’ abhorrent.

Thanks to the bad publicity feminists have consistently received over time (mostly by men who felt threatened by these upstart women who wanted equal rights… talk about a civilisational breakdown!) the term now comes with a lot of negative baggage, conjuring up images of hysterical militant bra-less man hating lesbians who look like men.

Given the abounding confusion, here is a little test. Answer ‘yes’ or ’no’ to the ten questions below.

* You believe women and girls have the same rights to food and education as men do * Women should have a say in choosing political leaders, participating in an electoral process and even running for office * Women have the right to earn a living, and earn equal pay with men who have the same qualifications they do * Both women and men should be judged on merit and not on their gender * That women have the right to decide whether or not they want to engage in sexual relations with someone, and that their consent is important * That women have the right to go out at whatever time they want, wearing what they want and not be harassed by anyone * That women are as intelligent as men * That women should not be subjected to domestic violence, and men should also do their bit around the house! * That women should not be subjected to ’eve teasing’, improper remarks and inappropriate touching by anyone anywhere * That women should not be forced into marriage and that it should be a decision they are comfortable with

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to most of these questions, you are a feminist, even if you don’t want to call yourself that - that’s your right too. But welcome to the club!

Feminism pure and simple, is just the act of believing women are equal to men, and have the same rights as they do. In fact many of the rights women enjoy and even take for granted today - the right to education, the right to work, to get equal pay to men, to go out as they please - are all the result of bitter battles fought for by feminists over the years.

In fact the Suffragette movement which saw many women thrown into jail in the US and UK in the 19th and 20th centuries, was only about asking for the right to vote!

So yes, men can be feminists too. All those of you in Delhi who came out on the streets to protest the rising insecurity of women in the city are feminists. If you believe that women have as much right to study and work as men do, then yes you are a feminist.

Being a feminist doesn’t mean you hate men, that you don’t want children or that you will never get married. It only means that you will choose whether you want to do those things or not.