I do not recognize the feminist concept. In fact, I have a little doubt whether I would call myself a feminist. Not because I am against men and women to have the same opportunities, but because the concept of feminism as it says today almost always assumes that women are the weaker gender.
It stands in the way of the fighting that actually matters. Not least, the fact ignores women is actually significantly stronger in society now than just 50 years ago.
We have undoubtedly come a long way in the equality struggle, but it is not certain that feminism as we know it today is rigged for the challenges we face now.
Over the past week, the debate has again accelerated after the appointed leader of KrFU Ingrid Hovland believed that parts of the gender equality policy have gone too far. And there has been no lack of either women or men who will teach both her and other young people about what equality is and what feminism means.
Oda Oline Omdal
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Oda Oline Omdal is 22 years old and an active social debater. She works daily as a political advisor to the mayor of Kristiansand. In addition, she has several years of experience from Civita and background from both Right and Young Right.
Entertaining and teaching
In the NRK debate on Thursday night, the editors had rigged to one of the aspects of young women who were against today’s gender equality policy, and on the other hand, adult women who believed that the young women were wrong.
It was very entertaining in itself, but it hardly added the debate.
MOT POLES: You often chose participants with more controversial views, writes Oda Oline Omdal.
Photo: Screenshot NRK
The impression you get from comment fields and the media after the broadcast is that the few among young women felt represented by “their” representatives.
I also perceive that more adults believed that the oldest in the broadcast went a long way in teaching the younger ones about what equality really is and should be.
I think neither the youngest nor the oldest were more right than the other group in this debate. There were simply no moderate votes present. Not in the sense that the participants were radical. But because they often chose participants with more controversial views, especially in the youngest group.
I think few people believe that one should have a 50/50 quotation of gender everywhere in society, and that few believe that all gender equality policy is failed. But a polarized debate without space for moderations, often leads to only these two groups that are heard in the social debate.
It is a pity that there is no room for the more moderate voices. For the discussions are very important, and the answers are often somewhere between the right side and the left side.
Also read Elin Ørjasæter: The Gender Equality Fight: These women have won in Lotto
Equality has new challenges
I think my generation must be able to redefine the parent generation’s gender generation project. Not because you have to stop it, but because the challenges are not the same as what they once were.
The guys top the statistics for school dropout, suicide, intoxication and crime. We know that many young boys feel lonely, without belonging and without direction. Still, it is as if we are unable to talk about it in an honest way, for fear of acting antifinist.
But lifting boys is not the opposite of lifting girls, it is actually a prerequisite for getting real equality.
Feminism, or women’s struggle, has been crucial to women’s rights. It has secured voting rights, access to education and work, the right to own and decide on its own body. These are progress we should be proud of and that we must never take for granted.
Today we see that girls are doing it strongly in school. They are encouraged to choose untraditional, celebrated when they start their own initiatives, and are highlighted precisely because they are women. There are separate networks, campaigns and mentoring programs and in many cases this is both important and correct.
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Feminism as either-or
Nevertheless, one must also be able to question how far one really comes with a feminism movement that focuses almost exclusively on women’s challenges, without including men’s challenges.
When the feminism movement becomes ideologically rather than inclusive, it risks losing its relevance.
In fact, it is not a contradiction to prevent partner killings and at the same time talk about the boys’ loneliness. It is also not a contradiction to fight social control and at the same time give boys better role models.
Today, feminism is often perceived as an either-or: either you are, or you are against.
If feminism does not tolerate we talk about the boys’ challenges, it is no longer about gender equality, but about control.
Feminism still has an important role, but it must regain the ability to ask the right questions. It is our responsibility to re -set them.
