...Throughout the sixties, the women's movement grew steadily, but most Americans were barely aware of what was happening. Then in the early 1970's, feminism exploded across the national scene as groups of activists cropped up almost everywhere. Often, women focus in around a single issue, pouring their efforts into a rape hotline, a battered women's shelter, or some other highly focused project. At the same time, a broad based right wing backlash began to build, it was fueled by white male resentment at the challenges from feminists and from civil rights movement. When conservatives won the white house in 1980, feminists were thrown on the defensive; for the next decade, they had to fight to hang onto the ground they had already gained(Taylor,...
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...Comparison of Second and Third Wave Feminism A historical Social Movement that had major implications for the future was the Feminist movement during the 1960s-1970s often referred to as the Second Wave of feminism. This movement’s peak was during these two decades although it lasted until the 1980’s. This historical social movement is interesting because it was almost immediately followed by what is referred to as the third wave of feminism, which began in the 1990’s and still exists today. Both movements focused on aspects of women’s rights although they differ in rhetoric. The emergence and decline of second wave feminism was a necessary event which led to the third wave of feminism. The term second-wave feminism refers mostly to the radical feminism of the women’s liberation movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Second-wave feminism grew out of leftist movements in postwar Western societies, such as student protests, the anti–Vietnam War movement, the lesbian and gay movements, and, in the United States, the civil rights and Black power movements (Krolokke, Sorensen, p. 8). During this period other movements that were critical of capitalism and imperialism focused on the interest of oppressed groups: working classes, minorities, women and homosexuals. Even during this period of social upheaval women found themselves servicing the revolution, cut off from real influence and thus, once again, exposed to sexism (p. 9). To combat this, women began to form...
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...active in China: "One of the most striking manifestations of social change and awakening which has accompanied the Revolution in China has been the emergence of a vigorous and active Woman's Movement." Beginning in the 70s and continuing in the 80s, however, many Chinese feminists began arguing that the Communist government had been "consistently willing to treat women's liberation as something to be achieved later, after class inequalities had been taken care of."[9] Some feminists claim that part of the problem is a tendency on the government's part to interpret "equality" as sameness, and then to treat women according to an unexamined standard of male normalcy.[10] Chapter two: definition, development, and categories of feminism 1. Definition of feminism Throughout history, women have always struggled to obtain equality, respect, and the same rights as men. This has been difficult because of patriarchy, an ideology in which men are superior to women and have the right to control women. This ideology has spread...
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...Feminism by Madiha Rauf Feminism is a collective struggle towards acceptance of women existence and recognition of their contributions. Its’ basic philosophy is to challenge the social status quo by defining and supporting women rights. Historically the term of feminism is established in western society as a protest against the laws and policies that compelled women to work in a subordinate role in the 18th century. Millett characterizes feminism as a “system of political, economic and social equality between sexes” (Millett, 1970: 74). While it is defined as “politics directed at changing existing power relations between women and men in a society” by Weedon, (1987).Hooks (2000) explains feminism as “a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression”. Feminism is diverse collections of social theories through which many focus on analyzing the social constructions of gender while other focus on gender inequality and promoting women’s rights. By describing major forms of feminism, Tuttle, Lisa (1986) says, radical feminism considers patriarchy as a root cause of women oppressions so believes on radical social changes while liberal feminism asserts the equality of men and women through legal and political reforms. Socialist feminism supports Marx’s ideas &relates the oppression of women to labor exploitation and class structure. While essential and cultural feminism believe that females value because of their special differences & inherent ability to care. Many...
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...theory has four main subgroups, consisting of gender difference, gender inequality, gender oppression, and structural oppression. These theories are evident in the world, especially in the small Himalayan village in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh described by Manjari Mehta in “Our Lives Are No Different From That of Our Buffaloes.” Feminist Theories Gender difference is a theory of feminism that argues that women’s perspectives of most situations are different from that of men’s perspectives of the same situation. Gender difference strives to answer the question “And what about the women?” by simply trying to show that women’s location in and experience of situations are different from that of men. Gender difference can be broken down into even more specific subgroups. Cultural feminism explores and celebrates women and the value that they have in the world. Phenomenological feminism shows the unfair world, shaped by culture, run by men. This theory states that women’s experiences are ignored and aren’t given the full appreciation that they are deserved. Institutional feminism separates men and women based upon different...
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...The development of feminism Feminists argue that gender inequalities form the major division in society. Most feminists also see gender relationships as being based on conflict and exploitation of women by men. They believe that much of the culture has been shaped by men and neglects the contribution that women have made in society. First wave The first wave of feminism emerged in the mide-1800s aiming to change the social and legal inequalities effecting women to achieve universal female suffrage, which is the right to vote for all women. It was led by middle-class women, known as the suffragettes. As well as campaigning for the right to vote, they were also worried about the poor education opportunities available for girls they fought for better secondary education and access to high education. The suffragettes also wanted to change the law which sated that once they were married, their wealth and income became their husbands. Also, women could not divorce their husband without their husband agreeing. By the early 1900s, the first wave of feminism achieved a number of their goals, the right to vote was granted to women in 1928, in the UK. Greater access to higher education and greater access to some professions were achieved, such as medicine. These issues gave a rise to the development of the next phase of feminist activity. Second wave The second wave of feminism grew in the 1960s and 1970s, which was focused on the person problems that women would experience due to...
