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Third wave feminism essay
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As Third Wave feminism is currently unfolding before us, and its aims encompass a wide array of complex issues, it is often hard to describe what Third Wave feminism is. The feminist theories, mainly associated with First and Second Wave feminism attempt to describe the power imbalances that are found in society, and while doing so expose other oppressions, such as discrimination based on race or sexual orientation. As this essay attempts to place a clear definition to Third Wave feminism, feminists are concurrently trying to deconstruct old definitions and open it up for women to determine what feminism means to them. In other words, no clear definition on what is meant to be a feminist is sufficient, as the Third Wave is about equality and freedom for all citizens, regardless of sex, class, race or sexual orientation.
Origins
The origins of Third Wave feminism are highly debated, as there is no clear commonality that this wave uses to differentiate between the First and Second waves that occurred prior. Emerging during the 1990’s, Third Wave feminism sought to build upon the achievements and ideas that were accomplished during First and Second wave’s, by increasing the significance and accessibility of its ideas to a greater spectrum of people.
The Third Wave may have occurred as a result of Black women’s criticisms of the Second Wave as a strictly white, middle class women’s movement.(Page 64) Canada supports the idea of meritocracy, where everyone has an equal chance of success. This belief undermines the fact that racism was still very evident in the women’s movements. Also an issue that arose from the Second Wave, was the exclusion of transgendered people from the movement.
Still others believe that the Thir...
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...ithout discrimination. Often using the media as a way to quickly generate and spread new theories and ideas, Third Wave feminism is morphing into what is known as ‘Pop feminism.’(Page 82) Increasingly more people are getting involved with the feminist movement, and realizing that people of all ethnicities, social backgrounds, and sexualities should be treated with respect.
Women’s Studies in the Classroom
Women’s Studies classes must be open for considerable discussion and debate regarding the Third Wave agenda, as this new movement can draw on anything from previous waves, as well as anything else feminists feel is important enough to discuss. As several of the issues of Third Wave are touchy subjects, such as transexuality, pornography, and women’s feelings towards their bodies, the class must be open for the consideration of others opposing points of view.
The image that is usually placed with feminism is that of a rabid, bra-burning, lesbian running around disclaiming the patriarchy. It could be that of a mid-century housewife complaining about how her only career choices are between teacher and secretary, or even of a woman with a sash and banner walking in front of the White House; preaching about her right to vote. However, this isn't necessarily the case. Ever since the rise of the internet, in the late 20th Century, feminism has had a revival causing it to grow in popularity and spread across forums everywhere. Women are joining this “third wave” movement to bring an end to the societal injustices that still plague the gender today (qtd. in Haslanger et al.). Feminism currently represents much more than it did in its infantile stage, having evolved to include relevant issues that affect every woman in today’s subordinating world. Issues such as rape culture, slut shaming, abortion and the wage gap have all been adapted into the feminist agenda with the hope that, as a united force, women could bring change to a misogynist society. The bra burning days are over, and feminism is on a rise, bringing light to issues that need to be addressed.
... “traditional woman’s role” cannot possibly be empowered. And perhaps most importantly, the third wave feminist movement works in solidarity with other social movements taking place currently, such as GLBTQ rights, immigrant rights, and many others. (Turner, 25-33.)
Pretty Woman is a modern take on the classic Cinderella story where a poor misguided girl meets her prince and her life is dramatically changed. This film has fairy tale elements, but the biggest element in the movie is the use of sex; Vivian, the main character, is a prostitute. She meets her “prince” and is swept off of her feet, but what this really means is that she is bought for an entire week by a handsome, wealthy business man. One would assume that he was buying her for sex, but this is not your average prostitute transaction. This movie has a lot of third wave feminism ideals. Third wave feminism deals with using the female gender and sexuality to further the cause and portray their views. The ultimate goal of this paper is to show that Vivian Ward (portrayed by Julia Roberts), is the poster girl for third wave feminism.
