Feminism Final Exam : Feminist Theory

Feminism is a theory which begs to understand the nature of gender equality in theoretical or philosophical situations. It would be examined on how the genders work in society, social systems and structures

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.

The definition of feminism is very elusive. Maybe because of its ever-changing historical meaning, it’s not for certain whether there is any coherence to the term feminism or if there is a definition that will live up to the movement’s variety of adherents and ideas. In the book “No Turning Back,” author Estelle Freedman gives an accurate four-part definition of the very active movement: “Feminism is a belief that women and men are inherently part of equal worth. Because most societies privilege men as a group, social movements are necessary to achieve equality between women and men, with the understanding that gender always intersects with other social hierarchies” (Freedman 7).

Why is the feminist lens focused only on one perspective: females?. Throughout history females have being oppressed by sexism and racism ideologies, not only based on gender differences, but in skin color and body shape as we see in today’s society. Due to this reason, can men do Feminist theory?. To illustrate, “[men] do not have the life experiences of belonging to an oppressed group and [do not have] shared personal stories that reveal their wounds from patriarchy”(Klocke). This demonstrates that men can not be in the feminist theory because they didn't suffered the struggle and the pain that many women experienced in order to gain their natural rights. Moreover, of course males can relate and be part of the theory, but the main focus will

Feminist usually see gender as a cultural or political distinction, in contrast to biological and ineradicable sexual differences. Gender divisions are therefore a manifestation of male power. Difference feminist may, nevertheless, believe that gender differences

Being large isn’t just a women’s issue furthermore, most ladies don’t ask to be heavy, yet it turns into an unconscious struggle that conflicts with society’s expectations of perfection in a woman’s body. In recent talks of fat being a feminist problem, a sketchy subject has been whether eating impulsively is a lady’s problem signifying it relates to her experience of being a female in society. From one perspective, some argue that a female’s body is the most important thing about her, that it’s an indication to the world about who she is. From this point of view, women are taught to occupy themselves apparently with a self-image that others will find satisfying and attractive rather than being classified as an overweight woman; shunned by what society considers a perfect body. On the other hand, however, others argue that it is thoroughly up to women to make themselves healthy and to avoid becoming overweight for which they ae shunned. In the words of Susie Orbach (2015), one of this view’s main advocates, “You are your body, you have to take care of it! You’re the individual, you’re responsible. It has nothing to do with what’s going on in the wider society.”

The feminist movement had an impact on American society because it provided a change in how both genders saw one another and themselves. Deep culturing changes were altering the role of women in American society such as sharing of responsibility for childbearing and housework, more equitable pay with men; equal pay for equal work, greater access to higher education, and the right of women to make individual decisions; regarding reproductive rights. Society over time reconsidered the importance of equality because of how gender-segregated society was and how restricted individuals were to the law.

Feminist theory aims to understand the nature of gender inequality and focuses on gender politics, power relations and sexuality. Feminist political activism campaigns on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, sexual harassment, discrimination and sexual violence. Themes explored in feminism include discrimination, stereotyping, objectification, sexual objectification, oppression and

A common theme has emerged from the past readings. Feminist theory and intersectionality. I have taken some Women’s studies courses before so I am familiar with feminist theory. Intersectionality is trickier for me as I am a white, female, privilege Canadian woman who has not faced any oppressions for what I look like. The only oppressions I face are for being a woman and there is no intersectionality with having only one oppression. I will explore both feminist theory and intersectionality and finish off with battered women's syndrome in this paper as well as talk about my own personal experiences and how they relate to the course.

According to a pole done by CNN 50% percent of men aren’t feminist. Feminist is a movement that started back up in 1948. The goal of feminism was to have equal rights for all the genders, But modern day feminism has changed. Modern day feminism haven’t been looking away from men’s issues, blaming men for their own problems, and tearing themselves apart.

Feminism and feminist social theory unlike other theoretical perspectives is woman-centered and inter-disciplinary, hence promotes methods of achieving social justice. The feminism and feminist social theory takes into consideration three questions, what of the women? Why is the present social world as it is today? Additionally, how can the social world be changed to make it more just for the women and all people alike? In recent developments, feminist theorists have begun questioning the differences between women. The areas under question include race, ethnicity, class, age intersect, and gender. In summation, the feminist theory involves the concern with giving women world over voice, and highlighting how they have contributed to the

Some of the major movements of the 1960s were the youth movement and the feminist movement. The youth movement focused on young people that felt the government was broken and schools didn’t respect people's God given rights. The feminist movement was more focused on women who wanted to be treated equally to man and not downgraded. Both these movements greatly affected the 60s and even affects today’s society. The feminist movement has survived for many years with continued problems while the youth movement was slowed down after the Vietnam war.

Feminist perspective developed with the ideology that women face large amounts of inequalities in a patriarchal society. They aimed to address and rid the social world of this oppression of women by men. According to Bishop, (2015) “oppression occurs when one group of people use different forms of power to keep another group down in order to exploit them. The oppressor uses the power; the oppressed are exploited” (p. 133-134). Oppression must be by individual experience and not grouped into being the same for all. This includes understanding the original ideology of feminist theory being critiqued as only considering the experiences of middle class, white women. That black women, of lower class experienced oppression much different from the other women. Women are oppressed, thus has to be understood in a different construct that women are similar in some sources, experience of oppression but also experience oppression very differently from one individual to another. Feminist theories have further been expanded do its continuation throughout society and decades to encompass many more issues and arenas than just men and women relationships. Now it seeks to understand and address oppression based on culture, race, class, etc and not only for women but for all. Therefore, Bishop (2014) outlines five components that seem common to all forms of oppression and serve to maintain its presence in society.

Feminist theory analyzes the gender inequality that women have faced throughout the years due to a patriarchal society. Women were expected to fit the traditional female and conform to the gender norms that society has constructed. According to A Brief Introduction to Critical Theory, “Feminism embodies a way of reading that investigates the text’s investment in or reaction to the patriarchal power structures that have dominated Western culture” (227). Patriarchal power has oppressed women economically, socially, and politically. Women were associated more with domesticity than with politics and financial situations. They were not provided the same educational opportunities as men. These issues have been addressed by people, such as Mary

Assess the claim that gender inequalities in the domestic and occupational divisions of labour are best understood with reference to the concept of patriarchy. You should illustrate your answer with reference to a range of feminist perspectives.