Before you say “I’m not a feminist” | Shreya Kollipara | TEDxYouth@Gachibowli

[Music]

[Music] hi everyone

hi everyone

hi everyone so before we start I’d like to introduce

so before we start I’d like to introduce

so before we start I’d like to introduce this brainchild of mine I was gonna call

this brainchild of mine I was gonna call

this brainchild of mine I was gonna call it the person who doesn’t get it but I

it the person who doesn’t get it but I

it the person who doesn’t get it but I think we’ll just give him a name and

think we’ll just give him a name and

think we’ll just give him a name and call him Bob so Bob is a physical

call him Bob so Bob is a physical

call him Bob so Bob is a physical embodiment of society I’m sorry so he’s

embodiment of society I’m sorry so he’s

embodiment of society I’m sorry so he’s basically um an insane person who

basically um an insane person who

basically um an insane person who doesn’t really understand anything and

doesn’t really understand anything and

doesn’t really understand anything and he’ll appear here and there everywhere

he’ll appear here and there everywhere

he’ll appear here and there everywhere throughout the speech so yeah it’s a

throughout the speech so yeah it’s a

throughout the speech so yeah it’s a quick disclaimer so if if you believe

quick disclaimer so if if you believe

quick disclaimer so if if you believe that men and women should receive equal

that men and women should receive equal

that men and women should receive equal rights and be treated equally and if

rights and be treated equally and if

rights and be treated equally and if someone asks you if you’re a feminist

someone asks you if you’re a feminist

someone asks you if you’re a feminist you should be saying yes because it may

you should be saying yes because it may

you should be saying yes because it may sound crazy but that’s how words work

sound crazy but that’s how words work

sound crazy but that’s how words work now if you like to eat meat for example

now if you like to eat meat for example

now if you like to eat meat for example and someone asks you if you’re

and someone asks you if you’re

and someone asks you if you’re non-vegetarian if you can’t just say oh

non-vegetarian if you can’t just say oh

non-vegetarian if you can’t just say oh no no that’s too aggressive of a word

no no that’s too aggressive of a word

no no that’s too aggressive of a word hi I’m Shia and I’m a feminist

hi I’m Shia and I’m a feminist

hi I’m Shia and I’m a feminist now if you just envisioned me speedily

now if you just envisioned me speedily

now if you just envisioned me speedily running across the road with a sign that

running across the road with a sign that

running across the road with a sign that says kill all men hi again and I’m here

says kill all men hi again and I’m here

says kill all men hi again and I’m here to help fix your vision because I can’t

to help fix your vision because I can’t

to help fix your vision because I can’t run that fast but well that’s not what

run that fast but well that’s not what

run that fast but well that’s not what feminism is really about this angry

feminism is really about this angry

feminism is really about this angry screaming woman character that we have

screaming woman character that we have

screaming woman character that we have that oddly shares the same tone of

that oddly shares the same tone of

that oddly shares the same tone of speech as a dot Hitler and also the same

speech as a dot Hitler and also the same

speech as a dot Hitler and also the same mustache is not a feminist and what she

mustache is not a feminist and what she

mustache is not a feminist and what she endorses isn’t really feminism feminism

endorses isn’t really feminism feminism

endorses isn’t really feminism feminism is the radical notion this out of the

is the radical notion this out of the

is the radical notion this out of the world concept and the crazy idea that

world concept and the crazy idea that

world concept and the crazy idea that woman and men should be treated equally

woman and men should be treated equally

woman and men should be treated equally that they should receive equal rights

that they should receive equal rights

that they should receive equal rights and opportunities have equal social

and opportunities have equal social

and opportunities have equal social statuses be paid equally and not be

statuses be paid equally and not be

statuses be paid equally and not be constricted by gender norms which is

constricted by gender norms which is

constricted by gender norms which is nothing but a byproduct of patriarchy

nothing but a byproduct of patriarchy

nothing but a byproduct of patriarchy but recently our mash nation has gone

but recently our mash nation has gone

but recently our mash nation has gone wild and feminism has become everything

wild and feminism has become everything

wild and feminism has become everything cept this it is looked at as a system

cept this it is looked at as a system

