Feminism

See also:Women's Market

Mary Wollstonecraft

Feminismis asocial,political,andeconomicmovement. It is about changing the way that people see male and femalerights(mainly female) and campaigning for equal ones. A feminist is someone who follows feminism.

Feminism began in the 18th century with the Enlightenment. The controversy over gender differences led to the discussion of equality.

History of feminism

The word "feminism" comes from the French word "féminisme". This medical term was used to describe masculine women or men with feminized traits. When its use became popular in theUnited States of America,it was used to refer to groups of women who "asserted theuniquenessof women, themysticalexperience ofmotherhoodand women's specialpurity.

General history

Feminism started with the idea thathuman rightsshould be given to women. This idea was put forward by somephilosophersin the18thand19th centuriessuch asMary WollstonecraftandJohn Stuart Mill.Later feminists in the early20th centurysaid that women should be allowed tovotein ademocracy.Many women felt strongly that they should be allowed to vote, and manyprotestsexisted. These women were calledSuffragettes.This is because they were fighting forUniversal suffrage,which means everybody can vote. The Suffragettes staged many protests for their rights. Some women even committedsuicideto show how wrong it was that they could not take part in politics. After women received the vote, feminism worked to make all of society more equal for women.

Not all female politicians have been welcomed by feminists, withMargaret Thatcher,Sarah PalinandMichele Bachmannbeing clear examples.

Feminism is generally acknowledged to have "waves," with different periods focusing on different aspects of feminism and often building on the ideas presented by the previous wave.

First wave (approx. 1830s – early 1900s)

The first wave of feminism could be dated earlier to include pre-nineteenth-century women's rights movements. The French Revolution of1789is often attributed as the beginning of the first demands for women's rights. This inspired Mary Wollstonecraft, whose bookA Vindication of the Rights of Womenwas published in1792.It is one of the earliest significant works of feminist literacy. However, first-wave feminism is usually dated between the mid to latenineteenth centuryand early 1900s. During the first wave, women began to realize that they must first gain political power before they could bring about social change. This wave focused on gaining the right to vote (universal suffrage). Later, the focus shifted to includesexual,economic,andreproductiveconcerns.

During theinter-waryears, the feminist movement declined. Anti-feminism was on the rise, focusing on the issue of women andwork.Women were being 'persuaded' to return to theirtraditional rolesin the home and give up their war jobs. There were also issues within the organized ranks of feminism itself. Theideologiesandprioritieswere changing. Some felt that equality with men had been reached and shifted their focus onto the needs of women as women, such as the subjects ofbirth control,family allowance,and protective legislature. This caused the split into the dominant groups ofequalityand new feminism. New feminists focused on the role of traditional women in thehomeand asmothers.Equality feminists encouraged women to look beyond the home and fought for equality with men in everyaspectof life. Equality feminists opposed protective legislature, such asmaternity leave.

The topic of protective legislature eventually led to the divide of first-wave feminism.Middle-classfeminists tended to oppose protective legislature, whereasworking classfeminists largely supported it. This split between the previously dominant equality feminism and the rising new feminism marks the end of the first wave of feminism.

Second wave (1960s-1980s)

The rise of political concerns marks second-wave feminism. Where the first wave of feminism dealt with women in the workforce, as well as the right to own property and vote, the second wave of feminism lobbied for 'liberation' from apatriarchalsociety. The key to second-wave feminism was the struggle over the female body itself – how it was represented and the significance attached to the reality ofbiological differences.

The famous "One is not born, but rather becomes a woman" declaration bySimone de Beauvoirled to new thinking about gender as a construction rather than somethinginherent.

Second-wave feminism was also characterized by theproblematizationof equality. Questions arose about what gaining equality would achieve due to the societal roles men and women were still expected to fill. This led to the call for extreme change torevolutionizethe very fabric of a patriarchal society. This was the beginning of theradical,Marxist,andsocialistfeminist groupings. It also marked a shift in the politics of liberal feminism, focusing more on 'sexual politics', such as thefamily,abortion,rape,domestic violence,andsexuality.

Third wave (1990s – present)

Third-wave feminism is generally described as the feminism of a youngergenerationwho acknowledge both the effect and the limitations of theideologiespresented by second-wave feminism. This new generation argues that the conditions that prompted second-wave feminism no longer exist, and, therefore, feminism needs to change. It also argues that second-wave feminism catered too much to a small group of people, namelywhite,middle-class,heterosexualwomen.

