We're okay with this?

When did we decide this was equality? At what point did we look at the way we live, the things we accept without question, and agree that it was fair? Because if we stop and look - really look - everything falls apart. Not loudly, not obviously, but in quiet, undeniable ways that we’ve been taught to ignore. And the scariest part is, most of it doesn’t even feel wrong anymore - it just feels normal. Gender inequality feels normal.

Let's take something simple - surnames. For generations, the surname has been the dad's name, and the family is named after the paternal side. The thing is, the only biological relation of a person that there is absolutely no doubt about is the mother. This is basic logic, there could be a doubt about who the father is, but never the mother. Isn't it literally more efficient to name the lineage after the mother? Imagine all the confusion and drama that could be avoided.

This is just one tiny example of a tradition we have followed for so long we've stopped thinking.

Feminism is a very personal topic, and saying that I get angry talking about it would be an understatement.

Everything I've missed out on, just because I'm female.

A boy could roam around at midnight with his friends for fun and call it a normal day, but I can't go to a friend's house 15 minutes away on my own in broad daylight because it is unsafe? The worst part is, no one needs to explain it to me. I know the dangers.

All these hindrances in my freedom add up. Another huge topic that is thankfully gaining more attention now is female body rights. Attracting scrutiny, however, isn't the same as making progress. I understand why abortion is illegal in a lot of places. Parents often desire a child of a certain gender and try to discard the one they don't want, especially in countries like India, but declaring abortion illegal for rape victims - that's okay? A girl not old enough to drive or drink is supposed to carry a baby to term? And suffer all the strain caused to her body, not to mention the mental stress?

Why is it that in some countries the penalty for abortion after rape is more severe than the penalty for rape itself? Why is the man not held accountable for the child? Why doesn't he have to pay child support? This is a direct result of having solely men in positions of power where a woman is needed.

In recent world conferences about female health and rights, there were barely any women in the room, does that make sense? How many times has a decision about a male body been made without consulting any men? Are there even any laws restricting male bodily autonomy? Why are laws about our bodies being made by men, when a surprising percentage of them don't know what a uterus is? Women aren't 'lesser'. Built physiologically with lower pain tolerance than men? Yes. Still go through pregnancy and cramps (which men cannot even imagine) like it's nothing? Yes. Women are called 'emotional', yet statistically men are the ones more prone to losing their temper. Asked 'is it that time of the month?' when they think we're emotional, at least we have a reason behind mood swings, where's your excuse?

Why are women expected to dress 'decent', aren't men responsible for themselves? Do they mean to say grown men are not mature enough to control themselves around a teenage girl? But of course, they should be the ones running countries.

Well, we’re on the brink of a war that’s been declared because one man felt 'bad vibes.' I read somewhere - women stated they would be happier in a world with no men. A question was asked to them - 'who will protect you then?'

Um... protect from who?

Around 60 people die due to shark attacks every year. A fear of sharks is considered normal. Over 85,000 females are killed by men annually (not even including male victims) in domestic violence or abuse cases, yet the reply we get to 'I don't trust men' is 'not all men though'. The double standard is real. Anything that sounds absurd when asked to a man but sounds normal when asked to a woman is a double standard. Are men asked to live with the girl's parents after marriage? Does anyone ask the man 'but who's taking care of your kids?' when he's working? Is there any country in the WORLD where a man has to take the woman's permission to leave the house, to have a career, to have basic human rights? No.

But suddenly, there's a lot to say when the same questions are asked to women. Women do remarkably well when given the chance. Of course not all of them are perfect, but people do not realise how much they're missing out on when they decide women aren't good leaders. Finland is run by a coalition of five women. The country consistently ranks at the top for literacy, equality, progress and overall citizen happiness and quality of life. This isn't just for the women, the men in Finland have better work-life balance and less stress. Is male ego the only thing stopping the world's betterment? Feminism is not up for debate, it is not a discussion, it is something necessary for a better future. Women make up half the population but the current scenario doesn't reflect this reality. Every public area has a designated spot for smoking and discarding cigarettes, but almost no place carries menstrual products? Those products would be as common as dirt if men had a need for them too. Feminism isn't carrying a placard and yelling 'we want equal rights', it means realising how much better our lives could be if the world was truly equal. It means getting people to realise - this has to change.

'Run like a girl' doesn't mean running slowly, it means running for your life. 'Fight like a girl' doesn't mean fighting to lose, it means fighting to survive. 'Like a girl' isn't an insult. It is a strength people are too blind to recognise.

Navigating a world designed against them and still finding ways to succeed? That's strength, intelligence, determination.

For all the injustice women have gone through, men should be glad we’re asking for equality and not revenge. Beware the day women decide to stop being fair.