I am a feminist. I identify myself as an intersectional feminist, which means that for me it is not just men vs. women or patriarchy vs. women. It creates a very binary picture where all the men have equal privilege over all the women, which is simply not true. I have my issues with some aspects of feminism, especially the one we the on the media. I do not like the rich white academic feminism I constantly see. I do not like that some feminists say that although women are so different, they all have common issues. It is true to some extent; however, since this argument only involves sex (not even gender) and it does not consider any other types of oppression a person may experience, such as race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, …show more content…
I agree that feminism should not be just about standing up against patriarchy. We cannot achieve equality by just fighting sexism (the same way we cannot achieve equality by just fighting against classism). I understand what she was trying to explain by “I don't think it's just women anymore”. However, I think, it should have never been just about being a woman. This is my problem with feminism before the third wave: “votes for women” is all great, however, what it actually meant was votes for white women since the issue of race was ignored. There is no oppression standard that each woman experienced. Making emphasis just on the person’s sex, while ignoring all the other factors is not going to work. However, even though there is a grain of truth in her words, I do not agree with it. The core of intersectional feminism is the inclusion of “people of color, lesbians, and transgenders”. Naturally, the emphasis is made on the different types of oppression women have experienced. The concept of the intersectionality, however, does not exclude the idea that men cannot be oppressed. However, we do not live in the world of victorious feminism; therefore, I do not think that it should be humanism (or whatever word “I am not a feminist, but I believe in equality” people choose to use) since we are not at the point when we can just forget about gender-based oppression because it is no more. Usually when people say something like “Why not humanism?”, they ignore the fact that misogyny and sexism are still thriving. Also, it always raises a question inside my head: If you say that men and women are oppressed and both suffering from the patriarchy equally, then who benefits from it? If everyone suffers equally, then why this still exist to this day? Who is in charge of this oppression? However, the problem with Parker’s statement that I personally have is not that she does not recognize that women are no longer
There are countless examples of women standing up for themselves, protesting injustices, and empowering others. The idea also works the other way and influences behavior of people threatened by the idea of feminism. These people refer to themselves as either anti-feminists or meninists. A prime example of feminism in the real world is the protests at the early release of the Stanford rapist. This man raped an unconscious woman behind a dumpster and was sentenced to six months in jail. He served three of those months and is now on probation for a year. This is a classic example of how the justice system tends to blame the victim while favoring the attacker. Over one hundred women’s rights protestors gathered hours after his release demanding for the judge to be recalled. Because these women were calling for political reform, they would be considered liberal
As a white, middle-class woman, I hold much more privilege than people, particularly women, of colour who may fall at or below the poverty line. This has granted me many more opportunities in life, such as the ability to find jobs fairly easily, as well as retaining the resources required to get an education. These are all building blocks to power, as an education hypothetically leads to a well-paying job, which provides financial security and power in a capitalist society. I do experience some backlash when discussing feminist points, usually when in a group of men. I wish I had the privilege to have these debates while taken seriously, instead of being written off as a crazy feminist in attempts to dismiss my opinions. However, as I said, I come from a position of power which I must acknowledge, and understand that my view of feminism is drastically different than those of other women, and it is imperative that I listen to their views as well. This way, together, we can create a better future for feminisms, and for
Society has shaped these negative stigmas around feminists, which contain grains of truth, but can be easily be shattered when looked at from a universal perspective. I feel compelled to survey my surroundings anytime I am asked this question because I don’t want have views shaped of me due to the societal view and stigmas of feminist. So, every time I am asked this question, my answers do evolve and change depending on the situation I am facing. I would like for people to understand the universality of a feminist instead of drawing on these myths society has created. Most feminists are not angry; we do not hate on men, nor do we want to be like men, but rather would like to fight to have the same rights and opportunities that are awarded to men. I remember that sheer moment of slight panic even when I was asked this question at the beginning of this class. I wasn’t sure how to answer because I didn’t want to spark opinions which were only not my true belief. This emotional connotation associated with the term feminist that is present in our society has not only worked against feminists, but actually manipulated the true meaning of the subject. With the expansion of feminism in our society, these myths are ones I believe need to be changed instead of being used as a means of discrediting feminism. There are a multitude of ways to promote the growth of feminism, but without the removal of these negative stigmas, as a society, we are not able to move past these obstacles and on to an improved
Feminism, as defined in the dictionary, is “the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.” This doesn’t mean that women are just a bit tired of earning 75% that a man does for the same job. This means that women are standing up for themselves and are trying to achieve rights that they should already have. We were all brought into this world by a woman, but they are still not a man’s equal. Why is that? Is it too much to ask for to not be raped or killed or cast aside simply because of gender? Why is it that there are men out there that believe feminism is a scourge upon this earth that must be wiped out? They feel that their power over women is being threatened.