cept this it is looked at as a system that hates on men it is looked at as a

that hates on men it is looked at as a

that hates on men it is looked at as a system that hates on woman that idea

system that hates on woman that idea

system that hates on woman that idea traditionally feminine stereotypes it is

traditionally feminine stereotypes it is

traditionally feminine stereotypes it is looked at as a system or a method to

looked at as a system or a method to

looked at as a system or a method to propel woman onto the throne of the

propel woman onto the throne of the

propel woman onto the throne of the world and award them privilege in the

world and award them privilege in the

world and award them privilege in the name of a movement it’s looked at as

name of a movement it’s looked at as

name of a movement it’s looked at as everything except an ideology that

everything except an ideology that

everything except an ideology that advocates for equality on the basis of

advocates for equality on the basis of

advocates for equality on the basis of one sex and unfortunately these

one sex and unfortunately these

one sex and unfortunately these misinterpretations about feminism have

misinterpretations about feminism have

misinterpretations about feminism have come to become its definitions so the

come to become its definitions so the

come to become its definitions so the first and ironically the most popular

first and ironically the most popular

first and ironically the most popular misinterpretation about feminism is that

misinterpretation about feminism is that

misinterpretation about feminism is that it doesn’t stand for equality and I got

it doesn’t stand for equality and I got

it doesn’t stand for equality and I got it it’s difficult to understand but Bob

it it’s difficult to understand but Bob

it it’s difficult to understand but Bob asks why is called feminism if it stands

asks why is called feminism if it stands

asks why is called feminism if it stands for equality well Bob it’s called

for equality well Bob it’s called

for equality well Bob it’s called feminism on the basis of a system called

feminism on the basis of a system called

feminism on the basis of a system called equity which is where everyone receives

equity which is where everyone receives

equity which is where everyone receives what they deserve or need as opposed to

what they deserve or need as opposed to

what they deserve or need as opposed to equality where everyone receives the

equality where everyone receives the

equality where everyone receives the same thing now you could think of it

same thing now you could think of it

same thing now you could think of it like this you have your left arm and

like this you have your left arm and

like this you have your left arm and your right arm and your left arms

your right arm and your left arms

your right arm and your left arms naturally weaker because you’ve never

naturally weaker because you’ve never

naturally weaker because you’ve never exercised it as much as you right arm

exercised it as much as you right arm

exercised it as much as you right arm you’ve always exercised your right arm

you’ve always exercised your right arm

you’ve always exercised your right arm making those really weird grunting

making those really weird grunting

making those really weird grunting noises why do people do that but now you

noises why do people do that but now you

noises why do people do that but now you realize for you to function as

realize for you to function as

realize for you to function as efficiently as possible we need both

efficiently as possible we need both

efficiently as possible we need both your arms to be equally strong so would

your arms to be equally strong so would

your arms to be equally strong so would you exercise both of them for the same

you exercise both of them for the same

you exercise both of them for the same amount of time or with the same weights

amount of time or with the same weights

amount of time or with the same weights both smaller not exactly because that

both smaller not exactly because that

both smaller not exactly because that wouldn’t that would definitely make both

wouldn’t that would definitely make both

wouldn’t that would definitely make both of them stronger but never equal in

of them stronger but never equal in

of them stronger but never equal in strength so ideally what you do is

strength so ideally what you do is

strength so ideally what you do is exercise your laughter I’m a bit more

exercise your laughter I’m a bit more

exercise your laughter I’m a bit more and that would I make it equal in

and that would I make it equal in

and that would I make it equal in strength and that’s gender equality for

strength and that’s gender equality for

strength and that’s gender equality for you woman being systemically oppressed

you woman being systemically oppressed

you woman being systemically oppressed means they’ve ended up in society weaker

means they’ve ended up in society weaker

means they’ve ended up in society weaker positions so we are the left arm because

