Feminism vs Men’s Rights: How to think to solve problems using First Principles Thinking?

Shreya Chaturvedi
Dec 17, 2024
4 min read

Today marks the 12th death anniversary of Nirbhaya reminding us of the horrific realities women face and the urgent need for stricter laws to ensure their safety. The Nirbhaya case was a catalyst for change, highlighting the urgent need to protect women and address deep-seated misogyny. This tragic incident shook the nation and sparked widespread protests, demanding stricter laws to ensure women’s safety.

As a result:

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 was passed, introducing stricter punishments, including the death penalty for extreme cases of rape.
Fast-track courts were set up to expedite rape trials.
Discussions on women’s safety, public infrastructure, and gender sensitization gained prominence.

While laws to protect women are necessary, cases like that of Atul Subhash, a 27-year-old man from Pune, reveal the darker side of these protections when misused. Atul was falsely accused of rape after his relationship soured. Despite a lack of evidence, the social and legal implications were severe:

Atul faced societal stigma, mental trauma, and professional consequences.
The case dragged on for months, highlighting the need for due process to protect the innocent while respecting the accuser’s claims.

According to NCRB data, while false rape accusations are relatively low (estimated at 10-15%), their impact on an individual’s life can be catastrophic—leading to job loss, social isolation, and even suicide in some cases.

Other Similar Cases

Rohtak Sisters Case (2014): Two sisters in Haryana accused three men of molesting them on a bus. Viral videos led to public outrage, but investigations later revealed inconsistencies in their claims, and the men were acquitted.
Ravi Kumar Case (2015): Ravi Kumar, a teacher, was accused of sexual harassment. The case was found to be fabricated, but not before he lost his job and reputation.

These incidents, though rare compared to actual crimes against women, highlight the need for balance—protecting women while ensuring fairness in the justice system.

This contradiction—between protecting women and ensuring fairness for all—poses a critical question: How do we solve this without compromising on justice or safety?

The answer lies in a problem-solving approach called First Principles Thinking.

By breaking the issue into its core components and reconstructing solutions from the ground up, we can find balanced and effective pathways forward.

Breaking Down the Problem

At its core, the contradiction is this:

Strict laws are essential for women’s safety.
When misused, these laws can destroy innocent lives.

This creates a tug-of-war between the need for protection and the need for fairness, often fueling debates between feminism and men’s rights.

Step 1: Identifying Fundamental Truths

To build a solution, we first acknowledge some undeniable truths:

Society needs laws to protect vulnerable groups—in this case, women who continue to face violence and discrimination. For example, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 30,000 cases of rape are reported in India annually, with countless others going unreported.
Justice systems must ensure fairness for all, providing due process and protecting innocent individuals from wrongful accusations.
False accusations, though statistically rare, can have devastating consequences on lives and reputations. Research from the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs suggests that around 10-15% of reported sexual harassment or rape cases involve false allegations.

Step 2: Questioning Assumptions

To solve the problem, we must challenge existing assumptions:

Assumption 1: Laws that favor women are inherently biased against men.

Challenge: Is the problem the law itself, or how it is applied? The misuse of a law reflects flaws in enforcement, not necessarily in its intent.

Assumption 2: Advocacy for women’s rights and men’s rights are mutually exclusive.

Challenge: Can both movements coexist to challenge harmful gender roles and build a fairer society?

Step 3: Reconstructing Solutions

Using First Principles Thinking, we can create actionable solutions, such as:

Strengthen Legal Procedures:
- Implement faster investigations and trials to minimize undue suffering for both victims and accused individuals.
- Introduce penalties for proven false allegations to deter misuse.
- Ensure accountability for legal professionals who fail to uphold due process.
Foster Collaboration, Not Competition:
Feminism and men’s rights should not be seen as opposing forces but as complementary movements addressing different aspects of gender inequality. Both advocate for a common goal: justice and equality.

- Promote Equal Opportunities for Women:
Greater participation of women in education and the workforce reduces economic pressure on men as sole providers. For example, India’s female labor force participation is just 23% compared to 77% for men. Increasing this participation creates shared financial responsibilities. This will also help men's mental health and ease off the pressure of taking care of the family financials all by themselves.

- Encourage Paternal Involvement:
Equal paternity leave policies can shift parenting roles and relieve pressure on women to be sole caregivers. Countries like Sweden and Norway offer substantial paid paternity leave, fostering shared responsibilities. This is pro-women as it will allow more men to participate in raising children and share responsibilities of the household chores.
Shift the Narrative: Move away from “women vs. men” and focus on “people vs. harmful structures.” Gender roles harm everyone. By challenging societal norms that pressure men to be breadwinners and women to be caregivers, we can create a more equitable society for all.

What is First Principles Thinking?

First Principles Thinking is a problem-solving method that breaks complex issues into their most fundamental truths. It encourages:

Breaking down problems into basic components.
Challenging assumptions about the way things are done.
Reconstructing solutions based on core truths.

By applying this approach, we can navigate emotionally charged debates like feminism vs. men’s rights with clarity and purpose.

Final Thoughts

The path to gender equality is not about choosing sides. It’s about understanding the nuances, addressing systemic flaws, and creating solutions that prioritize both protection and fairness. Using First Principles Thinking, we can move beyond polarized debates to build a society that values justice for all.

💡 Want to explore more problem-solving tools and self-help resources? Check out the Resources section for worksheets and self-help programs to apply these principles in your life.

💬Let’s keep the conversation going: