In Progress

Feminism is a very misunderstood word. Many people—men and women alike—are scared of it. The confusion and misunderstanding comes partly from the male-dominated media, which has widely misrepresented feminists as "bra-burning," "manhating or bed hopping," "family-destroying" women.

These images are reinforced by other forces and groups that see the emancipation and liberation of women as a threat. As a result, feminists are often attacked and dismissed as "middle class," "westernized," and "rootless."

As a result, many, who have not even given feminism any thought at all or who have imbibed the false propaganda against feminism, are too quick to say that they are not, or that somebody isn't a feminist. Or that someone who is should be feared and avoided, or simply shunned and ignored or, at the very least, humoured and patronized.

Women in Action culled these questions and answers from the book Kali for Women by Kamla Bhasin and Nighat Said Khan to help you know for sure what feminism is. Read and decide: Are you a feminist?