A free woman-the patriarchy's greatest fear and,

favourite subject of mockery.

A woman who governs her own existence? A woman in control of her own body? A woman making her own independent decisions? The absurdity! She just "Wants to be a man."

I've often heard people equate women seeking complete freedom, with women wanting to be men. A woman's desire to live life on her own terms without being dictated to or controlled often being dismissed as an attempt to imitate manhood.

But when did men become the standard of humanity? When did having a say in your own exist existence become a male privilege? When did basic humanity and fundamental human rights become male-centric?

Female liberation is not about women wanting to be men or seeking to have power over men. It's women striving to have power over themselves.

Throughout the conversation on female liberation, I’ve often seen people try to divert attention from the main issue, which is the male oppression of women, by suggesting that the movement is about "hating men". It is crucial that these people first understand that,“being pro-woman doesn’t mean being anti-man.”

And that the fight for female liberation and more rights for women is not synonymous with fewer rights for men. Freedom, rights and equality are for everyone, it is not a pie that we must fight and compete for.

When an individual or a group of individuals deliberately or inadvertently benefits from exploiting someone’s freedom or denying someone’s rights, the liberation of the exploited may appear threatening and intimidating. It will be perceived as a disturbance, an annoyance for it is a strike against the lifestyle and privileges the oppressor used to indulge in. This is the underlying reason for the overwhelming hate for feminism and female liberation.

The patriarchal society thrives on the obedience of women. And,

When women become noncompliant, resistant, and demanding, they turn into the force capable of dismantling the patriarchy.

This is what they fear. Because people often assume that " A world that isn’t patriarchal is the reverse of patriarchy." They perceive it as a world where women rule over and, oppress men as they have done to women for centuries. Which explains the hostility towards feminism, the rise of anti-feminist attitudes, and the mockery towards anything that remotely empowers women to be free.

So What Is Female Liberation?

Female liberation is “the movement advocating for equality and empowerment of women, often focusing on challenging traditional gender roles, promoting women's rights, and addressing issues related to work, class, and social structures.”

It is giving a woman the freedom and, the right to make her own decisions, whilst systematically eliminating all the shackles that restrict her growth personally,professionally and, socially.

It is essential to grasp that female liberation is not about women receiving freedom in pieces or limited measures. It is not about her gaining the freedom society approves of and, deems acceptable while denying her the rest.

It is not about ‘enough freedom’ but ‘complete freedom.’

It is taking apart every shackle that restrains her from achieving her full potential and, living the life she wants to live. People must first acknowledge that freedom, rights and, equality are non-negotiable.

And that no society will ever reach its fullest potential or flourish when women- who are half of the population and the creators of the entire population- are robbed of freedom, rights, discriminated against and violated mercilessly and relentlessly around the world regardless of country, religion, race and social class.

Furthermore, I want to highlight that female liberation is all-inclusive and boundless. It encompasses and prioritizes every issue that a woman faces solely because of her gender. I’ve heard people dismiss women’s complaints and suggest that women should stop complaining,

“Because some women in other countries have it worse.”

But just because she's chained differently, doesn’t mean she's not chained; it doesn’t mean she's free. And just because her grievances are different from another's doesn’t mean she's not in pain; it doesn’t make the suffering any less.

Therefore, female liberation is freeing every woman from all things that punish her and, mistreat her simply because she was born a woman. It is a fight not against men, but a fight for women, against the patriarchal, male-dominated societal and cultural systems that have been oppressing, controlling,discriminating against and benefiting at women’s expense for centuries and continue to this day. It’s a fight that everyone can and should be a part of. A fight for human rights, and human dignity. A fight for humanity.

In the end, it has to be said that the goal of female liberation is not for women to "become men", but to free women so they can become the best and strongest version of themselves.

It is about creating a world where a woman no longer merely dreams of what she could have become but actively pursues and be what she could become.