Since the late 19th century, the feminist movements have taken great strides towards gender equality. The struggles of first and second wave feminism have provided Western white women with the ability to vote, as well as the ability to venture outside the private realm into culture, politics and the workforce. These freedoms gained by these movements have reached a point where many young women today believe that equality has been achieved and feminism is no longer needed. This essay will discuss how third wave feminists are believed to be undoing the efforts of the mothers of feminism and how, although freer than women of the past, the extensive freedoms afforded to women today does not equal gender equality, as they are still limited and exclusionary.
... setting up the basis for the second movement. After women began talking about the family economy during the first wave, the women were able to shift their focus to their personal careers and salaries during the second wave. Additionally, the first wave gave women the right to vote, but the second wave gave women more political power. Women distinguished themselves through their sexuality in the first wave, while the second wave helped women distinguish themselves through their strength. The achievements of the second feminist movement clearly had their roots in the first movement. Feminism is now entering its third wave. Regardless of whether the new feminists use an indirect approach, like the 1920s movement, or a direct approach, like the 1970s movement, American women will continue fighting for gender equality until the words “man” and “woman” both mean “human.”
With the Riot Grrrl movement of the early 90’s providing my case study’s analytical time frame I will be able to amass a detailed collection of contextual analysis on some of the formal, behavioural, sociological and ideological factors that paved the way for third wave feminism. However I must stress that my main purpose is not to define Riot Grrrl (a task that is almost as futile as trying to generalise the Third-W...
In the 1960s’, as second-wave feminism developed, two separate branches emerged. The first branch, sometimes referred to as having an “equal rights tendency” was made
Multiracial Feminism: Recasting the Chronology of Second Wave Feminism introduces ideas by Becky Thompson that contradict the “traditional” teachings of the Second Wave of feminism. She points out that the version of Second Wave feminism that gets told centers around white, middle class, US based women and the central problem being focused on and rallied against is sexism. This history of the Second Wave does not take into consideration feminist movements happening in other countries. Nor does it take into consideration the feminist activism that women of color were behind, that centered not only on sexism, but also racism, and classism as central problems as well. This is where the rise of multiracial feminism is put to the foreground and a different perspective of the Second Wave is shown.
This has effectively lead to the common understanding of ‘waves of feminism’. Although Finn Mackay would argue that like waves these classifications of feminism only represent “peaks in the Feminist movement”. The first wave of feminism is naturally the earliest we associate this time of feminism with the suffragette movement, and their eventual success in achieving the vote for women which they achieved to some extent with Representation of the People Act 1918 but later fully achieved in the Equal Franchise Act 1928. When women finally achieved the same voting rights as men a hugely important step towards equality. Women now had more say in their lives and could help shape the society they lived in .Second wave feminism is seen as
The first two waves concentrated on the equal rights of women to men in both political and social economic terms. Whereas the third wave is the rejection of normative distinctions, women define feminine beauty for themselves and not for the patriarchy. They welcome offensive lexis such as “slut” and “bitch” in order to deconstruct to destroy them as verbal weapons. Third wave feminism breaks boundaries.
In 1992, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a woman’s right to have an abortion. In 1996, the Supreme court ruled that a public all-boys military school in Virginia had to admit girls to get public funding. Third wave feminism was about reproductive rights and freeing the female body.
The second wave of feminism in the United States came at a time of great tumult over the rights of all people within the country. Fresh off of the return of women to the home after having experienced significant time working in the place of male soldiers, women grew increasingly restless while people of color who had fought in the war, were continuously disappointed at their treatment stateside. Oftentimes the issues of feminism are considered the issues of all women, but throughout this era it became apparent that the issues of mainstream feminism were not necessarily the issues of feminism in other ethnic and racial groups. When looking at the literature of the times, particularly articles from magazines and newspapers the aims and concerns
“A third wave of feminism is rising - and here’s why we need to surf it now.” The Conversation, 11 Nov, 2015, www.theconversation.com
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.
What makes 3rd wave feminism unique from the first two waves is the fact that 3rd wave feminism is not only about advancing women’s rights in society, but allowing women freedom of their own expression in all aspects of life. Pacific University justifies this, by stating that the 3rd wave