Then, now and how it should be.

Feminism

'fɛmɪnɪz(ə)m' (noun)

1. the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the genders.

Being a woman/girl in the 21st century means facing some challenges when it comes to building up your career, starting a family or even getting paid like your fellow male colleague for doing the same task at work. I'm not saying women are oppressed or that they can't find their voices in a world deafened by men's opinions, however it would be nice to know where we stand. (I won't surely be talking about the political and social movements or even the "ideologies" of feminism. That could be extremely pedantic.)

Let's take a peek on the 19th century for instance. Imagine yourself adorning that vexatious corset beneath a long gown, because you are forced to do so by society. Women were expected to embroider cushions, paint portraits, play the piano forte, read extensively and speak languages fluently because it flattered men. A woman was considered one with accomplishments when she achieved all what's mentioned above. It was a disgrace for upper and middle class families when their women were not married. Lower class families regarded their women as tools that could save them from squalor through matrimony.

One of the most famous yet hidden feminists of that century is Jane Austen. All her novels were about women's lives (which were conveniently written by a woman). Most of her female characters, if not all, were not your typical 19th century woman. Take Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, Anne Elliot ,and the sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as examples. They were a visible contrast to women of that time. They were strong headed and they didn't allow the society to drill such absurd expectations into their witty heads. 

The word feminism wasn't popular during that era. In fact, it was used utterly rarely to the extent that I believe it's a newly added word to our overflowing and extensive dictionary. As decades passed, women started to feel their true worth. They realized that they don't come second to men, actually they shouldn't come second at all. 

Women started working in almost all fields. They started pursuing their dream jobs while balancing their social and personal lives. It was actually proven that women could master a skill in a time span that equals the same interval a man takes if not less. Women are now determined to prove that they're more than housewives or pretty objects, They proved that they can be extremely successful doctors, engineers, artists, merchants, and so much more. The truth is, they can be anything and everything they dream of if they have the will to fulfill their dreams.

The endless squabble over the rights women should be entitled to won't have to exist if we can admit that we're all created equal. We are all living on the same planet and we breath the same air. Uniting the diversity of capabilities, not underestimating both men and women and giving each individual credits or praise them for their efforts would prevent losing time in minute arguments that lead to absolutely nowhere.