Winning Essays of the “We Should All Be Feminists” Competition by EuroClub Kvareli

1st place, We Should All Be Feminists by Keso Chkhikvadze

Please, sit down.

Are you comfortable? You can also grab a cup of coffee…

No, please, do not scroll… You must listen to me, you have to read this, you have a commitment to be interested in this because together we ought to make changes, you must make changes for yourself, for me, for little girls and boys, for the whole world… This may sound incredible; you may think you are unable to change the world. Have no fear, do not give in, continue reading – everything sounds incredible until we make it reality. 200 years ago, nobody believed a woman could win a Nobel Prize, but guess what happened? Marie Curie has won it! She made the change; she made the world believe that human gender does not define knowledge and potential of a person.

Need more motivation? OK.

Women in the USA gained electoral rights in 1920. They struggled, organized numerous campaigns and manifestations, raised their voices, they dared, and they achieved the goal.  

Today, in 2021, can you imagine the elections withholding your voting rights only on account of your feminine gender? I believe it’s difficult, whereas in 1920 it was difficult for women to imagine elections and the world in general that would respected their rights, care about their opinion, the world where they would be full-fledged members of the society.

You may argue that it is not 1920 now, and even if it is not a very distant past, today women’s rights are not violated. You may think that today there is no need to struggle for your rights and equality, and for establishing oneself. I am sorry but I have to say that you are mistaken, you are seriously mistaken.

Even today women are dominated because they are women, even today they are paid less compared to men, why? Because they are women. Even today some people believe that a woman is unable to lead a country, that she is not strong and smart enough. Even today the society considers that women have one and only obligation – to have a family, raise children and care about the growth of population in the country. The society limits you even today telling that you cannot master your dream profession because you are a woman, and because it is inappropriate for you. You are told that you must not wear the clothes you wear because they are inappropriate to you.  You are told that it is time to marry and have children, telling… telling… telling… but never listening to you.

I am sure, you have been told this and many other phrases, I am sure your gender had created even a small obstacle at some point in the past, and I am sure you want to stop this. I know you want to struggle for your rights, I know you have the voice, but you need an urge to make this voice louder, I know you can prove you are a dignified and fully valid person. I know you wish little girls who start self-searching and self-analysis, not to feel subjugated; I know you wish little boys who are not yet discriminating people by their gender, to stay the same.

And if this is right, if this is your aspiration, then get ready. Now I will mention the word that scares others, the word that the society despises so much.

If this is your aspiration, you must be a feminist.

Feminism. 

An interesting word, isn’t it? You are familiar with it, you may hear it today from many, but the society has played its role in its understanding and meaning, and has changed its context somewhat. At least 8 average people from 10 will tell you that feminism implies struggle for women’s rights and their advancement. Though actually the term feminism which originated in France in 1838, means equality. Women had never requested more rights than men have. Try and recall at least one fact or historical occasion when women attempted to violate men’s rights or to oppress them. You cannot recall even one, can you? Quite the opposite, you can easily make a list of the events when women struggled for the equal rights with men.

I am Keso, I am 17 and I believe feminism implies freedom, equality, and struggle for my own and many other girls’ rights. I am proud to tell you that I am a feminist since I see that we have not attained equality up to now. I will struggle for you, and you will struggle for me.

Do you still think we cannot change the world together? Cannot attain equality? You and I, and lots of other dedicated, smart, strong, and independent women? Together we can do more that we imagine. So, stand up, be proud to tell you are a feminist, go out and struggle for us, I believe in you but first, you must believe in yourself.

2nd place, Free Chocolates – For All by Salome Gaprindashvili

I always wanted to create a biiig blue country I would call the country of Humanology where a rainbow and the biiig sun would always be on the sky, and free chocolates for all – on the ground.

In the country of Humanology everything would be like it is here, and in a different manner.

In the country of Humanology I would play football,

and wear the clothes I love.

I would run in the streets at night together with the stars, and I would not be afraid of anybody chasing me.

In the country of Humanology I would cook, clean the house, and become a mother if/when I would wish.

I would not be ashamed of my body there.

In the country of Humanology I would have my mathematical mind and would be able to become a physicist, astronaut, mathematician.

In that country nobody would do abortion in order not to give birth to a baby-girl.

In the country of Humanology all of us would have appropriate salaries based on our jobs, rather than our gender.

In the country of Humanology everybody would have own colors and would choose these colors themselves.

In the country of Humanology I would not need to list the things I have the right to do anyway.