positions so we are the left arm because

positions so we are the left arm because the world hasn’t fed them well with the

the world hasn’t fed them well with the

the world hasn’t fed them well with the rights and opportunities they’re

rights and opportunities they’re

rights and opportunities they’re entitled to as humans so now for a woman

entitled to as humans so now for a woman

entitled to as humans so now for a woman to become equal to men you’d have to

to become equal to men you’d have to

to become equal to men you’d have to give them what they deserve and need

give them what they deserve and need

give them what they deserve and need which is equity so you’d have to give

which is equity so you’d have to give

which is equity so you’d have to give them all the freedom and the love and

them all the freedom and the love and

them all the freedom and the love and the good stuff that makes your biceps

the good stuff that makes your biceps

the good stuff that makes your biceps pop and

and now you’d have to that’s what so

and now you’d have to that’s what so that’s what feminism works towards right

that’s what feminism works towards right

that’s what feminism works towards right it starts with equity and it comes out

it starts with equity and it comes out

it starts with equity and it comes out with equality

with equality

with equality it gives rights and things to people

it gives rights and things to people

it gives rights and things to people that don’t have them and since women are

that don’t have them and since women are

that don’t have them and since women are in the process of receiving a lot of

in the process of receiving a lot of

in the process of receiving a lot of these the rights opportunities education

these the rights opportunities education

these the rights opportunities education health care not well to some extent

health care not well to some extent

health care not well to some extent maybe being born because female feticide

maybe being born because female feticide

maybe being born because female feticide is still a thing with that’s why it’s

is still a thing with that’s why it’s

is still a thing with that’s why it’s called feminism and you can’t just say

called feminism and you can’t just say

called feminism and you can’t just say it’s not equality because women are

it’s not equality because women are

it’s not equality because women are protesting abortion rights because I

protesting abortion rights because I

protesting abortion rights because I quality would be giving men abortion

quality would be giving men abortion

quality would be giving men abortion rights and just a thought like maybe

rights and just a thought like maybe

rights and just a thought like maybe they don’t really need them so but the

they don’t really need them so but the

they don’t really need them so but the one abortion that maybe men and women

one abortion that maybe men and women

one abortion that maybe men and women both need is one that gets rid of the

both need is one that gets rid of the

both need is one that gets rid of the gender biases or gender roles that we

gender biases or gender roles that we

gender biases or gender roles that we conform to and expect others to conform

conform to and expect others to conform

conform to and expect others to conform to when feminists asked for a society

to when feminists asked for a society

to when feminists asked for a society that isn’t prejudiced against women that

that isn’t prejudiced against women that

that isn’t prejudiced against women that don’t undertake traditional female roles

