Breaking Down Internalized Misogyny, Patriarchy, and Feminism:

Why Women Need to Support Each Other"

Feminism acts as an antidote to the poisonous patriarchy that corrodes our minds, restoring balance and allowing us to reclaim our agency.

The concepts of feminism, internalized misogyny, and patriarchy are three concepts that have caused a lot of controversy and arguments.

It is sad to know that most people who argue do not understand these concepts.

Internalized misogyny is a result of the patriarchy. The patriarchy is the problem because it believes all forms of power and authority belong to the male gender, and feminism the solution to end all imbalances in the system.

Internalized misogyny is often described as “women hating women or women hindering women”, but these are all misconceptions because internalized misogyny means women using the patriarchal system to beat other women and themselves up.

Now the term “beat” here is a metaphor used to symbolize how bad it is because internalized misogyny causes scars that aren't visible.

Have you ever found yourself as a woman displaying actions or saying that have hurt other women?

Women have been conditioned into thinking they are the weaker sex or gender.

The patriarchy has made it seem like women will always be weak, feeble, and fragile, indeed women are not as strong as the male counterparts physically, but this doesn't make them weak.

The term weaker sex can be seen as an unnecessary term because some women have proven to be stronger than men not just physically but also mentally.

Internalized misogyny has run deep into the veins of women, that they've started having deep-rooted hatred against each other, which is why every woman, lady or girl always finds herself in a situation where she has to use words like: “I'm not like other girls”, “I would rather have male friends than female friends because they're trustworthy".

All these clauses lead to a divide between women which then gives the room for hyper feminity to occur.

Hyper feminity is when females exaggerate the behaviors they think are feminine to make themselves more desirable and to conform to patriarchal demands.

So, to them anyone who doesn't act accordingly is seen as ignorant. Feminine behaviors include gracefulness, gentleness, empathy, humility, and sensitivity.

According to society a true woman should be naive, demure, and sweet.

Society expects young girls and women to be soft and flirtatious, but these characteristics are harmful and restrictive.

It is a mistake to presume that all women should conform to a set of specific traits associated with femininity.

The truth is that traits vary among individuals due to social, cultural, and economic imbalances in life.

With this in mind, it becomes clear that no girl can ever be like another girl.

The phrases “I'm not like other girls” and “You're not like other girls” are misleading and untrue because of the different circumstances women face in life, such as religion, peer group, and society.

These factors make it impossible for any two girls to be the same. Even when a woman claims not to be like “other girls,” she still maintains her femininity and submissive nature to become “the most perfect woman.”

It is important to note that there has never been a woman who said, “I’m not like the other girls because I don’t shave my legs or I'm not like other girls because I don't shave my armpits.”

These physical attributes do not define femininity, and they are not the reason why women feel the need to distinguish themselves from others.

Instead, it is the societal pressure to conform to a specific set of traits that causes women to make such claims.

Moving on to the patriarchy. A patriarchal system is a system where men are in authority over women in all aspects of society, it is a system where men control politics, morals, economics, and actions of women in society.

They hold every position of power and authority possible, making them the decision maker for both their family and society.

For centuries, the patriarchy has determined what is right from what is wrong, what can be done and what can't be done, where women go, how they act, and how they speak, dress, and eat.

A lot of people would like to think differently about the thought of the patriarchy by saying that women are treated fairly and there's no reason to become a feminist!

I disagree with the opinion that women today are already equal to men and do not need feminism. In the past, women faced numerous obstacles and limitations that prevented them from fully participating in society.

Photo by Natalie Hua on Unsplash

For example, they were denied the right to vote, education, and even the freedom to leave their homes.

Women couldn't drive, get credit cards, or own property in their own name. They were often forced into marriage and couldn't legally fight against sexual harassment.

Women were also excluded from many professions, including the military, and when they were allowed to serve, they often faced discrimination and hostility.

In some parts of the world, women are still treated as property and denied basic human rights. There was a time when being born female was considered a curse and women were seen as inferior to men.

Therefore, we cannot afford to be complacent and assume that everything is already fine for women. The struggle for gender equality is ongoing and we must continue to fight for the rights of women everywhere. Feminism is still necessary to bring about a more just and equal society for all genders.

All this once upon a time was caused by the patriarchy and was stopped by feminism. If the women of the past didn't decide to fight for the rights we are enjoying today, where would women have been in the food chain of society?

The hurtful thing is that in some societies this once upon a time is their current time and situation which is still hurting them today.

Feminism is the advocacy for women's fairness, it is a movement formed to put an end to sexism, sexist exploration, and oppression and to achieve full gender equality.

It is a movement formed to break the walls of the patriarchy and remove the mental shackles placed on women by their male counterparts.

Many people question the possibility of "equality" between men and women due to the natural differences between them.

Therefore, the term "equity" has replaced "equality" in the fight for fairness for women. Equity focuses on ensuring that every situation is fair, rather than equal.

Feminism demands that women be granted their rights as a birthright, not as a mere token.

Rights are meant to be given freely, without question. Feminism strives to ensure that this is the case, and to provide a pathway for achieving these rights.

The root of internalized misogyny and feminism is the imbalance in the system created by the patriarchy.

Women are pitted against each other due to patriarchal ideals, and feminism is a solution to this problem.

Feminism acts as an antidote to the poisonous patriarchy that corrodes our minds, restoring balance and allowing us to reclaim our agency.