A Feminist Place In Today's Society

Early feminism was typically focused only on white women, likely because racism was still extremely prominent at the time feminism began emerging. It was not until Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced the term “intersectionality” in 1989 that feminism started to look at oppressed group’s needs (Nash, 2008, 2). Intersectionality is a way of thinking that acknowledges that when a person has identities that belong to more than one oppressed group, it impacts their quality of life more negatively. In this paper, I will argue that intersectionality is important in the discussion of feminist theories and activism because it ensures that feminism is for all women, not just a select group of them. Intersectionality has changed the way the feminist movement handles the overlapping of different identities, which has helped feminist theorists understand the experiences of women of colour much more clearly. While intersectionality has a very important role in the conversation and practice of feminism, there are certainly critiques of the concept that should be brought up. These critiques, however, can offer a way to improve the study of intersectionality.

Today the equality between men and woman is closer then it ever has before in history, with women CEO’s and stay at home dads. This happened because of the strong woman in history fighting for the same rights as man, private property, creative freedom, and the power to use their intellect. Virginia Woolf is one of those ladies arguing that, “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction." She believes that women are locked in some sort of intellectual prison and not being able to have money or privacy keeps them locked, unable to blossom intellectually.

As Mary tries to gather more information to support her argument on the topic of women and fiction, she runs into Professor Von X, the author of a book on the mental, moral, and physical inferiority of women. In the passage from A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf utilizes figurative language, such as metaphor, and historical figures to assert that men need women to be inferior in order to maintain their own sense of superiority.

Our social systems are divided into two norms, Matriarchal and Patriarchal. A matriarch is defined as a woman who is the central figure for her family, group, and or political administration. The term for males is the patriarch, a male who dominates his family, group, and his descendants. Both societies are reciprocal to one another; however, due to cultural belief the matriarchal society still falls under the shell that women are “soft” and “need support” from no one other than a male authoritative figure.

Throughout the history of mankind, there has always been a common belief that women exist inferior to men. The Bible demonstrates that God made the first woman Eve from the rib of Adam and God “[does] not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet” (1 Timothy 2:11-15). However, understanding their important role in the family and society and feeling tired of being undertreated by men, women finally stood up for themselves. In the 19th century, the Feminist Movement emerged and completely changed the lives of millions of women in the United States until this day. The Movement provides the new perspectives and protects the rights of women in social and political aspects.

This is often linked to the specific gender roles or stereotypes that support the beliefs that men are dominant or superior to women. This specifically outlines that women are at a gender disadvantage as Lorber (Lorber, 1994 p. 60) says, and they garner less power, prestige, and economic reward than men,”. Not only are there restrictions on women’s power in society, but also within their personal choices such as abortion or specific security provisions that take away from their power and some argue their

The oppression of women is represented in literature through the social roles and the experiences of the women since the early 19th century. In Literary and Cultural Theory by Donald Hall, he states that a feminist analysis is “Language, institution, and social power structures have reflected patriarchal interests throughput much of history; this has had a profound impact on women’s ability to express themselves and the quality of their everyday lives” (Hall 202). Patriarchal oppression is shown in any text that delivers a man regulating the life of his wife or any women in his everyday life by restricting and encroaching the rights and experiences of life of that woman.

Today's feminist movement is in jeopardy of losing a following unless the woman at the forefront begin to identify with the fact that not every feminist is white, middle class, and cis-gendered. The modern idea of feminism has a fault in the way that its main idea seems to be fighting for equality of white women, this factor neglects every other woman in the world. This sets a double standard within the grouping of women as a whole just as women are fighting to abolish double standards set in place against sexes. This idea of white feminism simultaneously neglects the different problems of women of all demographics, while also grouping women together as a whole as if the struggles white women face are the same struggles all women face.

