We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Adichie focuses on the theme of women’s rights and describes how girls and women are treated inferior to men only because of their gender. Before reading this text, I was already thinking that the short book would only be about negativity against men and how they treat women unequally just because it had the word ‘feminists’ on the cover. As Adichie said, I thought that, with all due respect, “this is interesting, but I don’t think like that. I don’t even think about gender” (Adichie 42). Furthermore, I thought that feminism would be a concept to initiate argument about women’s rights and the injustices that are done to them by others. Although I do support women’s rights, I believed that feminism only …show more content…
As Adichie mentioned, when she was a little girl in grade school, she was planning to win the role of class monitor. This would only happen if she scored the highest grade on a test which she did. But she was not able to become class monitor because it was intended that only a boy could take hold of this position. Although the little boy did not want to be in charge of this job, Adichie, as much as she wanted to, could not either because she was female (Adichie 11-13). This already sets up a standard for girls to believe that only boys are able to strive and not them because they are girls; that only men are supposed to be superior. This experience from Adichie really opened my mind about the situation and changed my views over the topic drastically. It is truly unfair for little girls to grow up with that mindset of believing that they are less. It is just not right. These injustices are only done to girls. Parents put in too much effort in educating their daughters in a way that is acceptable by society. They “spend too much time teaching girls to worry about what boys think of them. But the very reverse is not the case. We don’t teach boys to care about being likeable” (Adichie 24) which is unfair for them; it is unfair to both the girl and boy. This reality is very shocking to me. Feminism is a huge deal that needs to be talked about more often. These truths …show more content…
For example, going back to Adichie’s experiences, she narrates that one time in Lagos she went out with friends, along with Louis who is her closest friend. After they were done eating and being around the metropolis, they went to the man who had watched the car. Adichie was surprised that the man had found them a spot where to park and felt that he deserved a tip. So, she searched in her bag for money to give to the man. As soon as the man obtained the money, he turned around to Louis and thanked him instead of Adichie, all because it was assumed that any money that Adichie had had came from Louis because he is male (Adichie 15-16). Furthermore, Adichie adds that whenever she visits Nigerian restaurants with a male friend, “the waiter greets the man and ignores me… and I know that they don’t intend harm, but it is one thing to know something intellectually and quite another to feel it emotionally” (Adichie 20) which is very upsetting and disrespectful for women in general. Adichie also explains how some of her acquaintances, sadly, adapted their lives to be accepted by society. For example, she knew a Nigerian woman who sold her house only because she did not want to scare away men and end up not getting married. She also talked of a woman who is not married but decides to wear a wedding ring in order obtain respect from
Lastly, the feminism movement should be embraced. Women have come a long way from not being allowed to vote or not being able to have the same jobs as men. Women have been treated second class to men and even though a lot has changed, there are still some areas where there are shortcomings. This movement is here to help, not only women but humanity (Cavanaugh, 2014).
During the second week of class, we were instructed to read a reading written by Bell Hooks titled “Come closer to Feminism.” This reading is what I consider to be a very important addition to this unit. Unit one is all about Making waves, Confronting Oppression. According to Frye, it is a fundamental claim of feminism that women are oppressed (Frye, 1983). Before taking upon this reading, my understanding of the feminist movement was not nearly as clear as it is now. After reading this short handbook, I too agree that feminism is for everybody.
Women in many societies have fought for obtaining their equal right to men for a long time, and the society where I’ve inhabited for 20 years are involved as well. It has been very tough circumstances for women to struggle since the society has been shaped by history how a woman should live and behave. Women were continuing to be oppressed and limited based on gender and class as they are regarded as inferior to men physically and mentally. This connection between class and gender of women still remain in this society even though many women got equal right as
Society has always retained deeply rooted stereotypes in all aspects of life. Whether it is prejudice due to color, creed, or gender, we cannot ignore the differential treatment of specific groups that occurs daily in our world. Although much has been done to alter our views on such matters, can we really suggest that society as a whole has undergone a true metamorphosis and emerged a completely unbiased community? When discussing the topic of gender, we can clearly see a major change in recent history concerning feminist issues. One could say that the idea of feminism began with the women's suffrage movement. This enduring battle for equal rights ended with the addition of the nineteenth amendment granting women the right to vote. Since then, major strides have been made by women striving to prove themselves equal to their male counterpart. When we look at the role women play in the 21st century, it is hard to imagine the world as it was in centuries past. But how much have we as women truly gained? Are we really equal to men? Do we completely benefit from this feminist movement and lose nothing in the process? I am of the opinion that, while its fundamental goals were of good intent, feminism has created several major problems in today's society. I believe feminism has reached a stand still and the movem...
