And people say, we don’t need “Feminism”

Anubha Saxena
3 min readDec 24, 2023
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Scrolling through my feed, I see a lot of ‘We don’t need feminism’ popping up. Really? Let’s take a moment here. 🤔✋

Picture this: A world where your gender decides nothing but your biology. Where paychecks are as equal as the effort put in, regardless of whether you wear a tie or a dress. Where ‘like a girl’ is a compliment, not a sly dig. 🌟💪

Now, back to reality. We’re still marching for equal pay, battling stereotypes, and explaining why ‘no means no.’ The fact that we’re still having these conversations, that’s exactly why we need feminism. It’s not just a fight for women, but a fight for everyone to have the same opportunities, respect, and safety. 🚺🚹

Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean the struggle isn’t real. Gender disparities persist, and that’s why we still need feminism. 💁🏻‍♀️ Gender ratios in various aspects of society reflect significant insights into the status of gender equality and societal norms. Here are some key facts across different domains:

  1. Education 📚
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  • Globally, there has been progress in achieving gender parity in education, especially in primary education. However, disparities persist, particularly in secondary and higher education in some regions.
  • According to UNESCO, about two-thirds of the illiterate adults in the world are women, a ratio that hasn’t changed for decades.

2. Birth 🍼

  • The natural sex ratio at birth is approximately 105 male births for every 100 female births. However, this ratio can vary slightly by country and region.
  • In some countries, particularly in parts of Asia and Eastern Europe, sex-selective practices have led to skewed birth-sex ratios, favoring males.

3. Work 💼

  • Women continue to be underrepresented in certain sectors, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
  • The gender pay gap remains a significant issue worldwide. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2020 report, the global gender pay gap will take 257 years to close at the current rate of progress.

4. Infanticide

  • Female infanticide, the deliberate killing of newborn female children, is a problem in some parts of the world. It is often linked to cultural preferences for male children and can contribute to imbalanced sex ratios.
  • Laws and societal changes have been implemented in various countries to combat this practice, but it still persists in some areas.

5. Rapes and Sexual Assault

  • Globally, about 1 in 3 women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence by a non-partner.
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  • Sexual violence is often underreported. According to the United Nations, less than 40% of women who experience violence seek help of any sort.
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These facts indicate ongoing challenges in achieving gender equality and highlight areas where continued efforts are needed to ensure equal opportunities and rights for all genders.

So next time you hear ‘We don’t need feminism,’ remember, it’s not about superiority, it’s about equality. It’s not just a women’s issue, it’s a human issue. And until the scales are balanced, we’ll keep needing feminism. Let’s keep the conversation going, spread awareness, and make some noise — because change doesn’t come from silence. 📢

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Anubha Saxena

Co-Founder of @thebanyantee 👕 Smashing glass ceilings 🔨🚀 Feminist | Equality Advocate 👭❤️ Digital Artist 🖱️ Logophile 📖 Melomaniac 🎧 35 Under 35 🏆