Feminism In The United States

The discussion that has debates like no other is that of feminism, either you are for it or against it, but could there be more to the black and white that has been created? We live in a country that is said to have equal opportunities for all, often using this as an insignia to push our standards upon others. In order to understand and approach the topic of feminism, I have to understand what is feminism exactly and how is it perceived; just because we think we know what something is, does not mean that is how it is perceived socially.

What is feminism? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary the standard definition defines feminism as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” I believe the word feminism means a woman who is capable of doing the exact things a man can do. Both men and women are equal regardless the gender. There are many misconceptions when it comes to the word feminism such as, women having hatred towards men, women thinking they're above men, or only women can be feminist, and the gender stereotype. On the other hand, feminism is gender equality, acknowledging that any kind of violence is unacceptable regardless the gender, and realizing that women and men are not the same and recognizing that gender and sex are

The Merriam-Webster definition of feminism is “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” In the past century, gender roles have been challenged because of feminism. The very idea has completely flipped households, workplaces, and the general community and changed it for the better. A plethora of women’s movements were initiated in the 1960’s, and it gave people a look at how powerful women are when we stand united. Feminism has gained many followers in the past thirty to forty years as more people are becoming aware of conflicts pertaining to discrimination. However, there are many that were hesitant both in the 1960’s and in the present day, but for very different reasons. Nevertheless, persistence seems to be a beacon in women’s rights movements, thanks to very strong and level-headed role models.

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).

How has feminism developed in America, and how have these developments changed its public perception? Considering these perceptions and the divisions between feminists, how can feminism be unified as a cohesive movement again?

Even though the Constitution didn’t explicitly exclude women from voting rights, juries, or presidents, women were treated as second class citizens without sharing equal civil rights as men. Finally, after over seven decades’ activists’ dedication, women were granted the fundamental right to vote in 1920, and it is protected by the Supreme Court. The role of women in the United States has changed dramatically in the past century, and women are increasingly working as a full-timer in the paid job market rather than being dependent housewives. However, as of today, women still need to fight for equal civil rights as men because unfortunately, somehow unequal treatments still strongly remain. Underserved women are a group of female citizens who are somehow treated unjust in terms of payment, healthcare, and education opportunity.

On Twitter there is an account called Menist. This account was created to make fun of the many harshly feminist accounts on the same site.Though the account is primarily satire, there are still many groups of feminists that verbally, and occasionally physically, harass the account and those who follow it. At one point the creator of the account sold shirts that only said #MENIST. Quickly following the release many people tweeted at the account stories of people judging them or abusing them for doing nothing but wear the shirt. This level of prejudice against a group has been in America for a long time. It was touched on in “Second Inaugural Address” by Abraham Lincoln, “Declaration of Sentiments” by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and “Runagate, Runagate”

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, feminism consists of “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes”. The feminist movement emerged during the eighteenth- and nineteenth-centuries, when philosophers began to question the perception of women in society and the moral differences between the sexes (Tong and Williams). A demand for equality was explored, vindicated and raised to the authorities by early feminists, like Mary Wollstonecraft (Tong and Williams). Equality represents a fundamental issue that is still debated. By exploring the roots of the western culture regarding equality between the sexes, one may acknowledge the whole progress in pursuing justice, resulting from the fight of many generations.

Despite American beliefs, in the last 50 years, society has become more tolerant to previously taboo lifestyles. We are more understanding to different races, the homosexual community, and feminism. Until the 1950’s, African Americans, the homosexual community, and the feminist movement were discriminated against. Thanks to all of those communities taking a stand, however, American and national societies are more open to these communities than ever.

“We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal,” right? (Declaration of Independence, 1776) What about women? Are men and women created equally?

The first wave of feminism arose in the United States and lasted from ca. 1848 till 1940. The peak of the first wave was in the period 1890 till 1920 when the contention for the women’s suffrage.

Throughout history, women have been viewed as property and inferiors, among other prejudicial statuses. Today, however, women are mostly equal with men. We are allowed to participate in professional sports, we can work beside men in most any job, and we can hold governmental office. Feminists and women’s rights activists are nitpicking the details, possibly for attention, or they are making things up to be offended by, thus creating drama. Drama is the last thing America needs with all the other issues being created in the last few years, and more and more groups of people are recklessly making it worse.

Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues.

Women have fought oppression in the past, and are still considered fighting today. Feminism has become very popular in the United States. Equality of the sexes has been accomplished in many areas, yet equality is only the beginning for radical feminists in the Untied States. The idea of equality of the sexes has been twisted into the fantasy of women as the dominant gender.

Feminism a term defined as the value of women and a women-centered perspective and the advocacy of social, political, and economic equality for both women and men. Why must we cringe every time the word feminism is brought up? It’s not a bad word as people say it is. Why do we think all feminist are man haters or lesbians or ugly? There’s not specific race or sexual orientation or gender on what a feminist looks like. For example, you can be a gay man and be a feminist.