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...FEMINISM IN CANADA: Defining feminism exactly can be a challenging task but a broad understanding of it encircles the speaking, writing and thus advocating on behalf of women and by identifying injustice to females in the social status. Thus a new aspect has been explored these days in the 21st century which shows the feminism and its politics in detail with great intensity. Margaret Atwood’s novels examine these issues with the portrayal of her subjugated female characters in her novels. George Eliot also depicted women's misery and oppression in her renowned autobiographical novel Ruth Hall (1854).Moreover, an American journalist Fanny Fern revealed in public by writing her own struggle to support her children as a newspaper journalist after her husband's premature death. Louisa May Alcott, a staunch feminist, penned a strong feminist novel A Long Fatal Love Chase (1866) which deals with a young woman's attempts to run away from her bigamist husband and become independent. Women writers in the literary movement of the 19th century and early 20th century, was the first wave of feminism. Feminism in Canada in the 1960s and 1970s was part of an international movement now referred to as the second phase of the wave of feminism. The first feminist movement reached its peak in the second decade of the 20th century when many countries including Canada, supported...
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...Foundation Course 1 Human Rights, Gender & Environment Understanding Patriarchy Suranjita Ray• Subordination of women to men is prevalent in large parts of the world. We come across experiences where women are not only treated as subordinate to men but are also subject to discriminations, humiliations, exploitations, oppressions, control and violence. Women experience discrimination and unequal treatment in terms of basic right to food, health care, education, employment, control over productive resources, decision-making and livelihood not because of their biological differences or sex, which is natural but because of their gender differences which is a social construct. “Sex is considered a fact - one is born with either male or female genitalia. Gender is considered a social construction - it grants meaning to the fact of sex. Conversely, it could be said that only after specific meanings came to be attached to the sexes, did sex differences become pertinent” (Geetha, 2002: 10). Gender based discriminations and exploitations are widespread and the socio-culturally defined characteristics, aptitudes, abilities, desires, personality traits, roles, responsibilities and behavioral patterns of men and women contribute to the inequalities and hierarchies in society. Gender differences are man made and they get legitimised in a patriarchal society. This paper attempts to link the theoretical dimensions of patriarchy with its empirical experiences to engage in the ongoing...
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...Second Wave Feminism: 1960s In the early 1960s, many middle- and upper-class white women begin to question their domestic roles—a phenomenon that becomes known as “the problem that has no name.” In the late 1960s, a culture of revolution emerges, with protests against the Vietnam War, formation of the first lesbian separatist communities, student protests in Europe, guerrilla movements in Latin America, liberation struggles in Africa, a cultural revolution in China, and a tide of socialism and Marxism. This culture fuels the strength of the women’s movement going into the 1970s. Height of the Movement: 1970s In the 1970s, women convene consciousness-raising groups to educate about gender oppression, create community, and share common experiences. The first women’s studies departments are developed at universities, and the United Nations designates the 1970s the “Women’s Decade.” However, some black women challenge the women’s movement as failing to acknowledge non-white concerns, and many become disillusioned. Lesbian feminists challenge the women’s movement to reconsider their attitudes toward the nuclear family, calling upon women to become “political lesbians” and stop “sleeping with the enemy.” Backlash Era: 1980s The 1980s and the Reagan years saw a backlash against feminism and the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment. 1973: In Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the Supreme Court declares that the Constitution protects women's right to terminate an early pregnancy, thus...
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...PHL101 Alison Jaggar Alison M. Jaggar (PHD, 1970--) is a feminist philosopher and a professor who works for University of Colorado at Boulder. Jaggar was born in Sheffield, England. Jaggar’s early work was in England. Jaggar got her Bachelor’s degree in 1964 from University of London (Bedford College) and her Ph D from State University of New York at Buffalo in 1970. In 1990, she joined the faculty at University of Colorado Boulder, and she was awarded Gold Teaching Award by CU boulder. Besides teaching, Jaggar joined many research and academic appointments. Since 2007, she’s been research coordinator at Centre for the Study of Mind in Nature, University of Oslo, Norway. Jaggar has around ten books published; most of them discuss the topic about feminism and social, moral and political philosophy. Besides, her teaching accomplishment and her research got her 16 awards during the past three decades. Unlike the long history of other schools of philosophy, the history of feminist philosophy is relatively short. The first emerge of feminism dates back to 18th century. However, the first boost of feminism started in the 20th century, along with political movements and black and postcolonial ideologies. Different from traditional views of epistemology, Jaggar pointed out that emotion is an important part of gaining and processing knowledge. According to Freud’s psychosexual development, gender identity is formed related to the social environment. Females are usually...
