Premium Essay

Do Feminist Know What Feminism Is?

In:

Submitted By gtheprophet
Words 1248
Pages 5
What is feminism? Is it some sort of gender inequality where woman are considered to be at a disadvantage? If so, to whom, the male gender? I, being male, am utterly confused as to what the founding principles are and would love to be informed on what seems to be a controversial epidemic. Though my lack of knowledge and understanding leave me in a cloud of ignorance that arouses every corner of my brain. Therefore I am left to hypothesize in conjecture to what feminist claim feminism is. In Roxane Gay’s essay, “Bad Feminist” she claims that, “Essential feminism suggest anger, humorlessness, militancy, unwavering principles, and a prescribed set of rules for how to be a proper feminist… This is nowhere near an accurate description of feminism, but the movement has been warped by misperception for so long that even people who should know better have bought into this essential image of feminism” (Gay 169). Here we have what started off to be a clear and distinctive definition of feminism, and then quickly dissolved. Which leaves me to wonder, do feminist actually know what feminism is, or are women just formulating opinions about their personal struggle and labeling it feminism? Surely I am to believe that it is both, and that feminism is too ambiguous to be understood, and be of any concern.
Nevertheless there seems to be multiple definitions of feminism, a more economical definition is presented by a woman named Elizabeth Wurtzel who asserts that, “real feminists earn a living, have money and means of their own” (qt’d in Gay 169). Does this mean when someone who earns a living, has money and a mean of their own are feminist? Or do they have to be strictly female with the addition of this definition? Because I, a male, earn a living, have money and means of my own. So does this make me a feminist? Or in this case does it take a male pronoun meninist? If so, I must be

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Feminism

...Feminism in Bangladesh: Establishing equal rights between men & women in young generation. SADMAN ANIS Students University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh ABSTRACT This is basically exploratory study and was conducted at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh & United International University, Dhanmondi,Dhaka, Bangladesh over a period of 10 days started from 1st December, 2012 to 10th December, 2010. The main objective of this study is to describe what the condition of feminism in Bangladesh and what is the thinking of our varsity girl about feminism. Total 21 respondents were selected based on age class of 18-22. Feminism is a belief in the right of women to have political, social, and economic equality with men. It is a discourse that involves various movements, theories, and philosophies which are concerned with the issue of gender difference, advocate equality for women, and campaign for women’s rights and interests. According to some, the history of feminism can be divided into three waves. The first wave was in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the second was in the 1960s and 1970s and the third extends from the 1990s to the present. Feminist theory emerged from these feminist movements. It is manifest in a variety of disciplines such as feminist geography, feminist history and feminist literary criticism. Although feminism has emerged in nineteenth in the world, it is yet unknown to women of our country. The concept of feminism in Bangladesh has...

Words: 6113 - Pages: 25

Premium Essay

Feminism

...Not a Feminist, But I Believe in Equality” I remember being in high school when the American education system made it completely apparent that they value a boy’s education over a girls. I wore a loose leafy skirt that was exactly 3 inches above my knee, while the dress code specified 2 inches above my knee. Furthermore, I was sent home for this incident because “it was suggestive to the boys”… Let that sink in! My school was, slowly but surely, making clear to me was that they would much rather send me home and take away any academic lesson I would have learned from that day because of the small fact that an inch of my knee might be of disturbance to a hormonal high school boy. This is the point in my life when I needed feminism. I always understood the term feminism to be straightforward: anyone who believes in equality between men and women, as well as the perseverance of self-worth regardless of gender, is a feminist. However, my generation of women has a far more straight forward view of feminism than I do. Women who recommend the values of feminism now frown upon identifying themselves as feminist. Why is that? Many misconceptions and misunderstandings become part of the issue when a person has a lack of understanding or comprehension of exactly what the term feminism truly means. It is important to know the difference between equality and feminism. Comprehending the meaning of the two also empowers a women to be grounded and given the capability to know what they stand...

