Mumbai — Actress Yami Gautam, who plays Shazia Bano in her recently released film ‘Haq’, believes that feminism as an ideology has taken on multiple meanings over time — and she doesn’t necessarily agree with all of them.
Speaking to IANS at a five-star hotel in Juhu, Mumbai, during the film’s promotions, Yami described ‘Haq’ as a deeply feminist film but added that her understanding of feminism focuses on self-respect and courage rather than confrontation.
“If you have the courage to tell a story inspired by a truly courageous woman — a woman of substance and true feminism — that’s powerful,” Yami said. “There are a lot of definitions of feminism today, and I may not agree with some of them. True feminism isn’t about fighting others; it’s about standing up for yourself, for your children, and for what you know is rightfully yours. It’s as simple as that — that’s my approach.”
Feminism, as a social and political movement, advocates gender equality and women’s rights. Its First Wave (late 19th–early 20th century) focused on legal rights, particularly suffrage. The Second Wave (1960s–1980s) expanded to issues like workplace equality and reproductive rights. The Third Wave (1990s–2000s) emphasized diversity and individual empowerment, while the Fourth Wave (2010s–present) harnesses digital activism against sexism and harassment — most prominently through the #MeToo movement.
Across generations, feminism has transformed societies by granting women access to education, voting rights, economic independence, and bodily autonomy — turning marginalized voices into active participants in politics, culture, and leadership.
Like any ideology, it has also seen extremes. Yami Gautam’s remarks, however, reflect a balanced perspective — one that calls for introspection within the movement to keep it aligned with its core values.
With inputs from IANS