As Beyoncé took the stage in 2014, performing her song Flawless, the word Feminist was emblazed in large text behind her. Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes, was defined in the lyrics. This was the song that defined Beyoncé as one of the most iconic feminists of the 21st century (Seghal, 2015). This paper will be discussing feminism and the importance of feminism throughout the first, second, and third waves and also important events, accomplishments and people.
The first feminists had virtually no rights and were controlled by men. They were the women who fought for the civil rights of all—free and enslaved (Foster, n.d.). Beginning in 1839, there was legislation that widened the
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On the first day of President Trump’s administration, millions of women around the world had gathered in order address the many issues of sexism, homophobia, transphobia, racism, and many other classist ideals that Trump was against. The march was called the Women’s March was considered extremely impactful (Desmond-Harris, 2017). Likely the most important issue that succeeded during the third wave of feminism was Roe v. Wade; this issue granted access to safe and legal abortions. Coat-hanger abortions were an issue of the past because the Supreme Court had recognized that under the 14th Amendment and Griswold v. Connecticut, women had the right to privacy (Roe v. Wade, …show more content…
In intersectional feminism, there are multiple layers to it—supporting men and women—regardless of race, class, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Past feminisms are considered to be enormously centered around white, middle class, abled-bodied women but now in the 21st century, issues surrounding women of color have become more of the feminist ideals (Vidal, 2014). Now, most feminist ideals are also surrounded around LGBT rights and some are even intermixed. LGBT rights have become intermixed due to city becoming more liberal, and acknowledging that issues affecting members of the LGBT community clearly affect men and women in the community of feminism (Lam, 2014). As well as LGBT issues being involved in today’s feminism, groups such as Black Lives Matter have also being engulfed by today’s intersectional feminism. Black Lives Matter focusing on issues such as the mass incarceration of people in the black community as well as police brutality, and the outrageously high number of black transgender women being slaughtered (Topps,
Margery Kempe did something that many people (especially women) would not dare to do- she broke away from the identity that her society had molded for her. The Book of Margery Kempe is one of the most astonishing documents found of the late medieval era and is the first autobiography to have been discovered. Margery Kempe does not shy away from telling the story of the personal and intricate details about her adventurous life. It is hard to say what influenced Kempe to go through such lengths to have her book written. Many think she wanted others to understand and witness how difficult it was to live through the social norms and expectations as a typical wife and mother of the 14th century. Little did she know, her life story would travel through history and show how molding of society influences social norms and self-identification, which are prominent, combating issues today.
Up until and during the mid -1800’s, women were stereotyped and not given the same rights that men had. Women were not allowed to vote, speak publically, stand for office and had no influence in public affairs. They received poorer education than men did and there was not one church, except for the Quakers, that allowed women to have a say in church affairs. Women also did not have any legal rights and were not permitted to own property. Overall, people believed that a woman only belonged in the home and that the only rule she may ever obtain was over her children. However, during the pre- Civil war era, woman began to stand up for what they believed in and to change the way that people viewed society (Lerner, 1971). Two of the most famous pioneers in the women’s rights movement, as well as abolition, were two sisters from South Carolina: Sarah and Angelina Grimké.
The need for women’s rights began back in colonial America where women were referred to as “inferior beings”. This era, though it is not particularly noted for it’s feminist movements, did hold such people as Margaret Brent, who was a wealthy holder of land in Maryland and was a strong, but unsuccessful voice in securing a place for women in the legislature of the colony. It was also a period where Quakers, and many other individuals, such as famous American patriot, Thomas Paine supported the rights of women, but at the time it was not enough to make a significant difference and it wasn’t until the 19th century that women would get the real chance to make a difference.
The fight for women’s rights began long before the Civil War, but the most prominent issue began after the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments joined the Constitution. The rights to all “citizens” of the United States identified all true “citizens” as men and therefore incited a revolution in civil rights for women (“The Fight for Women’s Suffrage”). The National Women’s Suffrage Convention of 1868
According to feminist Victoria L. Bromley, if feminism is about combating all forms of inequalities, including oppression, towards all social groups, then feminists must study how masculinity oppresses both men and women. Patriarchy, men’s powers and dominance, hegemonic masculinity, the idea that the “dominant group” in society is most powerful, and hyper masculinity, the exaggeration of the emphasis on male characteristics, all lead to oppression through multiple forms: privileges and unearned privileges, hierarchies of power and exclusion. Bromley argues that the feminist approach towards eliminating oppression, is to use an intersectional analysis, a theoretical tool used for understanding how multiple identities are connected and how systems
Whereas the women’s suffrage movements focused mainly on overturning legal obstacles to equality, the feminist movements successfully addressed a broad range of other feminist issues. The first dealt primarily with voting rights and the latter dealt with inequalities such as equal pay and reproductive rights. Both movements made vast gains to the social and legal status of women. One reached its goals while the other continues to fight for women’s rights.