don’t undertake traditional female roles

don’t undertake traditional female roles we also asked her society that doesn’t

we also asked her society that doesn’t

we also asked her society that doesn’t put the pressure on men to be exposed to

put the pressure on men to be exposed to

put the pressure on men to be exposed to at all where they have to be distressed

at all where they have to be distressed

at all where they have to be distressed out here away breadwinner of the

out here away breadwinner of the

out here away breadwinner of the household when we asked for society that

household when we asked for society that

household when we asked for society that that gets rid of their stereotypically

that gets rid of their stereotypically

that gets rid of their stereotypically weak and submissive female characters we

weak and submissive female characters we

weak and submissive female characters we also asked them to get rid of their

also asked them to get rid of their

also asked them to get rid of their historically consequent contr parts the

historically consequent contr parts the

historically consequent contr parts the stoic and dominant male character

stoic and dominant male character

stoic and dominant male character because here’s the deal right tourism

because here’s the deal right tourism

because here’s the deal right tourism and equality is not just about allowing

and equality is not just about allowing

and equality is not just about allowing woman equal pay it’s about allowing men

woman equal pay it’s about allowing men

woman equal pay it’s about allowing men to be taken seriously about issues that

to be taken seriously about issues that

to be taken seriously about issues that supposedly don’t affect real men sexual

supposedly don’t affect real men sexual

supposedly don’t affect real men sexual abuse and eating disorders are just a

abuse and eating disorders are just a

abuse and eating disorders are just a few of these things now so that’s what

few of these things now so that’s what

few of these things now so that’s what feminism works towards it works towards

feminism works towards it works towards

feminism works towards it works towards helping men express emotion they’ve been

helping men express emotion they’ve been

helping men express emotion they’ve been historically shamed for expressing

historically shamed for expressing

historically shamed for expressing because again having feelings are

because again having feelings are

because again having feelings are feminine like if Society was a person

feminine like if Society was a person

feminine like if Society was a person which is Bob they’d say ridiculous

which is Bob they’d say ridiculous

which is Bob they’d say ridiculous things like this if you cry boy you

things like this if you cry boy you

things like this if you cry boy you would become a birth giving human it’s

would become a birth giving human it’s

would become a birth giving human it’s natural obviously and the now the second

natural obviously and the now the second

natural obviously and the now the second thing that usually drives people away

thing that usually drives people away

thing that usually drives people away from feminism

from feminism

from feminism is the phenomenal gender wage gap so

is the phenomenal gender wage gap so

is the phenomenal gender wage gap so it’s been called fake and statistically

it’s been called fake and statistically

it’s been called fake and statistically flawed because previously it did compare

flawed because previously it did compare

flawed because previously it did compare the income of women in generally lesser

the income of women in generally lesser

the income of women in generally lesser paid jobs to men in higher paid jobs and

paid jobs to men in higher paid jobs and

paid jobs to men in higher paid jobs and what are there are studies that are

what are there are studies that are

what are there are studies that are fatally flawed as such because they were

fatally flawed as such because they were

fatally flawed as such because they were made by crazy people there are

made by crazy people there are

made by crazy people there are statistics that show how much lesser

statistics that show how much lesser

statistics that show how much lesser women are being paid even while working

women are being paid even while working

women are being paid even while working the same jobs so just a quick question

the same jobs so just a quick question

the same jobs so just a quick question what was the one movie this year that

what was the one movie this year that

what was the one movie this year that made the film industry of India more

made the film industry of India more

made the film industry of India more popular than anything the one film that

popular than anything the one film that

popular than anything the one film that went more than thousand roars yes it’s

went more than thousand roars yes it’s

went more than thousand roars yes it’s bubbly but did you know that bubbly paid

bubbly but did you know that bubbly paid

bubbly but did you know that bubbly paid its actors around five times more than

its actors around five times more than

its actors around five times more than they paid their female actresses and

they paid their female actresses and

they paid their female actresses and it’s a little bit odd like I get it the

it’s a little bit odd like I get it the

it’s a little bit odd like I get it the actor like flew from a palm tree and he

actor like flew from a palm tree and he

actor like flew from a palm tree and he climbed an elephant and he shot like

climbed an elephant and he shot like

climbed an elephant and he shot like four arrows at a time I’m pretty sure

four arrows at a time I’m pretty sure

four arrows at a time I’m pretty sure the female actress also shot for hours

the female actress also shot for hours

the female actress also shot for hours at a time but I didn’t I only watch

at a time but I didn’t I only watch

at a time but I didn’t I only watch movie wants so it doesn’t make that much

movie wants so it doesn’t make that much

movie wants so it doesn’t make that much sense like are you gonna pay him 20

sense like are you gonna pay him 20

sense like are you gonna pay him 20 crores more just because he flew from a

crores more just because he flew from a

crores more just because he flew from a palm tree or because he’s a man it’s

palm tree or because he’s a man it’s

palm tree or because he’s a man it’s something to think about because it

something to think about because it

something to think about because it makes you look at the movie in a new

makes you look at the movie in a new

makes you look at the movie in a new light the entire film industry in a

light the entire film industry in a

light the entire film industry in a movie you like and the last most

movie you like and the last most

movie you like and the last most confusing thing about feminism is the

confusing thing about feminism is the

confusing thing about feminism is the fact it’s actually a kind of like plague

fact it’s actually a kind of like plague

fact it’s actually a kind of like plague within it and I think that’s called a

within it and I think that’s called a

within it and I think that’s called a feminazi but the politically correct

feminazi but the politically correct

