Are 'Difficult' Women Harbingers Of Change?

"We are the 'difficult' women, who make it all so god damn easy" This line by Priya Malik caught my attention during random scrolling on Instagram. Initially, I was perplexed just as you might be. I thought how could difficulty make things easy? Doesn't it sound like an oxymoron? Then, it struck me that the so-called difficult women are actually the harbinger of change that not only benefits them but the entire society. By being 'difficult' today, they become a legacy tomorrow. However, why do we realise this so late? Why do women have to die to be alive as a legacy? 

Who Is A Difficult Woman?

Let's start with the first-ever era when a group of 'difficult' women reverberated the society- Feminism. It was perhaps the first time that women became 'difficult' and marched on the streets the claim their rights. From gaining the right to vote, rights to equality, rights to sexuality and reproductivity to destigmatising sex and gender binaries and heteronormativity- Feminism covered it all and more. 

How feminism by 'difficult' women is benefitting everyone

We don't know how these 'difficult' women were treated in their times, but certainly, they have become inspirations for the current life. Feminism which started by difficult women is now giving identity and voice to people of every section, gender and sexuality. Especially men who label women as 'difficult' also benefit from feminism as it advocates men's rights to equality and make life choices. If it weren't for feminism, men would remain the slaves of capitalism who cannot walk out because of the pressure of catering financial demands of the family. Thank feminism and the 'difficult' women behind it who leveraged the call for allowing women to work and hence share the load. 

Women's representation in politics

Moreover, the suffrage movement that gave women the right to vote has fueled democracy. Now women form a large vote bank whose vote plays a crucial role in choosing the right leader. Moreover, women's representation in politics is also increasing not only to increase gender diversity but also to encourage women voters to vote for them. No matter how tokenistic this might sound, 'difficult' women walking into parliament benefits the government to a great extent. Now to increase its popularity, the present government has even proposed to provide 50 per cent reservation to women. What does this reflect if not the government seeking benefit from difficult and defying women? 

Working women improving the country's economy

Feminism also provided women with the right to work. As women joined the workforce, not only did the reputation of the companies boosted but also the GDP of the country. Companies that hired female employees gained a reputation for supporting gender equality. As far as GDP is concerned, according to The International Monetary Fund, if women's participation in the workforce becomes as equal to that of men, the GDP of India can boost to 27 per cent. Another research stated that women's participation in the workforce can increase the GDP by 9 to 15 per cent every year.

Sisterhood

When women become 'difficult' and rule-breakers, they open up gates for other women to explore themselves. It is the 'difficult' woman who encourages other women to take charge of their and offer shoulders to cry on when they get exhausted from the continuous fight. It is the 'difficult' woman who uses the trope of a witch or goddess assigned to them by society as their power. It is the 'difficult' women that manifest themselves in the goddesses people bow down to or in the witches who prophesy and endanger patriarchy using their power-filled wand. 

English primatologist Jane Goodall once said, "It actually doesn't take much to be considered a difficult woman. That's why there are so many of us. " You just accept yourself as a woman, armed with individuality and knowledge of law. Then the entire concept of 'difficult' women will die out and women will still be seen as women. Moreover, calling someone you benefit from as a burden or difficult to deal with is clear hypocrisy. So, first clean the hypocrisy inside you and then carry on with your lives

Views expressed are the author's own