Third-wave feminists seem to have grown up with feminism as a strong societal concept, influencing them from a young age. It is taught in schools and prominent in themedia.

Third-wave feminists largely focus on issues surrounding individualself-expression.This includes howidentityis formed and communicated through things such asappearance,sexuality, andintersectionality.Third wave feminism recognized women from differentcultural backgrounds,religions, sexualities,ethnicities,and abilities.

Fourth wave (approx. 2008 – present)

Some say that a fourth wave of feminism is already upon us, prompted by increasedinternetculture. This wave is similar to the third wave but distinguished by more advanced technology and broader ideas of equality. It stands more in solidarity with othersocial justicemovements.

Fourth wave feminism uses the internet and its "call-out"culture to challengemisogynyandsexismin popular media such astelevision,literature,advertising,etc. This has causedcompaniesto change how theymarketto women to avoid being "called out."

Another part of fourth-wave feminism is the existence of people who reject the wordfeminismbecause of "assumptions ofgender binaryand exclusionary subtext: 'For women only.' "

In the 21st century, online communities and support groups focused onmasculinismdiscourse as a counterpart to the online presence of feminism, which is known asmanosphere.Masculinism fueled byprimordialistideologies have also resulted into an openly anti-feministtoxic cultureknown as "incels"(involuntarily celibate).

Women in politics

There have been women who have been involved in politics throughout history.

Historical

Esther,Lady Godiva,Bodicea,Queen Elizabeth,Lucrezia Borgia,Catherine the Great,Joan of Arc.

Modern times

Starting in 1960, many women have been elected to high positions of power, such asprime minister.Sirimavo Bandaranaikewas the first, followed byIndira Gandhi,Golda Meir,Elisabeth DomitienandMargaret Thatcher.DameEugenia Charleslasted nearly 15 years in the post, a record.

Types of feminism/feminist theories

Liberal feminism

Liberalfeminism drew its strength from the diversity of liberal thought following theEnlightenment.The basis of liberal feminism is the emphasis on the power of theindividual.If everyone individually stands up for what is right,discriminatorypractices will change. Liberals challenge societal norms. Liberal feminists acknowledge and support individual choices and preferences that are considered as 'traditional' gender placements (such as the home and the workplace) if they are a voluntary choice withoutcoercion.

Socialist or Marxist feminism

Socialist or Marxist feminism are similar cause theirfeministo(female-centeredmanifesto) is "revolutionis the answer to change. "They both link social conditions withcapitalismand believe that overthrowing the current system is the only way to get what you want. Like liberal feminists, socialist or Marxist feminists acknowledge that men are necessary as part of the movement for change.Whatever the theory, socialist and Marxist countries have never had women in major government posts. Women have often achieved ministerial positions indemocracies.Rhetoric(whatregimessay) does not always line up with what regimes do in practice.

Radical feminism

Symbol of radical feminism

Radical feminism,particularly in the US, developed fromcivil rightsandnew left.Radical feminists were largely fed up with the male-dominated left-wing radicalism and formed theWomen's Liberation Movement.This was formed to create woman-centered politics and to escape from male-oriented politics. They believed this could only be done in a safe women-only space, and this led to the policy ofseparatismfor which radical feminism is best known. Radical feminists are often misunderstood and seen as "man-hating" because of the way their women-oriented politics seem to reject male input.

Evangelical feminism

Evangelical feminism or 'Christian feminism' was developed fromreligious movements.Evangelical feminists work to protect andspirituallyreform those who need it, such as women and children from outside the church. These feminists believe that everyone is equal under oneGodand strive to bring that equality to the church and their individual lives.

Equality feminism

Equality feminism is a subsection of the feminist movement. Equality feminism's focus on the similarities between the sexes is on the basis that men's and women's abilities are indistinguishable from theirbiology.This type of feminism encourages women to look beyond the home. Its ultimate goal is for the sexes to be equal in every part of life.

New feminism

New feminism is a philosophy similar to equality feminism. It focuses on how the differences between men and women complement each other, rather than one sex's biology causing a superiority over the other. New feminism, unlike equality feminism, recognizes the different strengths and roles given to men and women. New feminism advocates for equality in how men and women are treated in their roles in society. Its basic concept is the emphasis placed on important differences being biological rather thancultural.Women should be supported aschild bearers, both economically and culturally, but this should not be a role that is forced upon them. The main aim is to emphasize the importance of women and men as individuals and that in all senses (legal, social, economic), they should be equal despite their natural differences.

