Nowadays, the word “feminist” is frequently used as a derogatory term and thrown around as an insult. Many people are under the impression that to be a feminist, one must abhor men, must hate housewives, and must not wear makeup. Strangely, none of these are what defines a feminist. A feminist is an individual who believes in the equality of both sexes, as argued by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her TED Talk, We Should All Be Feminists. In her speech, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie emphasizes how detrimental the effects of gender inequality are on humans, but most importantly, women. The persistence of gender inequality is taking away countless opportunities from women, and this inhumanity must come to a stop. In her TED Talk, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Using her anecdotes, Adichie shows how gender oppression begins from a young age and does not “disappear” as one grows older. In Adichie’s first story, she introduces a childhood friend named Okoloma, whom she is arguing with. During the argument, Okoloma calls Adichie a “feminist”, with a disapproving, critiquing tone. Although she did not know the definition of the word, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie understood that the label was looked down upon, and it was a label that should never be taken. Her friend, Okoloma, was criticizing her for not being shy and timid, like how all the other girls are teaching to behave as. In another story, Adichie shares of her experience as a primary school student wishing to become the class monitor. After her teacher explained to the class that whoever receives the highest grade on a test is named the class monitor, Adichie studied for the highest grade, as holding the class monitor badge meant having the responsibility of patrolling the classroom for noisemakers. To her dismay, it slipped her teacher’s mind to inform the class that the class monitor can only be a boy. This demonstrates her anger at the teacher, and also at the system, for instilling the notion of females being inferior to males into the minds of young children. Situations similar to Adichie’s …show more content…
She points out the application of double standards to everything, from actions to manners. Adichie first focuses on sexuality, primarily the concept of virginity. She calls out the absurdity of praising a boy for losing his virginity, but chastising a girl for losing hers. There cannot be one person losing their virginity only; the world simply does not function like that. Following this, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie criticizes the double standards of cooking. More often than not, the world expects women to cook and clean for the family, regardless of whether or not she has a job. Since a young age, parents teach girls that it is their role to cook and clean, and this belief follows them through their life, embedding itself in their minds. Adichie also emphasizes the irony in teaching only the female sex to cook, as if only women need food to survive. Furthermore, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discusses the caring of a child between a mother and a father. Although ideally, both members need to care and nurture the child, praises are given to the father for the smallest contribution, as if tending to the child is not his responsibility. Highlighting these double standards accentuates the severity of gender oppression— so severe, that it is ingrained into
Using her anecdotes, Adichie shows how gender oppression begins from a young age and does not “disappear” as one grows older. In Adichie’s first story, she introduces a childhood friend named Okoloma, whom she is arguing with. During the argument, Okoloma calls Adichie a “feminist”, with a disapproving, critiquing tone. Although she did not know the definition of the word, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie understood that the label was looked down upon, and it was a label that should never be taken. Her friend, Okoloma, was criticizing her for not being shy and timid, like how all the other girls are teaching to behave as. In another story, Adichie shares of her experience as a primary school student wishing to become the class monitor. After her teacher explained to the class that whoever receives the highest grade on a test is named the class monitor, Adichie studied for the highest grade, as holding the class monitor badge meant having the responsibility of patrolling the classroom for noisemakers. To her dismay, it slipped her teacher’s mind to inform the class that the class monitor can only be a boy. This demonstrates her anger at the teacher, and also at the system, for instilling the notion of females being inferior to males into the minds of young children. Situations similar to Adichie’s …show more content…
She points out the application of double standards to everything, from actions to manners. Adichie first focuses on sexuality, primarily the concept of virginity. She calls out the absurdity of praising a boy for losing his virginity, but chastising a girl for losing hers. There cannot be one person losing their virginity only; the world simply does not function like that. Following this, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie criticizes the double standards of cooking. More often than not, the world expects women to cook and clean for the family, regardless of whether or not she has a job. Since a young age, parents teach girls that it is their role to cook and clean, and this belief follows them through their life, embedding itself in their minds. Adichie also emphasizes the irony in teaching only the female sex to cook, as if only women need food to survive. Furthermore, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discusses the caring of a child between a mother and a father. Although ideally, both members need to care and nurture the child, praises are given to the father for the smallest contribution, as if tending to the child is not his responsibility. Highlighting these double standards accentuates the severity of gender oppression— so severe, that it is ingrained into