Feminist Synthesis Essay

One of the biggest problems facing the feminist movement today is the lack of unity. Different cultures and religions spawn different kinds of feminists with different values. However, they tend to have the same end goal: complete equality between the genders. Most feminists are unable to realize how similar their goals are because of their differing opinions based on their upbringing and culture. A good example of the dysfunctionality in the fragmented feminism is Islamic culture vs. American culture. Neither group is willing to put aside their biases to see the other’s perspective and how they can work together. This causes a divided feminist front which makes it harder for feminists to achieve their goals. This prompts the question: “What

American values are very diverse and complex in that there is no one set of values for all of America. However, there is a popular agreement on domestic violence and dress codes just like in Islam. Unlike Islamic culture, western culture is shaped by laws rather than religion. The popular opinion in the United States among feminists and the general populace is that domestic violence is unacceptable, however, 1 in 3 women has been a victim of domestic abuse in her lifetime (NCADV). This shows that domestic abuse is still a big problem in America. The constitution states that all men and women must be treated equally. However, not everyone follows this which causes an imbalanced society like that in Islam. Unlike Islam, there is no set in stone dress code in America. There are, however, guidelines to the types of clothes meant to be worn in certain settings. At schools, while they vary, the dress codes mainly express the amount of skin one can show. In workplaces, dress codes can specify the level of clothing employees are expected to wear, such as: suits, dresses, casual, etc. Many Americans also feel comfortable in wearing as little clothing as possible, some feminists see this as their way of taking back their sexuality and empowering themselves. These values are mostly universal in