Why Do Sri Lankan Men Resist Feminism?

In contemporary Sri Lankan society, the term "feminism" often generates strong and divided reactions. Although feminist ideas have gained some acceptance in urban areas and academic spaces, many men remain skeptical or openly opposed to the movement.

This resistance is rarely driven by intentional hostility. Instead, it is shaped by long-standing social norms, limited education about feminism, and a general preference for maintaining existing social arrangements.

1. The Misbelief That Feminism Opposes Men

A major reason many Sri Lankan men reject feminism is a misunderstanding of its purpose. Feminism is often seen as a movement that seeks to elevate women above men rather than one that aims for equality.

• Common Assumption: Many men believe that rights and opportunities are limited resources. They assume that if women gain more freedom or power, men will lose their own advantages.
• Actual Aim: Feminism also challenges restrictive gender roles that harm men, such as the expectation that men must always be financially dominant or emotionally reserved. These broader benefits are rarely discussed in mainstream Sri Lankan discourse.

2. Social Control Through Shame and Fear

Sri Lankan society strongly emphasizes concepts such as shame and fear (lajja-baya). From an early age, individuals are taught to conform to specific behavioral expectations.

• Restriction Framed as Care: Many men believe that limiting women’s movement, education, or career choices is an expression of concern or love. As a result, feminist calls for autonomy are viewed as threats to family values.
• The Ideal Woman Norm: Social approval is often linked to female submissiveness. When feminism questions expectations such as dress codes, curfews, or marriage norms, it challenges social structures that many men see as necessary for order and stability.

3. Limited Awareness of Feminist History

There is a significant gap in public understanding of women’s rights history in Sri Lanka. Feminism is frequently dismissed as a Western concept that conflicts with local culture, despite Sri Lanka’s own history of female political leadership and activism.

• Overlooked Struggles: Many men benefit from rights women now enjoy, such as voting, education, and property ownership, without recognizing that these were achieved through feminist advocacy.
• Media Distortions: Without historical context, feminism is often judged based on extreme or sensational portrayals on social media rather than its measurable contributions to social welfare, public health, and legal reform.

4. Discomfort With Changing Domestic Roles

Traditional gender arrangements often offer practical advantages to men.

• Unequal Care Work: In Sri Lanka, women continue to perform most unpaid domestic and caregiving work.
• Resistance to Change: Feminism encourages shared responsibility in households. For men raised in environments where women managed most domestic and emotional labor, this shift can feel like an unwanted increase in personal responsibility.

5. Moving Forward: Finding Common Ground

The tension between Sri Lankan men and feminism often arises from uncertainty rather than malice. Constructive dialogue requires shifting the focus from blame to explanation, emphasizing how gender equality benefits families and society as a whole.

• Economic Stability: Households with shared earning power are generally more financially secure.
• Improved Mental Health: Men who are not pressured to meet rigid provider roles often experience lower stress levels.
• Stronger Relationships: Relationships based on shared respect and cooperation tend to be more sustainable than those based on fixed gender roles.

If you wish, this discussion can be further strengthened by incorporating Sri Lanka specific data from the Department of Census and Statistics to provide empirical support.