What comes to mind when you hear this word? Is it women burning bras? Is it women with armpit hair and unshaven legs? Is it women hating men?
If I asked anyone in a room whether they believed that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men, I know that all of them, with the exception of maybe 1, would raise their hand. I know this because I have done it before.
In my first semester of college I took a women studies class and we dove into the topic of feminism. My professor stood up and asked, who here believes that women should have the same hourly wages as men? Every woman raised their hand. She then asked who here believes that women should have the same opportunities as men? Again the same result. She then said well all of you are classified as feminists.
I'm here writing this blog to inform you on what feminism truly is, and why being a feminist is not a bad thing. Quite frankly, most women and men ARE feminists, whether or not they actually know this. Feminism is a very complicated subject and there is a lot to discuss, but I will lay out the basics.
What is Feminism?
Feminism describes a culture in which women, because they are women, are treated differently than men, and because of this, are put at a disadvantage. Feminism assumes that such treatment is cultural and thus possible to change and not simply “the way the world is and must be”. Feminism consists of activism, individually and in groups, to make personal and social change towards a more desirable culture.
An early issue that feminism attempts to change, is the idea that women are only useful for work in the home. This idea discourages women to pursue careers in business, health, science, math, etc. This idea makes women to be seen more as a trophy wife and the sole caretaker of the kids and husband. Feminism encourages the idea that women can be just as powerful as men. Women do not have to nor need to be stuffed up in a house all day doing house chores and cooking meals.
History:
The term feminism loaned itself to a movement determined to secure and defend equal rights and opportunities for women.
The term feminism loaned itself to a movement determined to secure and defend equal rights and opportunities for women.
The actual term feminism dates back to the 1880s and was coined in France. It migrated to Britain a decade later and came into usage in the United States in the years preceding World War I.
Feminism is split up into three movements.
First-Wave: FIrst wave feminism was primarily concerned with achieving basic political rights such as the right to vote. Its origins are in the radical, new philosophies of the late eighteenth century known as the Age of Enlightenment, also called the Age of Reason.
Second-Wave: Second-wave feminism began in the early 1960s. The forty years between this period and the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment were full of political, economic, and social gains for women, but second-wave feminists in the United States pushed for full equality in all facets of society and for those rights to be enshrined by law. Second-wave feminism was tied to civil rights movement.
Third-wave: Third-wave feminism is a term identified with several diverse strains of feminist activity and study. Third-wave feminism began in the early 1990s and continues to the present. It deals with elements of anti-racism, women of color, transgender politics, a celebration of sexuality, etc.
Today:
Feminism in the 21st century has been up to much debate and criticism. Some believe that feminism is a valid movement and others believe that it is outdated. Those who believe feminism is outdated argue that women now often choose motherhood and marriage over thousands of potential lifestyle choices. Which supports to the idea that women are destined to be in the house and kitchen. Those who believe that feminism is a valid movement have pointed out all that has been achieved for women in the areas of job security, domestic-abuse laws, reproductive rights, and other significant areas that affect a woman’s freedom to lead a life she chooses.
While women have gained countless rights and opportunities over the past years, there are still many discriminations against women, such as in the workplace.
Click on this link to learn more about all the achievements of the women's rights movement. https://www.aclu.org/womens-rights
The term Feminism is not bad. The protection of women's rights and freedom is not something that we should have to fight for. Yes, I do believe that I am a feminist for I believe in all of the ideas that feminists' support. What is negative about equal pay, protection against domestic abuse and sexual violence, reproduction rights, and divorce rights? If you support these ideas as well, well, you are a feminist.
Learn more about women's rights:
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