Review of Literature
Source A
Reference: Dixon, M. (1977). The Rise and Demise of Women's Liberation: A Class Analysis. Available: http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/CWLUArchive/dixon.html. Last accessed 10th March, 2014.
Type: Thesis
Summary: This source is a thesis by well-known woman’s rights activist Professor Marlene Dixon. The thesis examines the downfall of the Women’s Liberation movement, stating that it “never produced a coherent program” and failed to generate a “coherent political analysis”. The issues taken up by women’s groups reflected only the problems of “younger, middle class women”, such as the demand for legal abortion (“rather than a demand for universal health and nutritional care”). the need for safe daycare centres (“rather than a universal daycare with compensatory education
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These failures proved that women “knew something was very wrong, but did not know what” and failed to make a lasting impact on the state of feminism by focusing “not upon male supremacy as a part of class exploitation”, but on it’s result – male chauvinism; not upon the need for “revolutionary social and economic changes, but upon the individualized struggles between men and women”. This focus only emphasized the conflict and contradiction between men and women instead of looking at the issue politically, as a result of the capitalist system of class exploitation. Marlene Dixon stated that women were “far too slow to recognize class struggle for what it was” within the liberation movement, and
“Women’s Liberation.” International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A. Darity, Jr. 2nd ed. Vol. 9. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 112-116.U.S. History in Context. Web. 21 Jan. 2014.
Social movements refer to informal groups of people who focus on either political or social issues. The goal of the social movement is to change things in society, to refuse to go along with the norm, and to undo a social change. For example, the Women’s Rights Movement that began in the 1840s was geared towards getting women more equality in relation to political, social, and economic status in society (Foner). Along with this, women gained a louder voice to speak out about what they wanted to change and implemented the change. Prior to the Women’s Rights Movement, women were often timid, compliant, obedient, and mistreated. After the 1920s, a movement towards more equality was shifted in society views, however not all were convinced or changed by the new ideas of women. Although women began to get increased rights, the typical gender roles, which they were expected to follow did not loosely lesson. Women still found themselves doing the same gender roles, house roles, and family roles even after the 1920s. It was not until the 1960s when the Feminist movement began (Foner). The literary piece is “Why I Want a Wife” by Judy Brady and the goal of the Feminist Movement was to create new meanings and realities for women in terms of education, empowerment, occupation, sexual identity, art, and societal roles. In short, the Feminist Movement was aimed to gain women freedom, equal opportunity and be in control over their own life.
Most traditional societies and until recent times, women generally were at a disadvantage. Their education sometimes was limited to domestic skills (“Women’s rights” n.p.). After, there was revolutions, and working women in the former soviet union intended to hold low paying jobs. They were also represented in party and government councils (“Women’s rights” n.p.). The late 1960s and early 70s active feminists organized numerous women’s rights group (“Women’s rights”n.p.). Women encountered discrimination in many forms. In 1960 equal opportunities were given to women (“Women’s rights” n.p.). During the women’s movement certain social institutions and traditional values, were questioned (“Women’s rights” n.p.). Else where in the world the women’s rights movement has also made progress in achieving its goals. In nearly every nation, women have the right to vote and hold public office (“Women’s rights” n.p.). Women’s rights movement made progress in achieving goals in nearly every nation after that (“Women’s rights” n.p.). Major unsponsored conferences on women were held in 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1995 (“Women’s rights” n.p.).
...urred in the past. They provide relevant information at the same time that explain the points of view of feminist groups and how it have changed the history. In addition, the authors agree that the suffragette movements developed a radical way of feminism so women had to go through a series of acts of humiliation and self-sacrifice to achieve their purposes. On the other hand, they disagree with the creation of some women groups and the techniques that they used and in the way that they fought to have an equal pay. However, the authors use the same methods to show the problems in Britain during that time, in all the articles they talk about biographies and experiences of women to describe the historical and political identity in British feminism after the First World War. This identity could be improved thanks to the attempts of women to be considered like citizens.
