Feminism, Role and Importance

Initialization:

Feminism is a social and political movement that seeks to achieve gender equality in all aspects of life, from political and economic rights to social and cultural opportunities.
Feminism calls for changing traditional gender roles, challenging stereotypes about women and men, and ending discrimination and violence against women.

The history of feminism is long and complex, and can be divided into several waves:

1. The first wave: Beginning in the 19th century and lasting until the early 20th century, this wave focused on demanding basic women’s rights such as voting and political participation, property rights, and education.
2. Second Wave: Beginning in the mid-20th century and lasting until the 1970s, this wave broadened the scope of demands to include equality in the workplace, redefinition of gender roles, and violence against women.
3. Third wave: Beginning in the 1980s and continuing until today, this wave is characterized by its diversity and inclusiveness, addressing issues such as gender identity, race, class, and homosexuality.

Many countries achieved the right to vote for women, albeit after a long struggle.
Women’s access to education has also increased at all levels.
Women have also made significant progress in the labor market, but there are still significant gaps in wages and promotions.
In addition to enacting laws to protect women from violence and raising awareness.
Women have also made progress in their reproductive rights, such as birth control and abortion.
Feminism is an essential movement for a more just and equal world. Primarily of Western origin, it seeks to empower women to realize their full potential and provide equal opportunities for all. Feminism contributes to building more inclusive and tolerant societies.
It is worth noting that feminism is not a monolithic movement, but includes a variety of ideas and opinions, and feminism is not limited to women, but includes men who believe in gender equality.
It must also be said that feminism is not against men, but rather seeks to liberate women and men from traditional gender roles.

In Syria:
Feminism in Syria is going through a very complex and challenging phase, and is greatly affected by the ongoing Syrian crisis.
On the one hand, the crisis has pushed Syrian women to the forefront of the scene, where they have been at the forefront of protests and activism and have borne the brunt of the burden of caring for their families and communities.
On the other hand, the crisis has exacerbated violations against women, such as gender-based violence, early marriage, and human trafficking.

Challenges facing feminism in Syria:

1. War and displacement: The war has destroyed infrastructure and displaced millions, exacerbating the social and economic issues facing women.
2. Gender-based violence: Rates of violence against women have increased dramatically, whether it is domestic violence, sexual violence, or honor killings.
3. Early marriage: The prevalence of early marriage has increased, especially among displaced and refugee girls, depriving them of education and employment.
4. Cultural bias: There are still customs and traditions that restrict the role of women and limit their rights.
5. Lack of political stability: Political instability affects the ability of women’s organizations to operate effectively.

Syrian feminism has had achievements including:

1. Civil activism: Many Syrian women activists have emerged who have played a crucial role in the Syrian revolution and in relief and humanitarian work.
2. Feminist organization: Many feminist organizations have been established to provide support to women survivors of violence, strengthen their capacities, and advocate for their rights.
3. Awareness-raising: Awareness of women’s issues and rights, especially gender-based violence, has increased.
4. Political participation: Syrian women have begun to participate more in political life and are demanding greater representation in official institutions.

Despite the enormous challenges, there is hope for a better future for Syrian women, who have proven their resilience and defiance and are determined to build a better future for their country, the women of their generation and future generations.

Advantages of Feminism:
Feminism is a global movement that seeks to achieve gender equality and give women their full rights in all fields.
This movement, despite facing many challenges, has achieved great achievements and contributed to the transformation of societies.

The positives of feminism globally:

1. Expanding women’s political and social participation: Feminism has had a significant impact on increasing women’s representation in parliaments and governments, leading to the formulation of more inclusive policies that reflect women’s needs.
2. Improving educational and employment opportunities: The feminist movement has raised awareness of the importance of girls’ education and economic empowerment, which has increased women’s participation in the labor force and reduced the wage gap.
3. Combating violence against women: By raising awareness of gender-based violence, feminism has contributed to stricter laws to protect women and provide support to survivors of violence.
4. Changing gender roles: Feminism has challenged traditional gender roles, giving both women and men greater opportunities to choose their life paths.
5. Promoting human rights: Feminism is an integral part of the human rights movement, seeking social justice and equality for all.

Regarding the positives of feminism in Syria, despite the difficulties faced by Syrian women, the feminist movement in Syria has achieved important achievements, in our opinion:

1. Increased awareness of women’s rights: Syrian women activists have contributed to raising awareness of women’s rights and issues, creating a new generation of women who are aware of their rights.
2. Empowering women economically and socially: Many women’s organizations have established small economic projects to support women, providing safe spaces for them to express themselves and share experiences.
3. Participation in political life: Syrian women played a prominent role in the Syrian revolution and participated in political negotiations, increasing their representation in political life.
4. Community building: Syrian women have contributed to building more resilient communities by providing psychosocial support to war-affected communities.
5. Changing societal perceptions of women: The feminist movement has contributed to changing the societal perception of women and increasing appreciation of their role in society.

Feminism in Syria, as in the rest of the world, is a vital movement that seeks to build a more just and equal future.
Despite the challenges, Syrian women’s determination to realize their rights is an inspiration to women everywhere.

The downsides of feminism, a critique and a balanced view:
The feminist movement has always been the subject of controversy and debate, and despite its great achievements in the field of gender equality, it also faces criticism and accusations of having some shortcomings.
It is important to take a balanced view of this movement and recognize that any large-scale social movement has both positive and negative aspects.