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...Constructing Gender And Sexuality Chapter Study Objectives What Is Sex? What Is Gender? • Compare and contrast the concepts of sex and gender. ==> Sex is a distinct category that someone belongs to male or female. Gender is not only the physical but also the behavioral personality traits that a group considers normal for its members. Essentialist and Constructionist Approaches to Gender Identity • Compare and contrast the essentialist and constructionist approaches to gender identity. ==> The essentialists believes that there can only be two categories, male or female, there is no exception. However constructionists believe that gender isn’t a dichotomy and that there can be more than two categories, and different ways for explaining them. Essentialists typically reside outside of sociology, usually in medicine, theology, and biology. Constructionists are typically mainstream sociologists. Gender Inequality • Explain the possible origins of gender inequality according to the text. ==> Back in the day when men had to go out and procure food, they needed to be bigger and stronger. They were needed for this vital role. Women were built to be nurturing so they could stay back with their offspring and keep them safe while the men hunted. The two rules were crucial for survival. • Compare and contrast functionalist theory and conflict theory in their approaches to explaining gender inequality. ==> Functionalists theory says that sex determines which roles men and women...
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...Black Feminism Michelle Smith African American History Winter Quarter 2010 Purdue University Instructor: Professor Wilkens Introduction When the Black Feminist movement was developed, it was a revolution for black women. It gave them power, liberation, and a voice to overcome the emasculating efforts of white male power (Harrold, Hine, and Hine, 2009). When I first began this research, I discovered that Black Feminism is too broad of a topic to elaborate on as a whole. This paper defines the term “Black Feminism. It will explore two published articles that report on the theory and practice of how black feminism is making waves and what role of education in the development of the Black Feminist Thought from 1860 to 1920. This paper will examine when the National Black Feminist Organization was founded and lastly, how two outstanding women who made an impact in the Black Feminist Movement. According to Encyclo (n.d.) online encyclopedia the definition of black feminism is “A strand of feminist thought which highlights the multiple disadvantages of gender, class and race that shape the experiences of nonwhite women. Black feminists reject the idea of a single unified gender oppression that is experienced evenly by all women, and argue that early feminist analysis reflected the specific concerns of white, middle-class women.” In other words, black feminist argue that the liberation of black women entails freedom for all people since it would require the end of...
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...How does contemporary ‘post-feminism’ or ‘third wave feminism’ contribute to the furtherance of women’s rights and gender equality? Research and discuss There is a good deal of controversy over the role of so-called Third Wave feminism in the quest for gender equality. Third Wave feminism emerged in the late 1980’s and 1990’s among a cohort of women who had grown up taking for granted the gains made in the first wave of feminism (suffrage) and the second wave (the 1970’s emergence of feminist activism) (Arneil, 1999; Henry, 2004). These are young women who experience feminism almost like “’flouride. We scarcely notice that we have it—it’s simply in the water” (Henry, 2004: 70, quoting Baumgardner and Richards). The controversy stems not so much from their tacit reliance on previous gains, but on the focus of Third Wave feminism, which is undeniably on self-expression, freedom of experience, and sexual flexibility. Henry (2004) writes about the American television series Sex and the City as emblematic of Third Wave feminist sensibilities. This might be a bitter pill to swallow for those who identify feminism with more stalwart causes, including combating idealised and sexualised images of women in the media and embracing women’s diversity. After all, the four heroines of Sex and the City are all white, wealthy, thin, glamorous, obsessed with fashion and arguably obsessed with men. Nevertheless there are story lines and sensibilities in Sex and the City which reveal feminist...
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...and wider society that boys were superior to boys thus causing them to underachieve in the education system. Feminists argue due to early socialisation this idea that they had hardly no control over their own lives were fabricated form the roots. Therefore they were more likely to view their success down to luck and fate whereas boys saw their success was down to their ability. Feminists argue that female s are likely to suffer from material deprivation then males from a very early age which yet again reinforces this inequality within the home and later in the school. However this is not the case anymore as evidence has shown that girls are doing beret then boys. One main reason in which this change has occurred is due to impact of feminism. Feminism is a social movement which strives for equal rights for women in all areas of life. Since the 1960’s, the feminist movement has challenged traditional roles which is associated with...
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...The Difference between the Feminist Movement of 1960 and that of Today In the book “Female Chauvinist Pigs” Levy tries examine and make sense of the radical cultural, social and economic difference in the definition of feminism by two generation. Levy struggles to make sense the two generation mutually exclusive definition of feminism, what it means and what it should stand for. The feminist's movement of the 1960s and 1970s drew inspiration from the civil rights movement. It was made up mainly of members of the middle class, and thus partook of the spirit of rebellion that affected large segments of middle-class youth in the 1960s.Thee feminist movement of the 1960 fought for women liberation, they had series of campaigns for reforms on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, voting rights, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. The movement of this period fought to achieve women's civil liberty rights, eradication of gender discrimination at workplace and in education centers, eliminating discrimination in wages, sexual revolution, reproductive rights and subsequently, amending the laws pertaining to cater for women’s need. According to the book the 1960 feminist movement was a major advocate in pushing congress to pass the Equal Pay Act in 1963, which made it illegal to pay a man more money than a woman for doing the same job and the civil rights Act in 1964 that banned discrimination on basis of race, sex and religion. The act...
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