Some men as well as women think that part of the feminism’s definition is that women want to be men. That is so far from the truth. Having the same rights and equalities of men is not the same as wanting a penis. Feminism has a misconception of being a movement that is anti-male. An example of this thinking is a quote from Reverend Jerry Farwell “Feminists hate man. They’re sexist. They hate men - that’s the problem” (David, 1998). Some people object to the language change in feminism that is the change of a “police officer” from a “policeman”. These thoughts are from the same people who don’t believe that women should even be allowed to vote. Unfortunately some people cannot see the big picture on how the feminist movement has improved the lives of men and children as well as women. All that Feminist want is to create a just society for women without oppression to achieve legal and economic equality between men and women as well as the rights to control over their own bodies.
By understanding oppression, you understand feminism. When you question why your path is blocked with barriers that have nothing to do with individual talent or merit, handicap or failure, but by on being in the membership in some category; that is oppression. (Frye). You have to look at how the barrier fits with others and who benefits or is harmed in its work. The barrier is constructed and maintained by men, for the benefit of men. Evelyn Cunningham states “Women are the only oppressed group in our society that lives in intimate association with their oppressors” (Rawlings, 2009). Oppression in people occurs when their options are reduced to very few and all are exposed to penalty, censure or deprivation. Women have been placed in a categ...
... middle of paper ...
...s House of Knowledge. 1998. 19 Jan. 2010. http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/fem.htm.
Rawlings, J.J. “Mobilising African Women for Economic Development.” Word Press. 24 Sept. 2009. 19 Jan. 2010. http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/mobilising-african-women-for-economic-development-nana-konadu-agyeman-rawlings/.
Frye, Marilyn. The Politics of Reality. Trumansburg, N.Y.: The Crossing Press, 1983.
REFERENCES:
David, Shy. “Feminism Pages.” Shy David’s House of Knowledge. 1998. 19 Jan. 2010. http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/fem.htm.
Rawlings, J.J. “Mobilising African Women for Economic Development.” Word Press. 24 Sept. 2009. 19 Jan. 2010. http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/mobilising-african-women-for-economic-development-nana-konadu-agyeman-rawlings/.
Frye, Marilyn. The Politics of Reality. Trumansburg, N.Y.: The Crossing Press, 1983.
What would you say if I asked you to tell me what you think is causing the death of so many people in the horn of Africa? AIDS? Starvation? War? Would it surprise you if I told you that it all boils down to the women of Africa? Kofi Annan attempts to do just this in his essay “In Africa, Aids Has a Woman's Face.” Annan uses his work to tell us that women make up the “economic foundation of rural Africa” and the greatest way for Africa to thrive is through the women of Africa's freedom, power, and knowledge.
There has always been inequality in society. Whether it is between genders or races it has always been a major problem and played important roles in everyday lives. As time has gone on, groups have been created in hope of ending these inequalities and creating a more peaceful society. In some ways feminism has done amazing things in creating more equal rights for women. Though there are still major problems that need to be worked on and feminism seems to not be working as well anymore. Due to the extreme gender inequality that exists we must create a feminist mindset where in society ignores labels, embrace more than just the “essential feminist”, and relieves people of societal pressures.
For centuries, educated and talented women were restricted to household and motherhood. It was only after a century of dissatisfaction and turmoil that women got access to freedom and equality. In the early 1960’s, women of diverse backgrounds dedicated tremendous efforts to the political movements of the country, which includes the Civil Rights movement, anti-poverty, Black power and many others (Hayden & King, 1965). The Africa...
Nnaemeka, Obioma. “Nego‐Feminism: Theorizing, Practicing, and Pruning Africa’s Way.” Signs, Vol. 29, No. 2, Winter 2004, 357-385. Online.
For hundreds of years, women are fighting a war of inequality in the male dominated society. Heather Savigny addressed a very important question in her article, what is Feminism? By definition, “Feminism” is a moment started by women to end inequality in all fields of society. Women in the society started this protest to gain rights that were deprived by the males in the society. A feminist can be a normal person who fights against the discrimination on based on sex, age and gender. The feminist movement is very important in our society, to protect women for sexual harassment and violence. To fight this problem, and to find a possible way to end it, many great writers wrote very influential poems and stories. A very few writers who chose to
Mama Beatrice and Aunty Ifeoma represent different women in post-colonial Nigerian society. Nevertheless, they both show the empowerment and subjugation in the domestic position they serve. From the time Nigerian women had an equal purpose in their tribe as men in pre- colonial Nigeria to the after math of colonialism in 1960, it is clear that colonialism disrupted the traditional system of indigenous Nigerian societies. Nigeria’s women have continuously evolved, but their persistent spirit they always possessed never changed.
Lemmon, Gayle Tzemach. “Success Despite Injustice:Social Benefit for the Afgans Womens’ Resilence”. Harvard International Review 33(2013):16-21.Gaileo.
...g their academic theories accessible to common people through grassroots campaigns and political action. Practically, Africana womanism is still vastly underdeveloped and leaves much to be desires outside of academia.
Hafkin, Nancy. Women in Africa: Studies in Social and Economic Change (1976). California: Stanford University Press, 1976.
The first and perhaps the most dominant perspective, Women in Development (WID) stresses western values and targets individuals as catalysts for social change. The origins of this perspective came about after the release of Esther Boserup’s book entitled Women’s Role in Economic Development. The theory points out that modernization had somehow bypassed women and that some segments actually destabilized the prevailing position of women. The theory argues that legal and administration modifications are needed to facilitate change and integrate women into economic systems. The most notable contribution of WID is that it drew attention to women’s questions in the arena of development theory and practice. While WID emphasizes the productive role of women, it overlooks the direct influence of race, class and culture and it minimizes the reproductive role of women entirely.
PRADAN propagated the theory of conquering economic poverty by enhancing the livelihood capabilities of the poor and giving them access to sustainable income earning opportunities while breaking them free from their past by developing an alternative vision of their future and set achievable goals. They must be equipped with the technical, organisational, negotiating, and networking skills that will facilitate the fulfillment of their goals. Our aim is to stimulate and support these poor women and men to dream of a better future and stimulate their sense of agency as they endeavor to enhance incomes, improve access to services or claim rights and
Ellison, Jesse. "The 2011 Global Women's Progress Report." Newsweek 158.13 (2011): 27-29. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 May 2012.
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.
It is true of Africa that women constitute a treasure that remains largely hidden. (Moleketi 10) African women grow 90% of all African produce, and contribute about 70% of Africa’s agricultural labor every year. (Salmon 16) Both the labor and food that are provided by African women go towards the increase in Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (Moleketi 10) Although African women are feeding the majority of Africa’s inhabitants, the constricting ropes of gender inequality are still holding them back from being appreciated and living up to their full potential. Outstandingly, women such as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, of Liberia, have gladly accepted the challenge of breaking free of these ropes. The history of women’s rights in Africa, the glass ceiling, and the modern aspects of women’s rights, all play prominent roles in the overall condition of women’s rights in Africa. Until the day arrives that these discriminatory injustices are corrected, individuals in African nations will continue to struggle.
Okeke, Phil E. "Reconfiguring Tradition: Women's Rights and Social Status in Contemporary Nigeria." Africa Today 47.1 (2000): 49-63.