Words: 1543 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Paper

...FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY Passionate Politics bell hooks South End Press Cambridge, MA CONTENTS Copyright © 2000 by Gloria Watkins Cover design by Ellen P. Shapiro Cover illustration by Laura DeSantis, © Artville Any properly footnoted quotation of up to 500 sequential words may be used without permission, as long as the total number of words quoted does not exceed 2,000. For longer quotations or for a greater number of total words, please write to South End Press for permission. INTRODUCTION Come Closer to Feminism 1. 2. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hooks, Bell. Feminism is for everybody: passionate politics / Bell Hooks. p.cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-89608-629-1 - ISBN 0-89608-628-3 (pbk.) 1. Feminist theory. 2. Feminism - Philosophy. 3. Feminism Political aspects. 4. Sex discrimination against women. 1. Title. FEMINIST POLITICS Where We Stand 1 CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING A Constant Change of Heart 7 3. SISI:ERHOOD IS STILL POWERFUL 4. Vll 13 00-036589 South End Press, 7 Brookline Street, #1, Cambridge, MA 02139 06 05 04 7 8 9 Printed in Canada 19 OUR BODIES, OURSELVES Reproductive Rights 25 6. HQl190 .H67 2000 305.42'01 - dc21 FEMINIST EDUCATION FOR CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS BEAUTY WITHIN AND WITHOUT 31 7. FEMINIST CLASS STRUGGLE 37 8. GLOBAL FEMINISM 44 5. 9. WOMEN AT WORI( 48 10. RACE AND GENDER 55 ...

Words: 37459 - Pages: 150

Premium Essay

Misuse of Women Protection Laws

...History Pg.7 5. Indian Feminism Pg.9 6. Where feminism goes wrong Pg.14 7. Bibliography Pg.20 ABSTRACT Women have always been an integral part of society. However, more often than not their contribution in the human society has been ignored. This gave rise to the need of empowering women and hence the feminist movement. This research project aims to comprehend and analyze the very essence of Feminism in terms of the 3rd wave and in Indian context. It also analyses the myths associated with feminism and the flaws which lead to the ambiguity in the whole concept of feminism. Further, the paper discusses as to whether the term “feminism” can be brought under one general definition or there is much more to it.   INTRODUCTION DEFINITION "A woman should be barefoot, pregnant and chained to a stove," stated Ben Glantz, a high school senior. Drew Pershing, another senior, also shared a joke, "What does a woman do after she leaves a battered shelter? The dishes...if she knows what's good for her!" Daily jokes and comments such as these, no matter how harmless, are detrimental to the status of women and a dangerous undermining of their accomplishments. Shared by both genders, sexually discriminative comments are widely accepted in society as normal and harmless. "I didn't mean anything by that; I was just kidding," whimpered Ben Glantz after receiving several cold stares from young women who overheard his bashing, sexist comment. The word ‘Feminism’ seems to refer to an...

Words: 5715 - Pages: 23

Premium Essay

Feminism

...Feminism Feminism is a controversial topic among society, it is a movement that helps and supports women to have equal rights as men. Throughout the years the definition has changed, many women are taking advantage and accusing people of discrimination. In today's society the roles have reversed, some women in some cases discriminate men and take advantage just because they are women. There are many people in today’s society that agree, disagree, or do not care for feminism, but that does not mean we have the right to offended or even put down anyone for having a different point of views on any matter in what others believe in. Many can say that after reading Rebecca Rubins’ article, “The Farce of Feminism”, can agree that women nowadays do not need any support groups. I strongly believe that women do need support groups in today’s society. Rubin’s talks about how she does not consider herself a feminist but she does support women. Society has changed feminism throughout the years, but I believe that the definition remains the same. I believe that Rubin proves a point, but she is confused because feminism is supporting women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. I do not agree nor disagree with Rubin’s thoughts and point of views. I strongly believe that people, in general, alter the definition of feminism and makes it their own. Rubins stated, “Women in this country are now on an entirely equal footing with men and are sometimes...

Words: 892 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Womanism Is To Lavender

...“Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender,” a quote by author Alice Walker. Walker basically created the definition of womanism by using this quote in her book In Search of our Mother’s Gardens. What is womanism? What are womanist views of feminism and are they well founded? Many womanists would agree that the feminist movement was only to created to end sexism. Author Bell Hooks states that anyone who supports feminist politics needs to comprehend the fact that the work does not end with the fight for gender equality (Hooks, 662). Many womanists would believe that feminism was only created by middle-class white women for middle-class white women, and they would be correct. Many feminists only believe in equal rights for middle-class...