Most men and women today believe that we do not need feminism, that the world is fine. Sorrowfully they are far from being accurate. We don’t need feminism because it is about genders, we need it because it is about our society’s humanity. Women all around the world are denied basic human rights simply by the fact they are women which is absurd. For instance,
The second definition found in Merriam-Webster is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities,” which corresponds to “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes” (“Feminism | Definition of Feminism by Merriam-Webster”). The second definitions should be what it actually means, but for the most part, feminism has been gearing its interest only towards women and completely ignoring men in the equation. Emma Watson delivered a HeForShe speech back in September 20, 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. With the tag line “Gender equality is your issue too,” that would draw all of us in for a second until you realize that there aren’t any issues feminism has addressed for men; you may see a few here and there, but cases relating to men barely get any media attention. Real feminism is equality where the other gender is not ignored
Feminism must be intersectional because equality struggles go farther than gender. As a human race, we are all different, but all deserve justice in social, economic, and political matters. Intersectional feminism is beneficial to everyone. It focuses not just on combating gender inequality, but also racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, fat/skinny shaming, classism, etc.
When I hear the term Feminism I automatically think its about doing things for women, and what they stand for, so I didn't really have a good idea about it. So I went online and looked it up. "Feminism consists of ideas and beliefs about what culture is like for women just because they are women, compared to what the world is like for men just because they are men. In ethical terms, this form or aspect of feminism is descriptive. The assumption in feminism is that women are not treated equally to men, and that women are disadvantaged in comparison to men" (http://womenshistory.about.com/od/feminism/a/feminism.htm). I have to say I definitely agree that women and are not treated the same as men, and I don't think we ever will. Theres a saying I believe it is "its a mans world", I don't know if I believe that. I just feel like men were always held
Freeman, Epston & Lobovits (1997, p.122) telling us “Conversation is, by its very nature, ephemeral. After a particularly meaningful session, a client walks away aglow with provocative new thought, but a few blocks away, the exact words that had struck home as so profound may already be hard to recall… But the words in a letter don’t fade and disappear the way conversation does; they endure through time and space, bearing witness to the work of therapy and immortalizing it.” which means the documents have a valuable worth to the clients because it may help them to recall their ability, remind them they are not alone and with someone are understand their problems.
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”.
True feminism sought for women to have freedom and rights, such as the right to vote, the right to gain an education, and the right to equal wages. In most aspects, we have been given these rights, but radical feminists are not content. There has been a jump from “We are equal to men,” to “women are superior.” Women have been fighting stereotypes for ages, proclaiming how horrid they are, yet quickly turn around and stereotype men and see no issue with this hypocrisy. The way for women to reach the equality they seek is to bring others up as well as themselves, not to tear them down. When feminists realize and act upon this, they will begin to see the results they have been hoping
The word feminism is sometimes misinterpreted and associated with female superiority and hatred of men, although most people probably agree that feminism can mean the desire for social and economic parity. There is so much baggage surrounding this term that clarification of what feminism is and is not, is essential. Indeed, the way feminism has developed has not been pretty. “Feminism over the years have [sic] evolved away from its noble purpose of creating awareness and defending women rights to creating new ridiculous ‘belief systems.’...feminism has become more like a medium for angry women to vent their hatred and frustration towards man”(“Feminism is Chauvinism”). This definition goes completely against the true meaning of what feminism entails. Feminism can be defined as a fundamental respect for others and the desire for equality between men and women.
At the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries, a series of events occurred that would be known as the feminist movement. During this time, many woman were starting to change the way they thought of themselves and wanted to change their social roles. In his views on feminist analysis Donald Hall says, “Feminist methodologies focus on gender…and explore the complex ways in which women have been denied social power and the right to various forms of self-expression the many perspectives that fall under the heading ‘feminism’ vary wildly”(Hall 199). Since women were denied social power and self-expression, they went against what society saw as acceptable, a patriarchal world. In the stories The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, “Story of an Hour” also by Chopin, and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman we see just how woman’s expected gender roles affect these woman. In The Awakening we meet Edna Pontellier who struggles with her social and gender role. In “Story of an Hour” we see a woman who is glad she is free from her husband. In “The Yellow Wallpaper” a woman fights for her happiness. Through the author’s portrayal of these characters, we see how feminism affects the actions of the characters and how the woman change.
There are only two genders in the whole world, one is male and the other is female. There are lots of advocates and sociologist who has spoken for the equality between men and women but till now the goal of equality has not been achieved yet. Women have always been dominated by the men in the Patriarchal society where men are the head of the household and the rule makers. Men are the supreme authority and women are the followers. When we hear these things, even in the 21 century it is not the new or surprising things because it is still being practiced in our society and there aren’t any women in the world that had not been through this discrimination at least once in their life time. It is not that, women have not fight for their right but the fact is that nobody is there to hear their voices. Women have always wanted to gain their rights and they have also fought for it too but it is their misfortune that their privileges and opportunities are always taken away from them by the men. The question might arise whether all human beings are equal? If so why male and female are not equal? Being a woman brought up in a developing country, I have experienced the effects of this societal dichotomy. Thus, I would like to delineate this aspect of the division in the society by using the Feminist Theory to analyze women’s position in the Patriarchal society and I am choosing Simone de Beauvoir as my theorist.
The term feminism has a lot of misunderstanding and confusion many people think that the term Feminism or being Feminist is only for women . what they don't know is that Feminism is the belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. So many people don't understand what feminism is and where the word originated form so they think of it as a stereotypes. As to where they believe that women want to take control of everything and push mens way. Which it not truth for any means and the word for Feminism is for everyone. Setting in my history class i remember my teacher going over feminism and tell us the people that called them self feminist. I remember that we didn't really get in depth about what being feminism is and what