An Essay in Defence of the Female Sex, In Which are Inserted the Characters of a Pendant, a
Feminism is a word that is stock-full of implications, and has many misconceptions. Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti attempts to give a broad overview of what feminism is, and how you should feel about it (hint: it’s positively). The book is directed primarily towards the younger generation, and talks about a variety of issues relevant to the feminist movement today and in history. The weaknesses of the book include the casual writing, the assumptions Valenti makes, and the contradictory statements that are consistently made. The strengths include providing an entertaining, broad overview of feminism, and discussing ways to contribute to gender equality. Overall, the book is more likely to be a positive experience for high-schoolers that identify as women then college-aged individuals looking for a critical analysis of issues society faces in regards to gender inequality.
For years men were considered superior to women causing them to be looked down upon. This movement, like so many others was primarily based on making the social, political, and economic status of women equal to the men (scholastic.com). The first gathering of women’s rights activists took place between July 19-20 1848 in Seneca Falls, NY. This meeting consisted of one hundred people, in which two-thirds were women. Here, one of the leaders, Elizabeth Cady Stanton drafted a Declaration of Sentiments, Grievances, and Resolutions, which had begun with the preamble of the Declaration of Independence (history.house.gov). For centuries, women were not equal to men. After some time, they believed that a change was needed. This led to this movement. After many years for fighting for their rights, they began to be equal with the opposite sex. It first began with entering the workforce, to being part of the United States Military, and finally the rights given in the Nineteenth Amendment. During this long process, many women dedicated time so that future generations may be treated equally.
Throughout history, women have remained subordinate to men. Subjected to the patriarchal system that favored male perspectives, women struggled against having considerably less freedom, rights, and having the burdens society placed on them that had been so ingrained the culture. This is the standpoint the feminists took, and for almost 160 years they have been challenging the “unjust distribution of power in all human relations” starting with the struggle for equality between men and women, and linking that to “struggles for social, racial, political, environmental, and economic justice”(Besel 530 and 531). Feminism, as a complex movement with many different branches, has and will continue to be incredibly influential in changing lives.
Feminism is not only a theory but it is also a cultural movement for change and equality. Feminism has been defined as ‘the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of equality of sexes’.1 Feminism offers representation to all kinds of women, highlights the inequality within society regarding women and challenges these inequalities. Feminism has changed along side the changing position of women in today’s modern society and emerging from these changes are new theories such as post feminism and antifeminism. In this essay I will discuss how both antifeminism and post feminism has challenged the founding concepts of feminism in today’s modern society. I will highlight my points through contemporary media examples such as the work of Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga.
Throughout the 19th century, feminism played a huge role in society and women’s everyday lifestyle. Women had been living in a very restrictive society, and soon became tired of being told how they could and couldn’t live their lives. Soon, they all realized that they didn’t have to take it anymore, and as a whole, they had enough power to make a change. That is when feminism started to change women’s roles in society. Before, women had little to no rights, while men, on the other hand, had all the rights.
After the overwhelming success of the talk, such as having millions of views on YouTube and being featured in the song “Flawless” by Beyoncé, she decided to publish the speech into an expanded essay named “We Should All Be Feminists.” In this essay, Adichie talks about her life and encounters with sexism from a young age, especially her introduction to the word “feminist” occurring at fourteen. She is having a normal day, playing and arguing with her friend Okoloma, until he “harmlessly” quips, “You know, you’re a feminist’” (8), which in Nigeria, is not a compliment. She also spends a third of the essay addressing the fact that all negativity towards gender inequality has the same root: unwavering tradition.
In 1920 the 19th amendment was passed which allowed women the right to vote; this was a significant achievement for the women’s suffrage movement. Since that time women have gained substantial freedom and equality, but some today still argue that gender inequality is a relevant cultural topic that needs to be addressed. Conversely, some people believe that feminism is irrelevant in modern society, or they believe the myth that feminism is only poorly disguised misandry. Despite the opposition, many women and men continue to be advocates for feminism.
Cohen argues that intersectionality goes beyond inclusive politics and extends to the formation of transformational agendas. Intersectionality has become a buzzword in recent years especially in critiques of white feminism. This has resulted in a lost of understanding about what the word truly means. Cohen reminds us that intersectional politics are not the simple inclusion of all identities but rather, politics that hold a deep understanding of marginalized identities, the ways they intersect with one another, and the implications of those intersections. She focuses on the failures of queer politics while emphasizing the radical potential of the movement. By nature, queer politics should aim to deconstruct the systems of domination that press its supporters. She critiques civil rights and liberal politics for trying to fit into hegemonic systems instead of trying to dismantle them. Queer politics as its best, considers the matrix of domination and works to protect marginalized queer individuals equally.