Words: 1599 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Feminism

...Still Enduring: Equity Feminism for the Next Generation Webster defines feminism as both "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes" and "organized activity on the behalf of women's rights and interests" (Webster 418). Equality of the sexes (in terms of rights) and the furthering of women's rights are seemingly positive aspirations; yet people tend to describe feminism using negative terms, and feminism today has acquired a bad reputation. "Radical" and "extremists" are adjectives commonly applied to feminism as a whole, when, in truth, feminists who adopt extreme positions constitute the minority. Moreover, these "gender feminists," or "militant feminists," as many call them, although they receive the most public attention because of their aggressive tactics and high visibility, alienate people in broadcasting their views. Their goal, to create a "sentimental priesthood" that will achieve collective power and retribution as oppressed "victims" of a white-male supremacy, seems unreasonable (Himmelfarb 20). In contrast, "equity feminists," or "academic feminists," embrace the basic principles of feminism. They celebrate women's achievements, work for the individual rights of all women, and, as Christina Hoff Sommers aptly says, "want for women what they want for everyone, equal protection under the law" (Himmelfarb 20). Though not all feminists agree on how to reach this goal, most argue for a reasonable, realistic, and positive method. By contrasting...

Words: 1949 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Feminist Argument

...more accepting of feminism. They agreed to label themselves as feminists and the majority of them supported this movement. Both men and women most likely support feminism’s main goal and belief, but it is true that males are not likely to consider themselves feminists. However, within the active followers that support this idea, there are in fact men that fully support this movement. They break the stereotype that men cannot help create an equal society (Spoto, 2013). In a news article, it states 53% of people argue that there is a need for feminism (Dahlgreen, 2015). Nevertheless, everyone should be willing to support gender equality. If people viewed feminism for only its main goal, everyone would consider themselves as feminists (Schlage 2016). When analyzing the secondary sources it states that females are significantly more accepting of...

Words: 828 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Gender Roles In Their Eyes Were Watching God

...Their Eyes Were Watching God: Womanist or Feminist? Throughout time, people have only analyzed literature through a feminist lens and neglected the womanist aspect of literature, often claiming that the text is feminist when it is truly a womanist novel. The fictional novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, has this effect on the general public. This novel is about a woman named Janie, who goes through life trying to find herself and love in 1930’s Florida. At a young age, Janie is forced to marry an older man named Logan Killicks, whom she does not love. Not soon after they are married, Janie decides to leave Mr. Killicks and run away with a man named Joe Starks. For years after, Janie lives in an abusive...

Words: 1792 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Beyonce: A Feminist Analysis

...I do believe that feminism has an "image problem." According to all of the women that I've talked to who don't identity as a feminist but hold feminist beliefs, there is clearly negativity surrounding feminism. I think the primary reasons for this image problem is that feminism is inherently subversive. Although wanting equality today seems like a given, gender equality used to be a radical stance--one that was continually disputed and argued against, as seen in the need for Mary Wollstonecraft's book discussed in Feminism (in a nutshell). Keeping that in mind, historically, why then would people--especially men--want to support feminism when their power, worldview, and privilege would be challenged? By portraying feminism as something irrational, overly-emotional, or unreasonable, people could avoid any critical thinking about the sociology behind their actions and society and continue to perpetuate those negative stereotypes....

Words: 575 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Becoming The Third Wave Analysis

...How feminists are awful for gender equality Now I know what you're thinking “How dare you talk badly about feminism, you white cis male!” Look i'm not bashing feminism, because the concept of feminism itself is a good concept. Feminism by definition is “the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of political, social, and economic equality to men.” What I will be talking specifically is “third-wave feminism.” (which was coined by Rebecca Walker in her 1992 essay titled “Becoming the Third Wave.)” Now for those of which who do not know what “third-wave feminism” is, allow me to explain what I have gathered and experienced. In my eyes “Third-wave feminism” is like cancer, it spreads and grows and takes over different parts of a fully functioning system and eventually killing it. But in the average “third-wave feminist” eyes, they think that they are helping gender equality by...