However, despite what modern feminism should consist of, slow progress is being made. Yes, there are organizational groups that advocate women’s rights, directly or inadvertently, such as Planned Parenthood. No, that does not mean that feminism is advancing in modern perspective and no, feminism does not have the reverential reputation it should have. Factors such as the exponentially increased power of the media, exposure to violence at an earlier age, and the existence of an Internet where both considerate and ill intended opinions can, and will spread make up a disastrous formula for social chaos. This issue existed since a decade ago, and has only grown more prevalent, shown through an article titled “What Feminism Means Today”, by APA

“I need feminism because we need more sexy blond female CEOs but not more female miners and other jobs in those kinds of fields. They are not glamorous enough. Women should not have to get on their knees and work hard unless they want to get backstage at a weekend concert.” Man-hating femi-nazis are plaguing the world with their rants about “misogyny” and flashing their naked bodies to men and expecting not to get objectified. This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but with a breast. Modern-day feminism is often regarded as something that is no longer needed, because women of the 21st century have the same rights as every other person; and many people also believe that the purpose of feminism is to try to make women the hierarchy of society—that feminists genuinely believe that they are superior because they are women. But, neither are true. The true intention of feminism is NOT to degrade men and preach that women are high and mighty and deserved to be treated better, but rather that all sexes be treated the same way in all aspects of life. Women and men in America in the 21st century are not treated as equals in social, economic, or political aspects of society, ergo feminism—the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, is still a necessity in the modern society of America.

"For me, now, feminist art must show a consciousness of women 's social and economic position in the world. I also believe it demonstrates forms and perceptions that are drawn from a sense of spiritual kinship between women" (theartstory.org) are the words of artist, Suzanne Lacy. In a world where men are looked at as superior, feminism is an incredibly important movement in the eyes of a woman. All of the feelings and emotions that have manifested within women throughout the years, are able to be expressed through feminism. The impact of this movement has lasted over decades and gives women the power to stick together and fight for what they believe in. The feminist movement of the 1960’s was represented through, The Sculpture II by Kirsten Justesen, and by the song, “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore.

As the world advances further into the twenty first century a new modernized form of feminism becomes more and more prominent. Referred to as third wave feminism, it is a social movement focused on equality of the sexes. At the core this idea is simple but when applied to modern day societies it becomes increasingly complex and even, at times, convoluted. For the most part, this particular wave of feminism is primarily concerned with first world countries and their accompanying issues as patriarchal societies. This aspect alone elicits criticism of the movement and grounds on which some try to use to dismiss its points. The critics of modern feminism call themselves antifeminists and aim to discredit what they believe to be an unjust movement. Both the feminists and the antifeminists raise good arguments for the reasons behind their opinions on the issue, but both have their flaws as well.

This seemingly harmless word can ruin or heighten a person’s reputation, it can give someone new views on the world, it can destroy relationships, it can build new ones; this single word can change lives. Most people categorize “feminism” as a code for women that tells them to hate men, not shave, burn bras, be vegan, and if there is any time left over maybe, just maybe, to fight for women’s rights. Now, there are definitely feminists that fulfill this stereotype but the vast majority of women and men do not. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, feminism is defined as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” This does not mean that women are better than men, or that they deserve more money or respect. Nowhere in this definition does it mention that all feminists are lesbians and all men are rapists and abusers. These ridiculous generalities are simply social constructs that were created back when women were fighting for basic rights and somehow morphed into absurd and unrealistic stereotypes.

Through many different cultures, women have not been the center of attention. They have always been in the back and it was unknown for them to be in charge or have a status as an important person. I’m going to discuss the struggles and different views through many cultures and the problems that are included with feminism. Cultural feminism was developed from a different type of feminism called radical feminism.

Simone de Beauvoir, Virginia Woolf, and John Stuart Mill argued for women’s equality and independence from men. Their theses explored the beginnings of inequality between man and woman. While Mill places the root cause of women’s subordination as the result of prehistoric law of force, Woolf and de Beauvoir place blame with the Myth of Femininity and Chasity. All three theories have harmed women’s views of themselves and allowed for centuries of teaching women to be selfless, dutiful, and submissive to the males in their lives. The result is many women accepting their roles as and even finding meaning in being the other sex. de Beauvoir blames the myth of femininity for placing women at social and intellectual subordination to men as well as women’s acceptance of these positions. de Beauvoir’s views are supported with the works of Woolf and Mill.