Feminism 12 EN 317 Introduction WHAT IS FEMINISM

Feminism 12 EN 317 • Introduction

WHAT IS FEMINISM? • FEMINISM emerged in the 18 th century as a response to society’s patriarchal view that women should be submissive to men. • If not for the emergence of feminism, women would have been continued to be treated as objects and slaves.

• Feminism is a diverse collection of competing and opposing social theories, political movements, moral philosophies concerned with women’s experiences. • • Feminism Movement (Social/political) Philosophy Theories Criticism Literature

• Feminism can be defined as a recognition and critique of male supremacy combined with efforts to change it.

• It is movement emphasizing on the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes

The goals of feminism • To demonstrate the importance of women • To prove that women from age old days have been subordinate to men • To bring about gender equity.

Popular Quote • Feminism is a movement that includes women and men who wish to see a world where discrimination based on gender and the idea that men are superior to women is abolished. – -Tess Lantos

• “Throughout history, women have struggled to gain equality, respect, and the same rights as men. This has been difficult because of patriarchy, an ideology in which men are superior to women and have the right to rule women. ”

Origin of the term ‘feminism’ • The term ‘feminism’ was coined by socialist ‘Charles Fourier’. He coined the word ‘feminisme’ in the year 1837 • The term ‘Feminism’ that meant collective action by women to improve women's position/ condition - did occur before the 1890 s. During those days it was often called as 'pro-woman advocacy'

• History of feminism • First wave • The earliest feminist movement can be traced back to the 18 th Century but became more prominent and prolific due to the Suffragette movement that fought for the vote in the early 20 th Century

• The word ―Wave‖ is used to categorize feminism because it illustrates the forward motion— and then resistance or loss of motion—of the women’s movement(s). It helps to understand this movement in by thinking of the motion of an actual wave (in, toward the sand, then back out).

• The efforts of women in the 19 th century that led to the passage of women’s right to vote in 1920 is often referred to as the First Wave of feminism. First Wavers were primarily concerned with women’s equalities, specifically the right to vote, which is why it is similar to a political theory. •

• Second Wave Feminism. The term commonly used to refer to the emergence in the late 1960 s, and early 1970 s in Europe and North America of a “ new social movement ” dedicated to: • raising consciousness about sexism and patriarchy, • legalizing abortion and birth control, • attaining equal rights in political and economic realms, and • gaining sexual “ liberation.

• Third-Wave Feminism: In the 1980 s and 1990 s, third wave feminism was powered by middle-class women in their twenties and thirties expressed concerns with retaining secondwave feminist agendas and tried to create new projects focusing on issues of race and sexuality and fighting the new backlash against feminism.

Women of third wave • transformed to be strong and empowered • stopped talking about victimization • defined feminine beauty for themselves as subjects, • stopped considering themselves as objects of a sexist patriarchy. • Stopped men addressing them as ‘slut’ and ‘bitch’

Post feminism • As society started edging towards the new millennium, suddenly feminism was not treated a special / marginalised subject of discussion. • It became COMMON Subject. •

• Women realised they can play dual role as a home maker and also as a career women simultaneously. • They understood that women could be successful and independent whilst still being able to bring up a family and run a home. • With this new revolution in thinking, women in the 80 s and 90 s were now in the position to

• Post-feminism aimed to signify that the power and pleasure could be associated with being a woman, • Advertisements displayed women’s sexuality in a way that was entertaining and at the same time denoted that women were in control of their lives

• Women had no hesitation to flaunt their sexuality • They used their womanhood as a source of strength to get what they want. •

Criticism on post feminism • Post feminist were not allowed to remember and fight the hard constraints faced by earliest feminists. • They were forced by media to be fashionable, buy beauty products and conduct beauty pageant. • As they were obsessed with their own sexuality and beauty , they continued to follow stereotypical roles and behaviors'.

Types of feminism? • • • • Affirmative-Action Feminism Anti-Feminism Anarcho Feminism 'Boss Tweed' Feminism Catholic Feminism Christian Feminists Constructionist Feminism Cultural Feminism Difference Feminism Dominance Feminism Eco Feminism Equity Feminism Erotic Feminism Femicommie Feminazi • French Feminism • Gender Feminism • Hegemonic Feminism • Individualist, or Libertarian Feminism • Lesbianism — 30+ sexual orientations • Liberal Feminism • Libertarian Feminism • Marxist Feminism • Material Feminism • Matriarchal Separatist Feminism • Moderate Feminism • Pod Feminist • Pop Feminism • Post-modernist Feminism • Power Feminism • Pro-Family Advocates • Pro-Feminist Men • Pro-Life feminists Pro-Sex Feminists • Radical Feminism • Redfem • Resenter (angry at men) Feminism • Separatists • Socialist Feminism • Survivor-Feminism • Total Rej (total rejection) Feminism • Vegetarian Feminists • Victim Feminism • Women of Color Feminism (Womanism)

Why there are so many types of feminism and theories? • The political and social conditions which decided the roles and responsibilities of women were much different. Hence the hardships and difficulties faced by them were also different. • That is why there were many types of feminism and feminist’s theories.

‘GENERAL CHARACTERS OF FEMINISTS’THEORY Feminist Theory is an outgrowth of the general movement to empower women worldwide Feminist Theory Argues q Women are oppressed by patriarchy economically, politically, socially, and psychologically. � Women are marginalized, ridiculed, disempowered, abused, exploited, disrespected, and objectified by the patriarchal society. � All western civilization (including American) is deeply rooted in patriarchy. � Gender issues play a part in every aspect of the human experience .

There is no single universal form of feminism hat represent feminists Feminists were 1. political activists : concerned about • 1. 1 reproductive rights • 1. 2 domestic violence • 1. 3 street violence • 1. 4 rape • 1. 5 Work ambience • 1. 5. 1 salary/equal pay • 1. 5. 2 sexual harassment • 1. 5. 3 Discrimination • 1. 5. 4 Maternity leave

2. Social feminists were concerned about 2. 1 women’s role in society 2. 2 place in society, religion, class, culture 2. 3 specific humiliation like genital cutting in Africa, purchase system in Islamic countries, widowhood and Sati in India 2. 4 patriarchal domination 2. 5 mothering 2. 6 rape 2. 7 incest

• 3. Philosophers & Moralists emphasized on • freedom of speech • freedom to write • freedom to vote • freedom to marry • freedom to be a mother • freedom to abort • lesbianism • radical thoughts