...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...
Words: 1220 - Pages: 5
...Feminist Movement Firstly, we would like to talk about the causes and the beginning of feminist movement. the About two centuries ago, human society has many changes and movements; the occurrence of human right and its acceptability, the attention of the importance of democracy, the change of production to industry, instead of agriculture, and the advance of technology. These changes and movements cause some women getting the chance of education as same as almost men, and make women working outdoor instead of doing household work. These phenomena cause people questioning about the original belief that proposes women are inferior to men, and the difference between men and women is natural matter which is unchangeable. People tried to find the reason why this belief occurred and has still endured for a long time. In addition, there is a social movement which tried to change this belief, including the condition of the inequality between men and women. This social movement is called feminism. This social phenomenon began, in 19th century, in the western side of the world, because women didn’t accept the original culture, their role in society, the inequality of gender, and the oppression of men. However, this contradiction in terms of gender has been argued up to the beginning of 20th century. Feminism has rapidly grown since the last forty years of 20th century. People become awakened to study about women in several measurements, especially in the study of the relationship...
Words: 3199 - Pages: 13
...Development and variations of western feminist ideas Chapter one: Introduction Prior to the 20th century, women in China were regarded essentially different from men. Despite the association of women with yin and men with yang, two qualities considered equally important by Daoism, women were believed to occupy a lower position than men in the hierarchical order of the universe. The I Ching stated that "'Great Righteousness is shown in that man and woman occupy their correct places; the relative positions of Heaven and Earth.'" Women were to be submissive and obedient to men. Women were not allowed to participate in government or community institutions. A number of women, and some men, spoke out against these conditions in the early 20th century, but to little avail. As a result of government approval, women's rights groups became increasingly 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...
Words: 2859 - Pages: 12
...change movements. In the 1970’s, the second wave feminist movement was attempting to create wide spread social change. Its leading organization, the National Organization for Women (NOW), was focused on dismantling workplace inequality, such as denial of access to better jobs and salary inequity, and protecting women’s rights, such as stopping domestic violence. They attempted to do this through creating legislation and changing public opinion. The media’s representation of women overall at this time counteracted these goals. By creating a derogatory picture of the “feminist”, the media made her unsympathetic to the public. Rather than creating support for the core goals of the feminist movement, the media focused on more controversial topics, specifically gay rights. This negative media coverage of the women’s movement hurt its ability to implement meaningful legislation, such as the Equal Rights Amendment. The way in which print media degraded women, demonized feminists, and connected feminism to controversial topics damaged the progress of second wave feminism in the 1970’s. The definition of a feminist is a person who believes in the social, economic, and political equality of the sexes (Miriam Webster Dictionary). While people who believe in the equality of the sexes have been around for centuries, the first organized feminist movement in the United States was the 1920’s first wave feminism, which focused on achieving women’s voting rights (The Women’s Rights Movement). The...
Words: 2871 - Pages: 12
...Have fourth wave feminists turned the feminist movement into a man-hating movement? Fourth wave feminism began in 2012 and is associated with the use of social media. The fourth wave advocates for women who have been victims of sexual harassment and violence. Since this movement uses social media as its main outlet, it impacts society greatly because in this day in age more people are using social media than ever before. Anything this movement does or says is heard by millions around the globe, especially young women. Although some fourth wave feminists have the right idea about change in this world, they have transformed from being real progressives to man-hating and stereotyping other women. If extreme feminists could come together with the men in America, they could make a huge difference exceptionally fast because men and women work better together than apart....
Words: 1675 - Pages: 7
...Assignment/Dissertation Submission Form Student Information Please complete all parts of this form and submit with your assignment. All parts of the assignment must be stapled together before submission PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS Student Registration Number | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | Class Code and Title - PRINT the code and title as it appears in the student handbook V | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | | History of the USA since 1877 | Tutor’s name | Mark Ellis | Submission date | 17/11/13 | | | Extension/Re-submission Yes No | Extension/Re-submission date: | Where appropriate please √ your year, Now √ the attempt. 1st | 2nd | √ | | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr4 | | Postgraduate | | √ | | | | | | | ...
Words: 2640 - Pages: 11
...significance can be seen in the classic waves of feminism. The first wave of feminism was successful in establishing political equality among males and females with women’s suffrage being one of the milestones of that movement. It was through this movement that women and men were seen as political equals. The second wave deals more on establishing the sexual rights of women; its aim was to de-sexualize and de-objectify women and treat them as more than domesticated human beings (DuBois, 1971). But with the rise of the modern age comes the age of New Feminism, a feminism where a woman’s point of view is being emphasized (Sommers, 1994). Since the New Feminism puts an emphasis on the woman, modern feminists often disregard the standpoint of men, putting to naught the objective of Old Feminism, which is equality. Modern feminists have even reached a point of quarreling with women who don’t share their own viewpoint of feminism. The problem presents itself here because the rise of New Wave feminism is cultivating a culture of counter-productivity due to its sexist, ironic nature and its nature of anti-equality. But this idea of counter-productivity is not shared among these feminists, which is why it is important that we hear their side as well. Modern feminism, or gender feminism, purports a new sex/gender system wherein their perspective of oppression claims that gender struggles are more evident when seen through this lens. New wave feminists claim that all men have a personal and...
Words: 1327 - Pages: 6
...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 been rising since last 20th years and women got some equal right such as voting right, politics right, education right, job right, decision making right, child raring right etc. But, they got some right constitutionally, not practically yet. But, it is hopeful that we will be able to establish equal right...