Today, nothing remains of the former social role of women. Nearly all professions are open to women. The numbers of women in the government and traditionally male-dominated fields have dramatically increased. More women than men earn bachelor’s degrees. Many women's groups still prevail and are major political forces. Although the two movements hoped to achieve different things and used different tactics, they still came together to gain women’s rights and have achieved more than anyone would have ever anticipated.
However, we cannot completely assume this article is going to persuade all women to progress beyond these issues by uniting and devoting themselves to these underlying conflicts. Some readers may fear the impossible of completing such a great task as this because this problem has continued to linger from the 70’s into now. Overall, Laurie has accomplished a great task in showing her dedication to women’s rights and their future by delivering the problems and also giving the readers insight on how to solve them. In detail, Laurie not only explains the issues she has seen, but also she explains her personal experiences so the readers can better relate to the message she is trying to
One of the main causes of the women’s movement was the loss of their legal rights in society, especially civil and economic rights during the tota...
Nothing simply begins. Everything needs something else in order to develop and live continuously. Fire needs wood to burn, water needs heat to boil, and the women’s right movement needed abolition to begin the real fight. The women’s rights movement of the nineteenth century emerged out of abolition activism because it was not until after abolitionist groups formed and began fighting slavery that women began to realize they had no rights themselves and began their own fight.
When you look into the past you see that women did not have equal rights as men or even have rights in general at one point. Women were controlled by husbands, fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, technically anyone who was of the male species was in control of women. Women did not even have the right to do whatever they pleased until 1848. They did not get to vote until the 1920, and in 1973 Roe v. Wade gave women the right for abortion, acting like if is a privilege for them to be able to decide what THEY want to do with THEIR BODY. That should be a RIGHT that every women/teenager should have all over the world, it should not be voted and based on the opinion of the male species that have no idea what it is like and will never know what it is like.
‘The personal is political’ is also known as ‘The private is political’. It emerged in student movement and the movement of second-wave feminism since the late 1960s. It highlights the relationship between personal experience and broader social as well as political structures. During the 1960s’ feminist movement, ‘the personal is political’ has been a challenge to the nuclear family and the value of family. Aa a slogan, ‘The personal is political’ has been repeatedly used to define the general feature of second-wave feminism, feminism activist and female studies and feminism.
What would you have done if an important woman in your life couldn't have her voice be heard? Would you help fight for her rights? Would you be okay that her voice wasn't heard, and continued on with your life? Would you be against her having any rights that you would try to maintain the imbalance in society instead? Women in the 1840s had no rights. They could not vote, own property, receive an education or participate in any professions such as a doctor, lawyer, or politician. It was time that they finally took a stand when in 1848 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the first national women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. It would take about 72 years for the United States to
A growing population of women’s activists can be attributed to the growing number of courses being offered and information available. Only a few decades ago this would not have been heard of. It is due to the increasing amount of awareness on the topic of women’s status as second class citizens that activism has increased. Through various media, we have learned of topics such as the “glass ceiling”, the working conditions of women in Third World countries, the current injustices against women being carried out in the First World, reproductive rights, as written about by Angle Davis, and other limitations imposed on women.
Although by the 1960s women were responsible for one-third of the work force, despite the propaganda surrounding the movement women were still urged to “go back home.” However the movement continued to burn on, and was redeveloping a new attitude by the 1970s. The movement was headed by a new generation that was younger and more educated in politics and social actions. These young women not only challenged the gender role expectations, but drove the feminist agenda that pursued to free women from oppression and male authority and redistribute power and social good among the sexes (Baumgardner and Richards, 2000). In just a few decades, the Women’s Liberation Movement has changed typical gender roles that once were never challenged or questioned.
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 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. Feminist political ideology focuses on understanding and changing political philosophies for the betterment of women.
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. The feminist movement helped earn women the right to vote, but even then it wasn’t enough to get accepted into the workforce. They were given the strength to fight by the journey for equality and social justice. There has been known to be