Is feminism dying?
When I moved to the United States of America almost a year ago, I was exhilarated, nervous, and hopeful about the opportunities I would have. But there was one thing I didn't expect to question as deeply as I have: feminism. Is it dying? Or is it simply evolving in ways that feel harder to grasp for me?
In India, feminism has always been intertwined with survival. It's about fighting the patriarchy that still dictates the clothes I should wear, the decisions I'm allowed to make, and the life I'm expected to lead. It was about battling systemic oppression that was visible every day - dowry deaths, female infanticide, and the stark inequalities that exist between men and women in rural and urban spaces alike. One of the most significant shifts I've noticed here is how feminism is being redefined by new voices, including people who "identify" as women. This wasn't something I encountered much back home, but here, it's a big part of the conversation; it challenges how many of us have traditionally understood womanhood. And while it's not without its controversies, it's forcing us to rethink what it means to advocate for women's rights.
Feminism is a Western term and ideology that is (was) celebrated worldwide. Different generations of feminists focus on various issues. First-wave feminism emphasized legal rights like voting, whereas I was born in a world where I could never think of not having the right to vote. Second-wave feminism tackled social inequalities, reproductive rights, and workplace discrimination; this is very prevalent even now. Today, feminism includes various topics, including intersectionality, LGBTQIA+ rights, and gender fluidity. In India, caste, religion, and class complicate the feminist movement, and in the U.S., race and immigration status do the same.
It's strange to be moving from one country to another and to find the same struggles while wearing different masks. What I've noticed here is a shift—feminism is no longer just about women vs. men. It's about women vs. the systems that keep us oppressed. Capitalism, racism, and sexism all intersect, and it's something I feel profoundly as a woman of color navigating this new space. The feminism I see in the U.S. sometimes feels disconnected from the feminism I knew growing up in India. I did not think I was a "woman of color" and an "immigrant" until I moved here.
One other thing that I have noticed is that the college that I go to in the U.S. has an "all-gender" restroom. When I first saw the "all-genders" restroom, I was happy about it, but it was when I noticed that it had a "Men's" restroom and an "all-genders" restroom but no "Women's" restroom on the photography floor that is when it struck me. A "man's" space is still secure in the world and a woman’s isn’t. Women’s rights are neglected, “Women’s” restrooms can easily be consumed by “all-gender” restrooms. There’s men’s space and then there’s space that all other genders have to share. How is this inclusive? Or is it even inclusive?
Is feminism the same as LGBTQIA +++ rights? Is feminism the same as Immigrant rights? Is feminism the same as fighting for the rights of people of color? Is feminism the same as fighting for any other oppression?
For women like me, who carry layers of identity—brown skin, immigrant status, non-Western cultural roots—it's impossible to talk about women's rights without talking about race, immigration, economic inequality, LGBTQIA + rights and religion. These are not side issues. They are central to the feminist fight. Feminism takes different forms depending on who and where you are.