Richa Chadha responds to Nora Fatehi’s ‘I don’t believe in feminism’ remark: ‘Those seeking its benefits deny being a feminist’

 

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Emphasising the importance of acknowledging the benefits of feminism, Richa, in a recent interview with Puja Talwar, highlighted how women today have the freedom to choose their careers, and attire, and maintain independence due to the efforts of feminist predecessors. “The cute thing about feminism is that it accepts those who seek the benefits of feminism but deny being a feminist. The reason why someone can have a career and choose what they want to wear, work where they want to work and be independent and have choices is because of feminism and predecessors who decided that women need to be out there, be working, doing their jobs and not just be at home,” she stressed.  

 

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The Gangs of Wasseypur actor, who is expecting her first child with husband and actor Ali Fazal, feels that the aversion to the term feminist might stem from a desire to be accepted by male counterparts, further entrenching oneself in the patriarchal system. “It is a misguided reaction to a visual of some misinformed bra-burning chaos from the late ’60s and it is not the real understanding of feminism  It is kind of cool, you know, say, ‘I am not a feminist.’ Everybody goes through that phase where they say, ‘I am not one of those militant girls’,” Richa, who is being appreciated for her portrayal of Lajjo in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, opined.  

Refuting the notion that nurturing is solely a feminine trait, she shared her personal experience with her partner, who is equally nurturing and excited about parenthood. “I have been blessed with a partner who is as nurturing and excited about bringing a life into this world as I am. He never says, ‘She is pregnant.’ She says, ‘We are going to do this,” she said of her partner, Ali.  She believes that both men and women should embrace their nurturing sides and actively contribute to raising children 

Richa also touched upon the generational differences in parenting, stating that our mothers had jobs and managed children without making a big deal about it. She sees no dichotomy in women balancing their careers and family life, and encourages today’s parents to seek guidance from nature and recognise that both genders have essential roles to play. “Nurturing is not the quality that only women have.  Women before us, our mothers, had jobs and managed children. They didn’t make a big deal about maternity or started communities about parenting correctly,” she emphasised.  

The actor expressed surprise over the recent remarks that women should conform to specific roles, stating that this line of thinking fails to recognise the complex nature of womanhood. “I don’t agree with the idea that women have to be this way and not that way. I am surprised it was even said in the first place. When I look at this new crop of people who are doing quantification on YouTube, I feel they all went to universities which are currently hailed as the ‘best universities’ in India,” she jokes while encouraging parents to turn off YouTube and allow their children to seek knowledge through books.