Equality is the wrong fight.
I’m sorry United Nations but you got SDG 5 all wrong.
I was having a discussion with a colleague about women, and the men who looked at me immediately labelled me a feminist. I was quick to shut the thought down, but not before the words swung out of his mouth.
Are you a feminist?
Again, the word "feminist" is used. Without the labels "sexiest," "toxic," "psychopath," etc., it is impossible to express a viewpoint as a human being. Our society uses a degrading system and waits for our mistakes to categorize us.
This article is an upgraded and fully experienced version of my previous article on feminism. The fact that this is still a problem in 2022 proves that I haven’t discussed it adequately or well enough.
Men don’t mean to say, “Yeah, you go, girl,” when they describe a woman as a feminist. “Female movement!” That tone reeks of derision and contempt. The phoniness.
It’s the “you women think you’re better than us” type of thing. And for this reason alone, equality cannot exist in either the present or the future.
And I don’t blame men for not supporting the movement. Because what is this movement really about? Clearly, equality is not possible.
In a society where women’s empowerment seems to be frowned upon, equality cannot be achieved.
I’ll start with my home nation. What does equality mean to me as an African Nigerian?
Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities.
Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
As a woman in business, this means giving me the funding and resources I need to succeed.
Male-owned businesses get seven times more funding than those owned by women.
As a woman with an aspiration for leadership, this means trusting me with the skills and integrity to sit on boards and make emotionally accurate decisions.
As a woman, this means recognizing my hormonal condition and not using it against me in places where I have earned the right to be.
As a woman, this is making my voice count in the matters that concern public/private governance, and the economy, of which my kind is under-represented
Nigeria ranked 181 of 193 countries on the Gender Equality Index, for countries with low women representation in governance.
As a woman in the corporate sector, that I am paid as earned and not as demanded.
Women worldwide make an average of 20 percent less than the amount paid to men, according to a release from the United Nation’s International Labor Organization.
I’m no longer asking for equality, I’m asking for equity — the recognition that women like me have different circumstances and allocating the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
Men, please stop raising the wall for us; we are tired of climbing.
Women, stop with these labels you have used to level up.
You’re not a “female king”, you are a Queen.
You’re not a “female engineer”, you’re an Engineer.
You’re not a “She-E-O” you’re a CEO.
You’re not a “Fempreneur or Mompreneur”, you’re an Entrepreneur”
Own your rights as a human being first, then as a woman.
This article is just the beginning of my call for change. The feminist movement must change priorities.
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