BEGUM Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, an iconic figure in South Asian feminist thought, stands as a pioneer who championed the cause of women鈥檚 emancipation in colonial Bengal. Her progressive ideals and relentless activism align closely with the principles of liberal feminism, which advocate for equality, individual rights, and access to education as pathways to women鈥檚 empowerment. By situating Begum Rokeya within the philosophical framework of liberal feminism, this essay explores her intellectual contributions, activism, and relevance in the broader discourse of gender equality and justice.
Liberal feminism, rooted in Enlightenment ideals, emphasises the fundamental equality of men and women and advocates for reform through existing legal and political structures. It seeks to eliminate systemic barriers that hinder women鈥檚 access to education, employment, and participation in public life. Thinkers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and John Stuart Mill laid the foundation of liberal feminism, arguing for the rational capacity of women and their right to equal opportunities. Unlike radical feminism, which focuses on dismantling patriarchal structures entirely, liberal feminism works within the framework of society to achieve incremental change.
The principles of liberal feminism resonate deeply with Begum Rokeya鈥檚 vision for social reform. Her advocacy for women鈥檚 education, critique of patriarchal traditions, and call for gender equality highlight her alignment with liberal feminist ideals while also reflecting the specific cultural and historical context of colonial Bengal.
Central to liberal feminism is the belief that education is a fundamental right and a means of achieving equality. Begum Rokeya recognised education as the most effective tool for empowering women and challenging their subjugation. At a time when Muslim women were largely confined to domestic spaces and denied access to formal education, Rokeya tirelessly campaigned for their intellectual development.
In her essays, such as Stri Jatir Abanati (The Downfall of Women), Rokeya argued that ignorance perpetuated women鈥檚 oppression, as it rendered them incapable of recognising or resisting their subjugation. She emphasised the need for a holistic education system that would enable women to participate actively in public and intellectual life. The establishment of the Sakhawat Memorial Girls鈥� School in 1911 was a practical manifestation of her liberal feminist philosophy, as it provided a safe space for Muslim girls to learn and grow.
From a philosophical perspective, Rokeya鈥檚 emphasis on education aligns with John Stuart Mill鈥檚 arguments in The Subjection of Women (1869), where he asserts that denying education to women is a denial of their personhood and potential. Rokeya similarly critiqued societal structures that deliberately excluded women from intellectual pursuits, positioning education as a tool of liberation and self-actualisation.
Liberal feminism advocates for the recognition of women as individuals with rights equal to those of men. Begum Rokeya consistently highlighted the importance of individual autonomy and agency for women. In her writings, she often critiqued the oppressive practices of purdah and seclusion, which curtailed women鈥檚 freedom under the guise of protecting their honour.
In her essay Abarodh Basini (The Secluded Women), Rokeya used satire to expose the absurdity and injustice of practices that confined women to the private sphere. She argued that such restrictions not only violated women鈥檚 rights but also deprived society of their contributions. Rokeya鈥檚 liberal feminist perspective shines through in her insistence that women should have the freedom to make choices about their own lives, free from the constraints of patriarchal norms.
Liberal feminism places great emphasis on rationality, arguing that women are equally capable of reason and should be treated as such. Begum Rokeya鈥檚 work is replete with critiques of the patriarchal myths that perpetuated women鈥檚 inferiority. She challenged the belief that women were intellectually or morally weaker than men, arguing instead that these assumptions were socially constructed to justify their subordination.
In her satirical novella Sultana鈥檚 Dream (1905), Rokeya envisions a utopian world called Ladyland, where women鈥檚 intellect and leadership create a peaceful and prosperous society. By reversing traditional gender roles, Rokeya not only critiques the irrationality of patriarchal norms but also demonstrates women鈥檚 potential to lead and innovate. Her use of satire and imagination serves as a powerful philosophical tool to deconstruct oppressive ideologies and propose alternative ways of thinking.
While liberal feminism often focuses on universal principles, Begum Rokeya鈥檚 work is deeply rooted in the cultural and historical realities of colonial Bengal. She understood that women鈥檚 oppression was shaped by intersecting forces of religion, class, and tradition, and she tailored her activism accordingly.
Rokeya鈥檚 engagement with Islam is particularly significant in this context. While she critiqued patriarchal interpretations of religious texts, she also sought to reclaim Islam as a source of empowerment for women. Her writings emphasise the egalitarian principles of Islam, which she believed had been distorted by patriarchal customs. This intersectional approach demonstrates Rokeya鈥檚 ability to adapt liberal feminist ideals to the specific needs and experiences of her community.
Begum Rokeya鈥檚 work remains profoundly relevant in contemporary feminist discourse, particularly in regions where women continue to face systemic barriers to education and equality. Her emphasis on education as a pathway to empowerment, her critique of restrictive gender norms, and her call for individual rights resonate with ongoing struggles for gender justice around the world.
From a philosophical perspective, Rokeya鈥檚 liberal feminism challenges both the cultural essentialism that confines women to traditional roles and the universalism that overlooks the specificities of their experiences. Her ability to navigate these tensions and articulate a vision of feminism that is both universal and context-sensitive makes her a timeless figure in the history of feminist thought.
Begum Rokeya exemplifies the principles of liberal feminism through her unwavering commitment to education, gender equality, and individual rights. Her work transcends her historical context, offering a philosophical framework for understanding and addressing the challenges of women鈥檚 oppression. By advocating for incremental change within existing structures, Rokeya demonstrated the power of reformist strategies to create lasting social transformation.
Through her writings and activism, Begum Rokeya not only advanced the cause of women鈥檚 liberation in colonial Bengal but also contributed to the global discourse on gender justice. Her legacy, viewed through the lens of liberal feminism, serves as an enduring reminder of the importance of education, rationality, and individual autonomy in the pursuit of equality. In celebrating Rokeya鈥檚 life and work, we honour her as a visionary thinker whose ideas continue to inspire and guide feminist movements in the twenty-first century.
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Mohammad Jashim Uddin is an associate professor of English at Northern University Bangladesh.
