We are moved, we are outraged, we strive to do our part; A man’s look at feminism

BY STEVEN KASZAB

I have been a member of an association called “The Circle,” with membership primarily women and like-minded men.

“Feminist” is a powerful word because it challenges those who hear it when proclaimed. This word challenges everything that “mankind” once held as true. Men once ruled society, but the ladies of history have evolved and transformed society in so many ways.

“Global Feminism means a world in which women are free from violence and empowered to live fulfilling lives” Sally Bennet

Whenever a woman stands up for herself, she is not alone, but is standing up for her gender and her fellow citizens and neighbours. If women are to be equal, free, and respected, all of us must be given these rights as human beings. There are so many organizations carrying out the fight for equality, challenged by the cultural and historic influences found in every society on this globe.

Women and men are different and yet the same. I have found that the women in my life have been positive influences, inspirational and critically a benefit to me.

Women are far more empathetic than men. Men have been raised to respect power and wealth, controlling themselves and their emotions. A woman can feel. She has patience and helps form children in many ways to become a better person. There is power in those experiences. Power to transform a piece of clay into something wonderful.

Men cannot have that biological experience no matter how they try. This power unites all women into a group capable of anything. We see how women are transformed while in a position of power. Men are far more competitive in every way than women. That is why our history was transformed historically. In the past women were the center of their societies, matriarchs of power and influence. Men took this from women, and the world became a man’s world.

History shows how bloody and horrible these histories were. Women became inspirations to men, as well as possessions. Through marriage and societal challenges many women became enslaved. Men worked, and women did everything else.

Education and woman’s future prospects became secondary to those of their men.

Why should women rule the roost internationally? Women historically know what it is like to be oppressed, manipulated, and used. Men cannot allow the truth to come out, that women, while being often better than their gender opponents, are still being oppressed, manipulated, and used today.

One thing I have learned while participating with “The Circle,” is that we need to deal with one problem at a time. So, let’s look at violence towards women. The WHO (World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 3 (30%) of women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner violence. Violence such as this can affect women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health.

In Canada 50% of all assaults on women are not reported. In parts of the world, young men (men under 40 years of age): assault, rape, and harm women daily. There are cultural influences that downplay women’s rights to be free from matrimonial and community violence. I cannot point fingers at which parts of the world experience extreme violence against women, so research for yourself where these may be.

Annie Lennox founded “The Circle” to give women and their allies opportunities to gather to fight for a fairer world for women and girls. Look to your mothers, aunts, sisters, daughters, and neighbours and accept the challenge to become better men and women and find the courage to fight societal fear and anger by ending violence not just against women, but against all innocents of society.