Global feminist thought

Global Feminist Thought is primarily the movement for women's rights on aglobalscale. Women are impacted in different communities around the world and have common problems they face on a day-to-day basis, usually at home or in the workforce. Although different cultural locations have different experiences that will shape their experiences and perceptions, they have common themes. Global feminists tend to focus onnationality.They reach out to help those indevelopingandthird worldcountries, as well as addressoppressioncreated through histories ofcolonialismandimperialism.It works to end capitalism, imperialism, sexism, andracism,along with having everyone considered equal on a global view. It encourages feminists to confront their problems and seek help, as they are not the only ones experiencing that problem.

Lean-In Feminism

Lean-In Feminism is an approach where women act and behave in a toxic manner andjustifytheir actions by messaging if a man behaved the same way they did, he wouldn't get called out on it.Elizabeth Holmes,founder ofTheranos;Ellen DeGeneresof Ellen DeGeneres Show;Amy Klobuchar,American senator;Chelsea Handler,American comedian;Zoe Sugg,YouTube vlogger etc. are considered to be primeexamples.This is a negative idea of empowerment seen in social movements that posits women in power are unimpeachable and immune to feminist critique simply because they have achieved such high positions. It is hard to distinguish people of this approach from supportive feminists because they often cloak themselves with publicity stunts of advocating for all women to maintain theirhegemonywithin akyriarchalsystem.

Anti-feminism

Writers such asCamille Paglia,Christina Hoff Sommers,Jean Bethke Elshtain,Elizabeth Fox-GenoveseandDaphne Pataioppose some forms of feminism, though they identify as feminists. They argue that feminism often promotesmisandry(hatred of men) and the elevation of women's interests above men's and criticize radical feminist positions as harmful to both men and women. Daphne Patai andNoretta Koertgeargue that the term "anti-feminist" is used to silenceacademic debateabout defects of feminism like lack ofintersectionalityand visibleseparatism.

Poststructural Feminism

It's a branch of feminism that rejects language and cultural practices used to definebodyandgender.They accept a person's identity with the openness of accepting the identity chosen by the individual or reflexively as not-yet-known nor necessarily knowable.They areanti-essentialistsand reject tenets made by liberal feminists who make truth claims about who is a "real" women.

Criticism

Identified reasons why some people do not like feminism:

• People do not like feminism because they think that women are already equal or more important in the eyes oflaw.Philoandristsoften say that society, in general, is not equal for men and a version of that is what women experience. Critics say basic tenets like equity and equality in outcome (egalitarian humanism) are a striving factor among men as it is with women.
• Analysis of feminist theories suggest that in its mid to high levels, the topic boils down to aggressive misandry with its separatistand otherness positions (Extremism) rather than being collaborative or supportive. Some say this is reflected in rights inchild custodyanddivorce.Philogynistssay this is just thetoxic sideof things.
• Binarythinking with wrong attributions is considered a factor. Some examples are women not being regarded as equal to men based on biological differences, the antithetical divide between women of different races (e.g., white vs. women of color), dismissing the existence ofableism(Privilege theory) among men as among women (e.g.,Angela Merkel,Melinda Gates,Oprah Winfrey,Tarja Halonen,etc.), and viewing women as inherently weak and needing empowerment, etc.These are reinforced in social domains, such as the treatment and role of women in themilitary,denial ofordinationof women in churches (Ephesians 5:21), and partisan policies rooted in history.
• Some people consider feminism to deny strength exhibited by females through maternal and care aspects or discourage these aspects by terming them closely to weakness orslavery.
• Some people argue that feminism showcases theexistential crisisbetweenmatriarchalandpatriarchalsystems. This is reflected in radical feminism, which defines liberation as the successfultotalitarianand forceful overturning of time-honored traditions, religious beliefs, gender roles, relationships, society, culture, power, authority dynamics, and economic structures.
• Some theorists consider that conscious and unconscious bias is rampant within human beings (Unconscious bias training); such a state of oppression is common, and an understanding to halt them in destructive forms is what equality should be about.
• Some people say feminism, from its supportive nature, is distorted and used forpropaganda's likeheterosexualityis confinement and distinct female sexuality is liberated only throughcelibacy,autoeroticism,orlesbianism.

Related pages

• Marie Stopes
• Valerie Solanas
• Sexism
• A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
• Abortion
• Gender equality
• Lesbian
• Sexual harassment
• Prostitution
• Women's rights
• Black feminism
• Fat feminism
• Marche mondiale des Femmes
• Women's liberation movement
• One Billion Rising
• Women Democratic Front