One of the biggest unsolved mysteries for me will always be why feminism is misunderstood on such a large scale and dangerous level. I mean, is it really that hard to understand? It stands for such a fundamental cause that if at least half the population of the world had any sense, there never would’ve risen the need for such a movement in the first place. All feminism hopes to do is bring balance to the world. Equality to anyone, and I repeat, ANYONE, who has been downtrodden. Irrespective of gender.
However, the reality is that women have for ages gotten the shorter end of the straw in life. Thanks of course, to our patriarchal lifestyle. No, I’m not going to rant about the centuries of mistreatment women have had to face. Everybody is aware of it, and anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves. And sometimes, either these delusions or just misinformation results in famous personalities making statements that land them in trouble.
Former cricketer Imran Khan, who is a well-known personality in Pakistan’s politics these days, recently made a statement about feminism that has the earned him severe backlash on Twitter.
During a recent TV interview Khan made the following statement:
“A mother has the biggest influence on a person… A real mother, that is. I completely disagree with this Western concept, this feminist movement… it has degraded the role of a mother… when I was growing up my mother had the most impact on me.”
In a video clip of his interview that was shared by a Twitter user, Khan says feminism is a western concept that degrades the role of a mother. I’m sorry, what?!
Watch the clip here:
The feminism movement in the West has 'degraded' the role of a mother Imran Khan? Really?! #PTI pic.twitter.com/UwIpEeADil
— Bilal Farooqi (@bilalfqi) June 17, 2018
Twitterati were quick to call out everything that was wrong with his statement and many were of the opinion that Imran should get a thorough education on feminism first:
1. Hear hear.
Feminism is literally what secured paid maternity leave for mothers in most of Europe and the world (so they could better care for their children), but I guess it's more useful to spout ignorant anti-feminist rhetoric to pander to your conservative base. https://t.co/bLaUxXWxVN
— Ammar Rashid ☭🌹 #RedistributionNow (@AmmarRashidT) June 17, 2018
2. Repeat after me: Equal opportunity.
Sorry @ImranKhanPTI U hv it all wrong. WOMEN ARE the backbone of any society. Bcoz they hv 2 work for a living, doesnt mean they abandon their children. Women only want equal opportunity. Some men find that threatening. https://t.co/WdkT9pFGWC
— Fauzia Kasuri (@FauziaKasuri) June 17, 2018
3. When will they understand that with power comes responsibility?
Utterly irresponsible to simply declare that feminism is a movement that degraded the role of mothers. The countless conservatives who think along the same lines and do not seem to have the ability to think critically will take this as an endorsement of their uninformed views https://t.co/JvjP0VbjII
— Zainab Azfar (@AzfarZainab) June 17, 2018
4. FYI.
Here is a man who has heralded politics on the erasure of women’s voices. Now he wants them to be “real mothers” instead of feminists. News alert: real mothers and feminists can live in the same body. https://t.co/s4vw9ZC50k
— Aisha Fayyazi Sarwari (@AishaFSarwari) June 17, 2018
5. Pro tip: Just don’t speak of things you don’t know.
Imran Khan's views on feminism show his utter lack of understanding of the issue. He should ensure he is better briefed or not speak on issues he has little knowledge and awareness of.
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) June 17, 2018
6. The unpaid caretaker part is so true!
Feminists have never defraded motherhood, they have celebrated it. They have spoken on the rights of a mother, her need for daycares, maternity leaves, her reproductive healthe rights and the double burden she faces due to unpaid carework. https://t.co/zl3oiYduuW
— aimen bucha (@AimenBucha) June 17, 2018
7. There you go, proof!
My Imran Khan, I’m a feminist and I’m working woman and I’m a damn good mother. https://t.co/3wEdZ9aAVW
— zara shahjahan (@ZaraShahjahan) June 17, 2018
8. Oh, this would be exciting.
I challenge @ImranKhanPTI to a public debate on feminism.
Let's talk. https://t.co/WEQbmglhTr
— Bina Shah (@BinaShah) June 17, 2018
This is not the first time that Mr Imran Khan has found himself in the news for the wrong reasons. His ex-wife’s claims about him being gay had quite the stir. Sir, in this case, maybe your intentions were just to speak highly of motherhood. Even then, the fact that you, as a prominent politician with thousands of followers, made such a statement about feminism is unacceptable. We hope, you get a better grasp of what it stands for, following this incident.