What exactly is the feminist gaze? Is it pitted against men? Or is it something that is harmful for the society? How would you look at the feminist gaze then in this scenario? The Suffragette movement is the basic building block of feminism. Feminism- it is more than a mere term. It is a fight for equality and equal rights. In a society infested with patriarchal beliefs, it really is important in order for women to survive. Eighteenth century Europe witnessed the lack of voting rights for women. The White Feminist kept on asking a single question – What is a woman’s role in life?
Is she supposed to be just a trad wife? Do her own ambitions end up dying immediately? Black Feminism varies significantly from White Feminism. Black Feminism was a new thing which emerged quite later in time . The double marginalization of Black women is something which was not evident for quite a long period of time. The voice of resistance against Apartheid in Africa and America was the most predominant voice of resistance back then. However, the pain of Black women was brutally ignored. They were sold off as slaves as male, beside the existence of female slaves already.
The shift in Feminist movements was quite drastic in nature. This drastic shift shows the socio-political situation of an individual. I can perceive my reality as per my own socio-political position. I won’t necessarily be all understanding and forgiving. However, another individual with a different identity might consider the chances of the situation being valid and logical. Logic varies from one person to the other. I might see it in a different light in comparison to my friend. So is Feminism. It is not at all a new, emerging concept. It is what Nihilism believes in strongly.
Strength lies in fighting back against the social evils. What are these social evils if not social constraints? Society ties people together by certain rules and regulations. What truly matters is the effect of the beliefs on people surrounding us. It does not affect men directly or indirectly. So, what exactly is the problem with a Feminist gaze? Is it the questions being asked, or a concealed harsh reality? Reality is not always exposed, sometimes it is hidden beneath the birches and the leaves. These leaves represent the societal norms and regulations. Rules have no liberty at all.
Feminists like Bell Hooks talk about patriarchy and the male gaze in general. The gaze is central in Feminist gaze – not the stereotypical gaze but a new kind of perspective. Something fresh, completely out of the box. The box opens, and out come the treasures of Pandora’s box. Ah! What is this sheer darkness? Will it ever end? The recent news of the rape case in Delhi proves how patriarchy is just more than a term .