When I describe the country of Humanology, people are surprised and ask: how it differs from our country, what do I want to do that I cannot do here? My answer is that the country of Humanology will have one unique quality. Nobody will be surprised if I do all these things, or not; nobody will restrict, “forbid” or make me feel inferior. Neither me, nor you, or them or anybody.

I always think that if everybody, despite their gender, will have right to freely choose their colors and if we allow them to live proud and free life with those colors, I will never dream about living in the country of Humanology.

3rd place, We Should All Be Feminists by Nutsa Mkhetsadze

During the extensive history of the humankind development, the society underwent huge biological, intellectual, and political progress. However, the way to excellence is very long. The most important among the drawbacks is an old-fashioned, rudimentary perception of gender differences and role distribution between the genders.

While in the current world it is not necessary to physically dominate the environment; and that success is defined by the factors that could be equally demonstrated by women and men (intellect, personal skills – ability of social communication, creativity, leadership skill, etc.), we face daily discouraging reality in the form of various-scale gender inequalities. Women are deprived of rights to express their opinion, get education, manage private life at will; women feel insecure while walking in the streets, they have to tolerate violence, they need to work harder to get respect as a professional, simultaneously earning less than men. 

Even though a part of the society denies this, there are lots of gender inequality problems which are also painfully real. This could be explained by two reasons. One part of the deniers cannot perceive the problem due to privileges – “privilege is a luxury allowing not to think about the problem”. Second part is so used to the inequality that “perceives equality as oppression”.

Sources of the gender inequality problem should be sought in different upbringing principles of girls and boys. Thinking in line with extremely generalized, outdated norms is not a natural, inborn instinct, it is a deep-rooted stereotype. This puts limitations on identity of both genders, and damages mentality.

Since their birth men are told that expression of emotions equals weakness (e. g. “boys do not cry”, “crying like a girl”), they are required to support a family, they take obligation to be strong. Otherwise, their masculinity is doubted. This has negative impact on human mind and generates conscious and subconscious complexes. Studies show that number of suicide cases are especially high among men, and this is explained by the tendency to suppress and hide emotions. I believe this was the opinion expressed in the article “Feminism for Men”, published in one of the New York magazines in 1915: “Feminism will liberate men,” wrote the author.

Negative impact of improper education on women is even more evident. Since their childhood they are expected to adjust their identity to fragile ego of men – “You can be ambitious but not very ambitious. You can be successful but not very successful.” Women have to inhibit their potential to avoid emasculation of men around them.

Patriarchal cultures consider femininity as a sin and hence, perceive it not very seriously. As if women have some original sin and must carry its burden through their life in the form of shame and guilty feeling. Former US President Jimmy Carter assumes this might be caused by misinterpretation of various religious texts, but this is another topic to consider.

I think, the above arguments make it clear why everybody should want to eradicate gender inequality and why we should all be feminists, i. e. people believing in “social, political and economic equality of the genders.” Nevertheless, I would like to support my arguments with several study results.

If we consider the issue on the global level, it is obvious that ignoring women’s intellectual and other abilities bears huge loss for the humankind – gender equality positively affects economy. According to the studies, positive changes in gender equality indexes are directly related to the GDP growth.

The study carried out at Monmouth College Department of Political Sciences (four parameters to identify gender equality were used: Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM), Gender Development Index (GMI), Gender Inequality Index (GII), Gender Gap index (GGI) and method for comparing satisfaction with quality of life in different countries) demonstrated that gender equality makes people significantly happier.

Apart from this, according to the studies, children have much lower chances to develop anxiety disorders and their academic performance is much higher in the families where men are engaged in household tasks and upbringing of children. In such families, men and women are much more satisfied with quality of life.

A question arises: how the situation could be improved?

Firstly, the adult population should have completely clear perception of the problem, individuals must work on self-improvement and if they discover internalized bias and hatred toward women, they must work to eradicate it. Activities of governments, businesses, universities, and various institutions are crucial. Of paramount importance are feminist organizations creating safe environment for women and raising awareness in the society. Engagement of men in this process is undoubtedly vital.

All of this will logically result in elimination of outdated gender norms and higher level of gender equality in new generations.

“Human beings are limited in time and space; they are part of the unity we call the world. They perceive own self, opinions, and feelings as distinct from others, and this is sort of illusion of consciousness. This illusion is a kind of prison restricted by personal desires and love to a small number of significant others. With more empathy, we should strive to be released from this prison to perceive fully the beauty of living beings and the nature.” Things that unite us – the human beings – are much stronger than things that divide us.