I came to this site because I was researching some topics for my Sociology class. I was shocked to see the amount of men who are thrashing feminism and claiming their women are estranged because they consider themselves a feminist. I understand in this day and age feminism may not make a huge difference in the west since opportunities are mostly available to both genders; but Somalis are one of the most orthodox Muslims I have ever met. Some traditions don't even have anything to do with religion and at large affect women more than men. So how on earth do Somali men have the audacity to thrash Somali feminists. blease eggsplain?
Feminism is a broad range of ideologies with the same core beliefs. I do not oppose many, if not most feminist views. But to answer your question, it's because some of my views are inherently anti-feminist. Namely, abortion rights (
*), sex work and LBGTQ (transgenderism is particular). My older sister holds near identical views on these, but still considers herself a feminist if you press it. Much like the silent majority of Somali women I suspect. Anyway, there are plenty of worthwhile debates and legitimate critisism regarding feminism online, so I'll move on to Somali feminism in particular.
To be blunt, what good have Somali feminists done outside of armchair activism and needless division? Imho, they're nothing more than gender FKD. Contrary to what you said about everyone advocating for women's rights being a feminist, it's just not true. Feminism is a political movement as much as it is an ideology, you can't just claim any good done for women by any man or woman as feminist. People, women included, are literally starving and dying of preventable diseases. Then you've got ''''unapologetic'''' feminists like Nimco Ali promoting to end FGM (which myself, and most others don't have issue with), but at the same time encroach on the religious and culture beliefs of Somalis by attacking things like the hijab. They literally want to export western values to Somalia. In their perfect world, Somalia will be a hyper liberal Swedish town with artificial Somali flavour. Then you want to come here and ask us how we have the audacity to trash Somali feminists, like we're biting the hand that feeds us.
Still, that's all good, but modern day feminism in all its sincere good and down right retardation did not come about overnight. But just like the people that compare Somalia to the west in other aspects, nobody wants to put the work in, but everyone wants to .