Feminism is about equality for all people in every part of life. It is not just about women, it is about everyone, including men who are not able to get opportunities because of disability, caste, region, or other reasons. But lately, confusing behaviors by some women on social media are concealing the real meaning of feminism and freedom. This raises important questions for all of us: Are we truly empowering women, or are we knowingly/unknowingly supporting or promoting something else in the name of feminism and freedom? When bold poses and revealing clothes are seen as signs of freedom, we must ask ourselves: Is this the feminism and freedom we are fighting for? Did our ancestors fight for this? Is this just trying to get attention but pretending to be women's empowerment? Are we celebrating freedom, or are we crossing the line into vulgarity? Are these actions helping women gain respect, power, and confidence, or are they pushing us more backward?
Let's talk about this more deeply.
Unfortunately, some people with patriarchal mindsets misunderstand feminism, thinking it is an agenda solely for women’s advantage. Others believe feminism means women should dress however they want, drink alcohol like men, or behave in ways traditionally associated with men, such as posing or sitting in certain ways.
Whereas, feminism is not about wearing revealing clothes or behaving offensively or vulgarly. It is not about using rough language, staying out late, sitting certain ways, or consuming cigarettes and alcohol simply because men do so. Feminism is about equal rights, equal opportunities, equal respect, equal pay, and sharing responsibilities both at home and in the workplace. Drinking alcohol and staying out late are behaviors that are generally considered unhealthy for both men and women. Yet, society often judges women more harshly for these actions, questioning their character, while men are not judged in the same way. Women are not advocating for staying outside late or consuming alcohol; what they are saying is do not judge women for what you excuse in men. Same rules, same respect, same judgment should be made for everyone.
At the same time, some women who wear revealing clothes and pose provocatively claim to promote feminism. This, however, does not represent true feminism but rather promotes vulgarity in society. While it is true that women should have the freedom to wear whatever makes them feel comfortable without judgment, intentionally wearing revealing clothes and posing inappropriately to gain more followers is not a constructive way to support the feminist movement. Instead, this behavior may dim or mislead the feminist movement. Feminism stands for fairness, dignity, and equal treatment, not for promoting behavior that undermines those values.
Lately, many women on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are promoting vulgar poses under the banner of freedom and feminism. The media often highlights these individuals, sharing their life stories and interviewing them. However, many of these women may not be particularly talented or accomplished; their fame largely comes from posting provocative videos and gaining a large number of followers. This trend sends a confusing message to young girls, who start believing that posing provocatively is normal and that it can lead to fame and popularity. But what are these girls really learning from individuals who use vulgar language, pose inappropriately, and share their personal lives openly on social media? These influencers live their lives publicly online, and many people watch and aspire to imitate them. But is this truly something to aspire to? It is a crucial question to think about.
Let’s reflect on the difference between vulgarity and the freedom to dress as a woman chooses. Freedom means having the right to express oneself and make choices without judgment or oppression. However, freedom does not mean promoting behaviors or appearances that undermine dignity or respect. It is important to distinguish genuine empowerment from small attention-seeking through provocative actions. True feminism supports freedom with responsibility, encouraging women to express themselves while maintaining respect for themselves and their communities.
There is no doubt that women have every right to wear whatever they feel comfortable in. Freedom of choice in wearing is an important part of personal expression. However, there is a difference between simply wearing any kind of clothes and intentionally wearing certain clothes or posing in ways that are meant to provoke or attract attention in a negative manner. When women deliberately wear revealing clothes and pose inappropriately on social media to gain followers or attention, this behavior crosses the line into vulgarity. Vulgarity refers to actions or appearances that disrespect social norms of decency and can undermine the dignity of the individual and the community.
Freedom means having the right to express oneself without fear of judgment or oppression. But this freedom comes with responsibility, specifically in how one chooses to represent themselves publicly. True empowerment lies in expressing individuality with respect and self-worth, rather than seeking validation through provocative or inappropriate displays.
Some people with patriarchal mindsets are now misrepresenting feminism and women’s rights by pointing to the vulgar behavior of a few women in our society. Those who hold patriarchal views do not want to lose their power; they resist seeing women progress and try to keep women suppressed to maintain their own superiority. Unfortunately, the irresponsible actions of some women can unintentionally give these patriarchal forces an excuse to undermine the feminist movement. So, some people take this as an opportunity to attack women. They say women are destroying social norms and values, spreading negativity and vulgarity in society. It is like they are waiting for any chance to degrade and blame women.
For example, on social media, some women wear very revealing clothes and pose in ways that many consider vulgar. They do this to get more followers or attention. Because of this, some patriarchal people say that all feminism is about dressing like this. This is not true. Wearing open or revealing clothes is a personal choice and can be a way of self-expression, but when it is done to provoke or get attention in a disrespectful way, it can harm the image of the feminist movement. A 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center shows that about 60 percent of people in some conservative societies believe women should follow traditional roles. Women who do things differently often face a lot of criticism. Also, a 2022 report by UN Women says that about 35 percent of women around the world have faced violence or harassment, mainly when they speak up for their rights or express their freedom. In many countries, women who fight for equal rights are judged more by how they look, what they wear, or how they behave than by what they say. This happens because some women pose and post vulgar and inappropriate content on their social media in the name of feminism, which misleads the real meaning of feminism. A 2021 study by the Global Media Monitoring Project found that women's professional contributions are frequently overshadowed by a focus on their looks, which can undermine their real messages. A 2022 survey by the International Center for Research on Women found that over 40 percent of young women felt pressured to post certain types of content to gain followers, which can twist the real purpose of women's empowerment and feminism, sometimes overshadowing the meaningful feminist messages.
That’s why we must be careful and thoughtful in protecting the freedoms and rights we have fought so hard to achieve. Today, social media is a powerful tool to promote empowerment and feminism, but if we use these platforms to act inappropriately or pose provocatively in the name of freedom and feminism, it can give patriarchal forces an excuse to take away our rights. If we are not vigilant, these forces may limit women’s freedom to go out, speak up, and live equally, because our society is still largely governed by patriarchal mindsets. We should champion a feminism that values dignity, respect, and responsibility. Women should not seek followers by promoting vulgarity or sensationalism; they are equally talented and capable of gaining success through meaningful, intelligent, and inspiring content. Only by doing this can we continue to advance true equality and earn genuine respect for all women.
