Connotation Of Feminism Research Paper

Today, the word feminism often holds a different connotation than how it is actually defined. Oxford Dictionary defines the word feminism as “the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.” When one states, “I am a feminist!” heads turn and negative thoughts fire. How has such an inspirational term transformed into what some people see as a derogatory insult? Today, society perceives feminism as a group of women working towards achieving superiority over men (Hayward 7). However, this is not the case. For society to obtain a true and accurate understand of the word ‘feminism’, men and women must realize equality is gained when all of society works together; equality is gained when not only

Pat Robertson, a television evangelist and former Baptist minister, stated during his Grand Old Party convention speech in 1992, "The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians" (CBS). This is a common perception of what people believe how feminists are. How has such an inspirational term transformed into what most people see as a derogatory insult? Women like Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony breathed life into the word feminism; putting their lives on the line for what they believed in; equality for women. Feminism, by definition, is purely the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. "... men and women deserve equal rights, equal treatment, (and) to be afforded the same amount of respect - expectations that they are equally human beings and therefore deserve the same rights," said Gender Studies teacher, Suzanne Linder. The definition of feminism has reformed into the synonyms of “man-hater” and “lesbian” (Hayward 5). Because of the many negative connotations the word “feminism” holds, a large number of young females are refusing to title themselves as feminists. Today, there are policies that protect

Kennedy. This law declared all men and women should be paid equally (CBS). However, in a study conducted by the World Census Bureau in 2013, women are only paid 77 cents to the man’s dollar. President Barack Obama has recognized these unequal opportunities. Even though women make up half of the workforce, they still get paid significantly less than men. “That is wrong, and in 2014, it's an embarrassment," stated Barack Obama at his 2014 State of the Union Address (Huffington Post). At a federal stance, there are policies protecting the civil, economic, and social rights for women, but when will these policies carry over to the paychecks of the women workforce? There are famous and prominent figures, such as Barack Obama, who recognize there is an issue with the economic status of women, but when will everyone realize these inequalities that need to be addresses? It all goes back to the connotation of the word feminism. When everyone becomes aware of, understands, and applys the true definition of this word, inequalities will fade between both