N(o/e)w Pombalaism

 N(o/e)w Pombalaism

(Translates to Now/ New Feminism; Pombala - Female in Tamil)

(Screengrab from Shefali Shah's short film "Juice")

Last week, I read lecture proceedings on Women in Conflict Resolution and Peace Processes because I have come from a place where it has been told that for war and peace, women are the agents for it. The proceedings were about how women are misrepresented and have been a major trouble to not have complete justice anywhere, and how she can be of use to transform this world, which believes in violence and war as a solution to any cause. It also highlighted how women had been strictly limited by the nature of providing care and security biologically, and this is why she can take the role as smartly as a man does in this world, which is nasty and brutish. So, for anything that had happened, good or catastrophic, women had been held a reason for the same. She had been used as a tool for instrumentalization. She had been held hostage as well as used to captivate a territory. 

Now, in this age of technology, she is still being used as a tool for gaining money and attention. Therefore, women still hold a popular position universally, irrespective of their place of origin and social status. In fact, we have now levelled up the phase to “Post-modernist” feminism, still people keep yapping about how it is misunderstood and how it has brought the consequences in social and economic aspects in this society. Numerous talk shows and debates get their views and are hyped up with the same topic for years. Returning to the core argument of the lecture: the true significance lies in recognising that simply talking about women's roles in conflict resolution and social change does not lead to practical solutions. While I appreciate the effort to facilitate discussion, I believe meaningful change arises only when post-modern feminism moves from discussion to concrete action. Continuing to talk about the issues may raise awareness, but without actionable steps, the core problems persist.

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In essence, my argument is that real progress for women begins when they focus on their own growth instead of comparing themselves to others. Cultural pressures around appearance and competition reinforce objectification and insecurity. While self-improvement is valid, it is important to acknowledge that objectification exists and cannot be entirely avoided. True advancement comes from supporting other women and rising above the need to diminish one another, rather than just relying on slogans or comparisons. Empowered women are those who do not participate in shaming others or seeing peers as threats, regardless of personal circumstances. Supporting each other’s choices—even when they differ from our own—fosters genuine freedom and growth. By allowing others to learn from experience and respecting their privacy, we create the environment needed for substantive societal progress, rather than relying solely on discussions about change.

Let late US Presidents like Richard Nixon say that Indian women are the most unattractive ones in the world and the ones who turn him off, and call our former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi as a witch with his discussions with Henry Kissinger, but is only badmouthing him going to be the solution to all of it? Of course, we have our right to vote and take part in politics, and we take part in it while we also play our roles in the family. The real question arises whether we equally share the contribution in politics as men do in general? The space created by under representation of women in politics is definitely going to make the conflict resolution by the participation of women a long-gone dream. Women even get postings in political parties, yet they underplay as their roles are taken in hand by their male family members or their spouses, because of patriarchal and again to give the illusion of providing equal rights to women. This is the point where she loses the ability to handle the conflicts and stress arising from it on her own. In fact,  this is the softer dimension of contributing to world transformation - quite different from occupying demanding roles like defending the country or fighting on the ground to shield the nation from conflicts. And when that is interrupted, a woman falls into the trap and mentally believes that she can no longer be a part of transforming the world that is in need and shrinks herself inside the walls of her home, and gives space for the world to dictate terms on how she is to lead the rest of her life.

Therefore, what I mean is, the phases of feminism can be known and learnt for scoring well and appreciated to stay grateful for how far we have come from having even the basic rights for being born and living as a woman. The blame game is, of course, pleasurable, but it is not going to do any good for anybody; it is only going to keep you in the same position.

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Like they say, “Little drops of water make the mighty ocean”, small acts/ actions are the necessities for the troubles that we face lately, and only consistency with it is going to yield results in political and global platforms too. We had all done enough talking, let’s all shut our mouths, save our energy to plot ways to find solutions to the problems after identifying what keeps us down from doing it. More work, less talk, it is!

Influences/ References:

1. https://www.thepeninsula.org.in/2022/08/10/gendered-politics-at-the-local-level-an-analysis-of-tamil-nadu/

2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/1971-tapes-expose-sexist-anti-indian-rants-of-disgraced-us-ex-prez-nixon/articleshow/77934177.cms