The negatives that are directed at feminism in general:

1. Extremism and extremism: Some feminist movements may adopt extremist positions that reject any difference or diversity, and seek to impose a rigid feminist agenda on everyone.
2. Gender conflict: An overemphasis on women’s rights can create conflict between the sexes, instead of focusing on achieving cooperation and equality.
3. Ignoring cultural and religious differences: Some feminist movements may ignore cultural and religious differences and impose Western values on other societies, provoking social conflicts.
4. Excessive focus on gender identity: An excessive focus on gender identity can lead to the neglect of other important social issues, such as poverty, injustice, and racism.
5. Amplification of problems: Some feminists may tend to exaggerate the issues facing women and present a very negative image of society.

Regarding the negatives that the feminist movement may face in Syria in particular:

1. Vulnerability to conflict: The women’s movement in Syria may be significantly affected by the ongoing conflict, leading to fragmentation of efforts and reduced impact.
2. Cultural and religious bias: The feminist movement in Syria may face strong resistance from hardline religious movements, which see feminism as incompatible with religious values and principles.
3. Focus on security issues: Focusing on security and humanitarian issues resulting from the war may marginalize women’s issues.
4. Difficulty organizing: Women’s organizations in Syria may face significant difficulties in organizing and operating due to the difficult security conditions.

We emphasize that feminism is not a monolithic movement; there are many feminist currents, each with its own vision and goals.
We must look at feminism critically, but without denying its great role in improving the status of women. Feminists must work with men and women from different cultural and religious backgrounds to reach consensual solutions to the issues facing society.

It is important to recognize that feminism is a dynamic movement that is constantly evolving and is not without its shortcomings; however, its core goals of gender equality and women’s empowerment remain noble and worthy of support.

Enable the positives and override the negatives:

The women’s movement in Syria is a driving force for positive change, and in order to enhance its role and overcome the negatives, the following measures can be followed:

1. Build strong partnerships:
   • A. Cooperation with international organizations: Work with international human and women’s rights organizations to secure financial and technical support.
   • B. Partnering with local organizations: Promote cooperation between different feminist organizations to share experiences and resources.
   • C. Involve men: Mobilize the support of men and youth to work together for gender equality.
2. Focus on pressing issues:
   • A. Combating violence against women: Provide psychosocial support services for survivors of violence, and work to enact stricter laws to protect women.
   • B. Promoting education and economic empowerment: Providing educational and vocational programs for women, and supporting economic projects owned and managed by women.
   • C. Political participation: Encourage women to participate in political and civic life and train them in leadership skills.
3. Developing an inclusive feminist discourse:
   • A. Stay away from extremism: Avoid extreme positions that may polarize society.
   • B. Respect for diversity: Recognizing the cultural and religious diversity of Syrian society and building a feminist discourse in line with this diversity.
   • C. Focus on commonalities: Focus on shared values that unite women and men, such as justice, equality, and dignity.
4. Facing challenges:
   • A. Dealing with cultural discrimination: Working to change negative societal views towards women, and challenging customs and traditions that restrict their rights.
   • B. Building trust: Build trust between women and feminist organizations, and provide safe spaces to express opinions and needs.
   • C. Adapting to changes: Adapting to the changing circumstances in Syria and developing new strategies to meet the challenges.
5. The role of the international community:
   • A. Financial and logistical support: Providing financial and logistical support to women’s organizations working in Syria.
   • B. Ensure protection: Work to ensure that women and women activists are protected from violence and violations.
   • C. Supporting reconstruction efforts: Ensure women’s effective participation in Syria’s reconstruction process.

By following these actions, we believe that the feminist movement in Syria can play a crucial role in building a more just and equal society, where women enjoy their full rights and actively participate in public life.
The security of women activists and women’s organizations must be ensured, and they must be provided with the necessary protection, build strong partnerships with all components of civil society, including youth and human rights organizations, as well as benefit from international experiences in the field of women’s empowerment and adapt them to the Syrian context.

Conclusion:

The cause of women in the world, especially in conflict zones such as Syria, still requires more effort and work. The march towards gender equality is a long and arduous one, requiring concerted efforts and a radical change in cultures and institutions.
We must all work together to build more just and equal societies, where women have full rights and participate actively in decision-making.
Feminism is not just a social movement, it is a revolution against injustice and oppression. It represents the hope for a better future, where women and men can live a dignified life free from discrimination and violence.
By supporting feminism, we support lofty human values such as freedom, justice and equality, and this is what we seek to do at Syrian Future Movement, especially through the Office of Family Affairs
Also, despite the challenges faced by the feminist movement, the future is promising. The youth and the new generation of women and men hold more progressive and open-minded values and are more aware of women’s rights.
By working together, we can build fairer and more equal societies, where women have the same opportunities as men.

Feminism is not just an idea, it is a call to action. We all have a responsibility to support this movement, whether by participating in feminist activities, by raising awareness of the importance of gender equality, or by supporting policies that promote women’s rights.
As they say in Syria: “Women are half of society, and when women advance, society advances.”

We say: “A just society cannot be built without achieving gender equality.”
Finally, we encourage Syrians to take practical actions to support the cause of women and make the feminist movement in Syria, as in the whole world, a spark of hope in a world that is now groaning under the weight of injustice and inequality.
Syrian women have proven to the whole world their resilience and defiance, and their active contribution in building their society, and by supporting them, we support a just cause and build a better future for our future generations. Gender equality is not just a slogan we raise, but a basic right for every human being, for which we fight and strive to achieve.

Office of the Presidency
Dr. Dr. Zahir Ihsan Badrani
Article
Syrian Future Movement