A Holy Ghost Party

• Classic Solitaire Diamond Rings
• Classic Solitaire Diamond Rings
• Classic Solitaire Diamond Rings
• Classic Solitaire Diamond Rings
• Classic Solitaire Diamond Rings

Equality as a concept for most women is a fleeting one. Marriage is one current social institution that propagates equality among the sexes, but in reality the equality is gender based and skewed towards the male. The Engagement Ring is a precursor to cementing of marital ties worldwide and is represented in variables through out different cultures and communities. However, does the exchange of engagement rings really bring an equality among the sexes or is it another excuse for objectification and consequent submission of women by the men.

What many feminists may object to and rather vehemently is perhaps the loss of personal identity and the objectification of women through what they see an elaborate set up presided by men to keep women subjugated and hence in their control. The Engagement ring hence becomes symbolic of control and loss of identity for these women. The question is whether women are victims or participants in this elaborate drama?

While the exchange of engagement rings seems routine, we must remember that it represents rampant consumerism in our societies and women are seen to encourage this to a large extent. Popular culture fanned by media and entertainment industries play on the subconscious minds thus fuelling a multibillion-dollar demand for engagement rings. While feminists may argue that the exchanging of diamond rings is the start of an unequal relationship, I would beg to differ. How do individuals quantify love and affection for one another? The exchanging of gifts certainly makes individual relationships stronger and voices care and concern for one another. It makes an individual feel wanted and appreciated. In my mind the engagement ring is hence an object that animatedly moves a relationship ahead to it’s logical conclusion.

So what is real feminism and does the engagement ring truly represent oppression? While generalizations may be put forward on either side, confident and independent women need not see the engagement ring as a symbol that will subject them to lifelong oppression at the hands of their spouses. In fact it should be viewed as a relationship of equals, where the engagement ring is representative of a quiet confidence and equality among the spouses.

Tokens of love such as presents, money, and jewelry are but natural for the bridal couple as they are made to feel special on a very important day. Real feminism should be about ideas that can empower women, not about their possessions. It is about education, self-acceptance and self-love rather than the cycle of self-approval, intimidation and illiteracy. While it may sound utopian, feminists must understand and accept that feminism has a social context and notions will differ in different cultures around the world. To generalize and objectify the engagement ring is simply a self serving exercise where the engagement ring is presented as an object of lifelong oppression.

How we view a particular event in our lives is the result of our conditioning, and experiences and the engagement ring only reinforces this belief in being an object of desire for many as opposed to the chained existence many other women feel. In the end in my view, the engagement ring should not be looked upon from the eyes of a cynic who knew the price of everything but the value of nothing.