The young men in our society associate the words "feminist" and "feminism" with women fighting for their rights. They don't have a male feminist role model to look up to and to believe the fact that it is normal for a man to fight for gender equality. The mere thought of a "feminist man" seems so surreal to many that they blanch at the idea itself.
And this is the main reason why the Center for Gender and Development Studies (CGDS) started the Mr. Feminist campaign. The message behind this campaign was to tell all the young men in our community that it is normal and good to get involved in the fight for women’s right. That with them showing their support, the younger boys will look up to them and can identify themselves with the cause more easily.
The campaign consisted of male faculty, staff members and students holding up a statement each to show their support for women’s rights. CGDS took photos of all participants and made a short video to highlight the campaign’s message. With the launch of the new gender studies minor, CGDS held a conference where the video was showcased. There were also stands outside the conference room where the center’s interns had set up an area for guests and students to take their photos with their chosen quote.
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Article written by CGDS Intern Sawen Amin.