feminazi but the politically correct term would be an imbecile so it’s a

term would be an imbecile so it’s a

term would be an imbecile so it’s a little confusing feminism can be

little confusing feminism can be

little confusing feminism can be misinterpreted

misinterpreted

misinterpreted even by the people it stands up for I

even by the people it stands up for I

even by the people it stands up for I had issues understanding feminism

had issues understanding feminism

had issues understanding feminism because I thought it was supposed to

because I thought it was supposed to

because I thought it was supposed to hate on men and then it’d been paid on

hate on men and then it’d been paid on

hate on men and then it’d been paid on men but I thought I was supposed to hate

men but I thought I was supposed to hate

men but I thought I was supposed to hate and like run away from all boys because

and like run away from all boys because

and like run away from all boys because they had the cheese touch or something

they had the cheese touch or something

they had the cheese touch or something so it’s it’s a little complicated a few

so it’s it’s a little complicated a few

so it’s it’s a little complicated a few days back or a few weeks back I messaged

days back or a few weeks back I messaged

days back or a few weeks back I messaged one’s friends and asked them if they

one’s friends and asked them if they

one’s friends and asked them if they were all feminists and when I received

were all feminists and when I received

were all feminists and when I received responses like this I’ll give you some

responses like this I’ll give you some

responses like this I’ll give you some time to read it

time to read it

time to read it I understood that people age it

I understood that people age it

I understood that people age it immediately thought that feminism was

immediately thought that feminism was

immediately thought that feminism was something that could have multiple

something that could have multiple

something that could have multiple contradictory definitions that were all

contradictory definitions that were all

contradictory definitions that were all propagated by feminists that feminism

propagated by feminists that feminism

propagated by feminists that feminism could mean both fighting for equality in

could mean both fighting for equality in

could mean both fighting for equality in fighting against men that feminists for

fighting against men that feminists for

fighting against men that feminists for people that both spoke up for access to

people that both spoke up for access to

people that both spoke up for access to spoke up for equal access to education

spoke up for equal access to education

spoke up for equal access to education and screamed for free birth control and

and screamed for free birth control and

and screamed for free birth control and that’s not what feminism is and that’s

that’s not what feminism is and that’s

that’s not what feminism is and that’s not who a feminist is a feminist my

not who a feminist is a feminist my

not who a feminist is a feminist my record isn’t anyone who fights the

record isn’t anyone who fights the

record isn’t anyone who fights the opposite sex in the name of equality it

opposite sex in the name of equality it

opposite sex in the name of equality it isn’t anyone who shames a woman for

isn’t anyone who shames a woman for

isn’t anyone who shames a woman for making the choice look over a household

making the choice look over a household

making the choice look over a household and not becoming an affluent

and not becoming an affluent

and not becoming an affluent businesswoman it isn’t anyone who’s

businesswoman it isn’t anyone who’s

businesswoman it isn’t anyone who’s shaming and humiliating girls for liking

shaming and humiliating girls for liking

shaming and humiliating girls for liking makeup in dolls because for God’s sake

makeup in dolls because for God’s sake

makeup in dolls because for God’s sake the point is to become equal not to

the point is to become equal not to

the point is to become equal not to become a man it isn’t anyone who’s

become a man it isn’t anyone who’s

become a man it isn’t anyone who’s humiliating and saying people are less

humiliating and saying people are less

humiliating and saying people are less of a feminist before making choices and

of a feminist before making choices and

of a feminist before making choices and doing things that may seem traditionally

doing things that may seem traditionally

doing things that may seem traditionally masculine or feminine a feminist isn’t

masculine or feminine a feminist isn’t

masculine or feminine a feminist isn’t anyone who says discrimination against

anyone who says discrimination against

anyone who says discrimination against one sorry discrimination against women

one sorry discrimination against women

one sorry discrimination against women is strong for that discrimination

is strong for that discrimination

is strong for that discrimination against men is equality that’s not what

against men is equality that’s not what

against men is equality that’s not what feminism is about that’s someone who’s

feminism is about that’s someone who’s

feminism is about that’s someone who’s becoming Bob

becoming Bob

becoming Bob so it’s feminists or people we are

so it’s feminists or people we are

so it’s feminists or people we are people that advocate for equality we are

people that advocate for equality we are

people that advocate for equality we are women and men that are proud to be women

women and men that are proud to be women

women and men that are proud to be women and men we are humans that just want to

and men we are humans that just want to

and men we are humans that just want to be thought of as humans and not objects

be thought of as humans and not objects

be thought of as humans and not objects or followers of Hitler so at the end of

or followers of Hitler so at the end of

or followers of Hitler so at the end of the day if you’re a feminist that won’t

the day if you’re a feminist that won’t

the day if you’re a feminist that won’t make you a bloodthirsty mess andrius it

make you a bloodthirsty mess andrius it

make you a bloodthirsty mess andrius it doesn’t make you a sexist it makes you

doesn’t make you a sexist it makes you

doesn’t make you a sexist it makes you human so the next time someone asks you

human so the next time someone asks you

human so the next time someone asks you if you’re a feminist maybe try about and

if you’re a feminist maybe try about and

if you’re a feminist maybe try about and think about what it really stands for

think about what it really stands for

think about what it really stands for before you lash out in the accent the

before you lash out in the accent the

before you lash out in the accent the next time someone asks you if you’re a

next time someone asks you if you’re a

next time someone asks you if you’re a feminist maybe we try and say yes

feminist maybe we try and say yes

feminist maybe we try and say yes because I promised Hitler one kill you

because I promised Hitler one kill you

because I promised Hitler one kill you and you’ll be a better person than Bob

and you’ll be a better person than Bob

and you’ll be a better person than Bob is thank you

is thank you

is thank you [Applause]