She points out that the root of this is that there is no real definition for feminism. While she views it as the struggle to end sexist oppression, many women view it as a lifestyle or associate feminism with lesbianism. In addition, many women view feminism as a white women’s rights group. This excludes oppressed ethnic groups of women. She makes a good point with this issue because before any further goals can be reached, feminism must become something that women want to be a part of.
Many scholars and feminists have debated about what the definition and motives of the third wave are. Third wave of feminism is more global and multicultural, and include elements from many different movements such as anti-racism, womanism, and politics about transgender. This wave addresses issues such as women in politics, and media portrayals and stereotypes of how women are viewed. There are only a couple of pros and cons of feminism. The pros being: Keeps women from being exploited and equality.
I agree with the overall concept she is trying to convey, I feel that women do need to take action, and that not all opportunities are yet equal. The problem I have with her article is the image that she and other contemporary activists are coveying to the rest of society. When I think of a feminist two pictures come into mind. The first, which maybe a little outdated is a women like Susan B. Anthony, someone fighting for real issues that matter. The second is of a women like the author above, someone who is extreme just to be extreme.
In my other articles I saw that Hook and Valenti are correct, the battle against the stereotypical feminist still exist, whether it is what they are doing to hurt society or how it may in fact be long gone. Feminism in my eyes will forever be within us as women, whether we know it or not.
“Remember that forgiveness too is a power,” she continues, “to beg for it is a power, and to withhold or bestow it is a power, perhaps the greatest.”(135) This powerful message speaks to human behavior no matter the societal construction. Marginalizing women in feminist groups and Gilead is not a matter of controlling power. Instead, Offred believes “it’s about who can do what to whom and be forgiven for it” (135), warning society not to forget how to treat others and learn from past mistakes. Sexual objectification, patriarchal authority, and lack of solidarity are methods to silence women. Women in The Handmaid’s Tale are marginalized to critique utopian feminism.
How can u have a fight for justice and equality, when not everyone is allowed to participate? I found another source which was called Feminism is For Everybody written by bell Hooks. Its focus was on her opinion of the feminist movement and how she felt it too was focused on the white middle class. When the movement opened up and extended themselves to other groups there was still a large problem. Many of them assumed that every other group was fighting for the same thing, and if they weren't well they should change views because there way was the "right" way.
For a while it seemed as if Saudi Arabia was not moving in a progressive direction in terms of the Women Suffrage Movement. In Saudi Arabia women not having the right to vote is only one of the many inequalities that plague women in this country. At the height of the Arab Springs movement conflict began to boil over into Saudi Arabia causing the women in this country to realize that this was their opportunity to radically speak up against the injustices they faced, one of the major issues at the forefront of their concerns being their right to drive. In response to this outcry King Abdullah, the King of Saudi Arabia, granted women the right to vote in 2015 and to become members of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia also referred to as the Shura Council. This caused the rest of the world to ponder his intentions in doing so.
Many people tune out when they hear the word ‘feminism’- they imagine a loud, screechy protestor who calls everything a man does sexist. Although the word may bring up some less-than-ideal images, at its core, feminism seeks to give some long overdue equality to a group that deserves it wholeheartedly. Initially, feminism began as a movement to gain women’s suffrage. Feminism soon expanded into three generations encompassing the struggles of women to achieve gender equality, and is the key solution to solving women’s rights issues around the globe. Other types of equality depend on feminism as well, including poverty, equal pay, LGBT rights, even rights for men.
Even the feminists believe that women wear abayas by force and that those who wear it are abused and degraded, and so they push support at the unjust ban which violates basic freedom. The feminist doctrine calls for an equality and advocates freedom for women, freedom from societal stereotypes and archetypes, domesticized roles, and domineering impositions from social authorities which threaten the value of a woman. The Burqa Ban is a highly controversial topic, and the views vary to the extremes. Some people definitely argue that women are in fact being degraded through full body coverings which reduce the entity of a woman into something invisible or indistinguishable as a human. Also, they argue that most women are forced to wear coverings like the Burqa and niqab because of the Islamic Shariah law, which seems to be an oppressive and totalitarian tool of submission.
They would rather demand dominance than equality, call for justice for issues that are not really there, claim gender discrimination in the work place, and argue against any who try to oppose them. Rarely any of the modern-day feminists see how women in America are doing better than any of the other women in history or even today. It is grim to think about the radical changes that have occurred. Furey also writes in his article, “Now that North America more or less has gender equality, empowerment feminists aren’t a visible group anymore. They’re regular people getting on with their lives, pursuing their goals.” (Furey 1).