Henry Tischler said, “In the United States, boys are three times as likely to be placed in special education classes, twice as likely to repeat a grade, and a third more likely to drop out of high school” (269). The gender inequality we see today are normal, which follow history before because we preserve in culture different role between genders. Back in history, women did not share the same privileges as men. For example, women were not allowed to vote or own property. In addition, the scholar such as Thomas Jefferson and scholar around the world believed and supported that women and men are not created equal and women shouldn’t have the same personal liberty as men. Even today, women are still lacking opportunity in many ways; and men dominate
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.
Women have been treated unequally since the beginning of time. Just recently have things began to change for the better for women and the future of our society. The increase in women’s equality rights will take time, but some day women and men will be treated equally. This cannot happen until each of us is able to look at a person and just see another individual, not a male or a female, white or black, rich or poor… a person as just a person.
In a quest for equal rights with their male counterparts the feminist movement has opened new opportunities for women in many societies around the world. (Golombisky 90). Feminist’s are pioneering the way for women’s rights, challenging long standing cultural beliefs, creating greater access to education and the political arenas, and initiating change for new ideals. (Golmbisky 90) Many of the once male dominated fields of the workforce now include women based upon the efforts of individuals and a plethora women’s groups and organizations. (Golombskiy 93).
Feminist theory looks beyond the common male based perspectives and focuses on women’s perspectives and their roles within society. The feminist theory is still relevant in today’s society. In fact, feminism and the feminist theory will be relevant for as long as there is inequality in this world. For example, according to the United States Department of Labor, women still make 78 cents for every dollar men make, on average, in every career field. Additionally, violence against women is still a prevalent problem today. For instance, one in three women are victims of physical and sexual violence often committed by intimate partners. These statistics are higher in countries where women are treated and seen as property of their husbands. Lastly, reproductive rights are an important step to creating equality. Laws need to protect the rights of women to have freedom over their bodies in the way that men have control over
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author who has received numerous awards and distinctions. Her main argument is that everyone should be a feminist not because of our gender, but because it is what is right. Adichie has been featured in Beyonce’s song, “Flawless”, spreading awareness to the idea of feminism. “We Should All Be Feminists” is a book about her experiences in Nigeria, where men are more powerful than women. The intended audience of the passage is each and every person residing in heavily patriarchal societies. Hesr thesis is “we should all be feminists”.
Feminism is a perspective that views gender as one of the most important bases of the structure and organization of the social world. Feminists argue that in most known societies this structure has granted women lower status and value, more limited access to valuable resources, and less autonomy and opportunity to make choices over their lives than it has granted men. (Sapiro 441)
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.
Adichie was born in Nigeria and is most known for giving a TEDxTalk in 2013 about modern feminism. 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 of 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 all negativity towards gender inequality has the same root: unwavering tradition. She questions, “What if, in raising our children, we (the parents) focus on ability instead of gender… interest instead of gender” (36)? Simply, if negativity towards the opposite sex is eradicated in a new generation, there will be no more inequality to worry about. She also parallels Wollstonecraft in commenting on the fascinating diversity of males and females. She claims that if men are undeniably strong physically, women should be held in the same
Even though society has distorted the ideals feminism was founded upon, some of the remaining true roots still hold true. While women are gaining equal opportunities in society, they need to not diminish the importance of working together with men to form a functional society. The widespread idea of quotas needs to be analyzed. People should be accepted into college or hired for a job because they are the most qualified, not because of their sex. Society has demented feminism as a harmful dogma because it has been an excuse, almost a cop-out by women who do not want to work for their acceptance. Both men and women need to realize the necessity that exists for each other to make society work.
Minas, A. (2000). Gender basics: Feminist perspective on women and men.Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson Learning.