Words: 6113 - Pages: 25
...discrimination that should not be made based on gender, sexual orientation, skin color, ethnicity, religion, or culture. Feminist movements have campaigned and continue to campaign for women's rights, including the right to vote, to hold public office, to work, to earn fair wages, to own property, education, and to have equal rights within marriage. Feminists have also worked to promote bodily independence, integrity, to protect women from rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Feminism underlies five major concepts. First, we have patriarchy which is the authority of men in society and the oppression of women for men’s gain. Second, discrimination that leads to the unequal treatment that women receive. Third, we have gender stereotypes which are negative misconceptions about women. Forth, economic dependency; where women are forced to quit their job in order to take care of their household responsibilities. Fifth, emotional work; where women are predicted to do the majority of emotional care of their family. As feminism started to rise, it encountered three waves. The first wave of feminism took place in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, where it emerged out of an environment of urban industrialism and liberal, socialist politics. Their goal was to open up the opportunities for women, with a focus on suffrage. The wave legally began at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 when three hundred men and women united to the cause of equality for...
Words: 1255 - Pages: 6
...the goal of egalitarianism. In Canada, feminism has unfolded in three distinct stages often referred to as the three waves of feminism: (i) the first wave started in the late nineteenth century characterized by basic demands for equality via suffrage and recognition as persons; (ii) the second wave originated during World War II taking a more proactive approach to women’s workforce and reproductive rights; and (iii) the third wave began in the 1990’s challenging broader issues of equality such as racism, capitalism and colonialism. The following essay will analyse each wave based on their chronological time frame, ideological foundation and the social movements which emerged as a by product. First wave feminism started the general movement and, even though its goals and fundamental ideology may seem drastically different from second and third wave feminism, it should be credited with forming the foundation in which the fight for gender equality originated. First wave feminists were primarily driven by maternal feminism – the idea that women have a civilizing effect on society – and were largely concerned with the role women assumed in public life (Newman and White). The main goals of first wave feminists were primarily to establish women’s suffrage and recognition of women as persons. Female suffrage is arguably the most defining achievement of first wave feminists. Dr. Emily Stowe led the women’s...
Words: 840 - Pages: 4
...like to give a brief simplified definition of Feminism because I know that the majority here still find it obscure. Feminism can be roughly defined as a movement that enhances the quality of women’s lives by defying the norms of society based on male dominance and the emancipation of women from the shackles, restrictions, norms and customs of society. It demands that women should be treated as autonomous subjects, and not as passive objects. (Autonomy: an action which is determined by the subject's own free choice) It seeks to achieve equality between men and women in moral, social, economic and political fields. The objective of that movement is the creation of a new identity for women and making them aware of their rights. At its core, it is the belief in equality. It seeks to eliminate the social, cultural, and legal barriers between men and women. Its goal is to create a truly egalitarian society. Origins: People and activists who discussed or advanced women's equality prior to the existence of the feminist movement are sometimes labeled proto-feminist.[8] Some scholars, however, criticize this term's usage.[6][19][why?] Some argue that it diminishes the importance of earlier contributions,[20] while others argue that feminism does not have a single, linear history as implied by terms such as proto-feminist or postfeminist Around 24 centuries ago, Plato, according to Elaine Hoffman Baruch, "[argued] for the total political and sexual equality of women, advocating...
Words: 596 - Pages: 3
...We commonly hear and refer to the civil rights movement of the 1960’s when speaking of social movements, however, another major social movement was taking place during this time period. The fight for women’s rights. The women’s movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s sparked the second-wave of the “feminist movement.” Feminism can be defined as “a theory and/or movement concerned with advancing the position of women through such means as achievement of political, legal, or economic rights equal to those granted men (Offen, Pg. 123).” There are still no clear origins for the word feminism...
Words: 1487 - Pages: 6
...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...
Words: 796 - Pages: 4
...radical feminist author Anne Koedt, a New-York city-based woman of Danish nationality, in 1971 when she was 30 years old. Anne Koedt was first an active figure in the Group NYRW: “New York Radical Women” which was an early second-wave feminism (1967-1969), along with Robin Morgan and then, in 1969, she co-founded of the Group NYRF: “New York Radical Feminists,” with Shulamith Firestone, another great figure of the dynamism of feminist ideas at that time. That group was to be one of first “consciousness-raising”; that notion would be the starting point for existing Liberalism to establish the foundations of Radicalism, and Anne Koedt would be a famous protagonist in it. At the same time, Ti-Grace Atkinson created the radical group: “The Feminists,” in 1969, after she left the liberal group “National Organization for Women (NOW),” passing from Liberalism to Reformism. A link remains, but the main contradiction is that Liberal Feminism tends towards an...
Words: 1455 - Pages: 6
...Social Movement and Gender Paper Marco Ovid-DeSouza SOC/333 May 12, 2015 Matthew Szlapak Social Movement and Gender Paper Women in today's society live very different lives from those who lived in the late 1800s. Women throughout the last century petitioned, protested, and marched for equality and the rights that men inherently were born with. It took several social movements during the 20th century to attain higher education, gain independents, to vote, and to have the rights to choose. These social movements came in three significant waves. The first wave gave women a voice and granted them limit rights and independence. In the second wave, women fought for equality in the workplace and sexual freedom. The third wave brought gender violence, reproductive rights, and other issues to the forefront. Each social movement raised awareness, further forcing society to address the issues of inequality. Looking back at these movements, they were vital stepping-stones to the changes seen in society today. This paper will describe three social movements, the social and political environment at the times the movements occurred, and the effect each movement had on society. It will explain how each movement changed public opinion on gender issues and the effects it has had on gender view today. Social Movements The Suffragists With the first wave came the suffragists, which called for the equal right to vote among other liberties. The late 1800s and early 1900s was a very...
Words: 1123 - Pages: 5