Words: 1117 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Feminism

...Kiana Rivera ENG 101/1:00 Shafer FEMINISM IS THE RADICAL NOTION THAT WOMEN ARE PEOPLE Bra-burning and man-hating extremists, feminists are branded as insane, radical women who want to establish a matriarchy. While some feminists are angry and some hate men, not all feminists do. Actually, according to Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner in The F-Word: Feminism in Jeopardy, feminism “simply means the belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.” (Feminism, Oppoising Viewpoints, pg 14) We only ever hear of the negative associated with feminism. When anti-feminist people are asked questions, most don’t understand why they believe that feminism is wrong and extreme; they do not understand why it is so vitally important, and why, even in 2013, it is still a relevant issue. Although there's a lot of information about feminism out there, much of it is judgmental, misinformed, or quite simply false. Women should have equal rights as men, and taking a stand to achieve this ideal with feminism is what’s slowly accomplishing this goal. According to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, feminism is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities; organized activity in support of women's rights and interests.”  (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, pg 1) In an article by Rachel Fudge, published in 2005 she brings up a very valid point on the issue of feminism and the many years that is has been around: “Despite 150 years of activism in pursuit of women's...

Words: 3105 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

The Life

...The Hunger Games: Action-film feminism is catching fire  Lisa Schwarzbaum Burning up Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen is both strong and vulnerable – a new kind of action heroine who has powered The Hunger Games: Catching fire to a $158m US debut. (Lionsgate) Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen is a new type of female action film icon, and moviegoers should be very excited about that, writes Lisa Schwarzbaum. As Catching Fire ignites on movie screens around the world, this is what we know about the 21st Century heroine called Katniss Everdeen: she is strong but also soft. She is brave but she has doubts. She is a phenomenal fictional creation, yet is real enough that moviegoers can draw inspiration from her values, her resourcefulness, and her very human inner conflicts. And she is played by Jennifer Lawrence, who appears not only to be handling her current duties as Hollywood’s finest model of well-adjusted millennial female stardom but doing so with charm. Everdeen and Lawrence: golden girls both. Personified in Lawrence’s lithe movements and cool, focused gaze, Katniss is a brave, resourceful and independent-minded fighter; but she is also a troubled and vulnerably guilt-ridden human being. Nina Jacobson, the producer of the Hunger Games film franchise, puts it this way: “She is a singular heroine in that the burden of survival weighs on her. She has a ton of survivor’s guilt.  And she keeps surviving.” Girl on fire It is strange that behaving like a well-adjusted...

Words: 16355 - Pages: 66

Premium Essay

Masculism and Feminism

...Philosophical Paper: Defending Men Through the Study of Masculism and Explaining 3rd Wave Feminism Further Submitted by: Xiayra Mae B. Magtibay 1LM2 Submitted to: Mr. Emmanuel De Leon Abstract This paper will be discussing gender equality through further explanation of Masculism and 3rd Wave Feminism by depending on essays and articles made by 3rd Wave Feminists and the philosophies of Plato. This paper will be pointing out the objectives of Masculism and Feminism and their similarities. This paper will also attempt to explain that the demands of both genders can be met. Defnition of Terms * Masculism: is a movement that advocates for the rights, equality and dignity of the male sex in an egalitarian framework. * Egalitarian: believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities * Feminism: the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men and an organized movement for the attainment of such rights for women. * Misandrist: a person who hates men * Gender : the state of being male or female * Gender Roles: is a theoretical construct in the social sciences and humanities that refers to a set of social and behavioural norms that, within a specific culture, are widely considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex. * Gender Equality: is the measurable equal representation of women and men. Gender equality does not imply that women...

Words: 3062 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

Feminisim and International Relations

... Manila Feminism and International Relations Submitted by: BALIGOD, Katrina Angelica A. LS201 Submitted to: Sir. Francisco Noel Fernandez III 20 October 2014 I. Introduction Hans J. Morgenthau, one of the leading proponents of the approach known as Realism (also known as power politics), claims that universal standards of morality cannot be an constant guide to IR because there is an "ineluctable tension between the moral command and the requirements of successful political action." He argues that state actors must think and act in terms of power and must do whatever it takes to defend the national interests of their state. J. Ann Tickner, commenting on the primacy of power in Morgenthau's writings, explains that what he considers to be "a realistic description of international politics is only a picture of the past and therefore not a prediction about the future", and proposes what she considers to be a feminist alternative: a world in which state actors think of power in terms of collective empowerment, not in terms of domination over one another, could produce more cooperative outcomes and pose fewer conflicts between the dictates of morality and the power of self-interest (Art & Jervis, 2005). Emergence of Feminism Most of the early feminists in IR were IR theorists, researchers, and policy practitioners, who read syllabi full of scholarly articles by mainly or only men, and seen IR as a scholarly place often hostile to women and femininity. Feminist scholarship...

Words: 1856 - Pages: 8