Hegemonic Feminism

Doetsch-Kidder’s (2016) monograph defines the important role of intersectionality as a defining sea-change in the way that women of color began to unify across racial and cultural barriers. Interviews with minority activists define the perception of the diversification of feminist ideology through the lens of intersectionality. One interview with a African-American activist named Donna illustrates the unity between women of color that evolved in the 1970s: “But overall, we are all fighting for civil rights, so there has to be some type of overlap with each one” (Doetsch-Kidder, 2016, p.103). This development defines the “overlapping’ ideology of different feminist groups, which soon began to devolve the racial and cultural barriers not only between women of color, but also with white feminist groups. In Doetsch-Kidder’s (2016) point of view, the civil rights movement laid the foundation for intersectional feminist principles to be practiced for women seeking greater representation in the workplace.

Chapter 4, “Better Dead than Pregnant:” The Colonization of Native Womens’ Reproductive Health, discusses women's bodies being utilized as an experimental ground for reproduction and medical testing. Smith argues that racism plays a key role in the common anxieties about a rise in the global population. Even though population control organizations may claim to want to reduce the size of every ethnic and racial group, in the end, they often work to reduce populations of color. This reality leads to Smith’s argument of reproductive rights, which she views as a thinly veiled effort to destroy and control Native American communities. An illustration of this direct violation of women's reproductive rights was when the "Indian Health

Until the 1960s, feminism was widely regarded as a sub-set of liberalism and socialism, rather than as an ideology in its own right. Today, however, feminism can be considered a single doctrine in that all feminists subscribe to a range of ‘common ground’ beliefs, such as the existence of a patriarchal society, and the desire to change gender inequalities. Then again, it can be argued that feminism is characterised more by disagreement than consensus, as three broad traditions: liberal feminism, Marxist or socialist feminism, and radical feminism, which often contain rival tendencies, are encompassed within each core feminist theme. This essay will argue that, despite tensions between its

The women’s liberation movement (or feminism as it is now known) of the 1960s and 1970s touched every home, business, and school (WA, 705). The movement even touched the sports and entertainment industries, in fact, “There are few areas of contemporary life untouched by feminism” (WA, 717). The word feminism in the early 1960’s wasn’t often used and when it was it was used with condescension or hatred. However, in the late sixties that changed thanks to a new group of women. This new diverse group of women included the: young, old, heterosexual, lesbians, working class, and even the privileged. This diverse group came together and collectively created the second wave of feminism.

Roberts attempts to convince readers that reproduction is an important topic, especially for black individuals. She addresses it important because certain policies that are set to keep black women from having children but also because these same policies persuade people in believing that racial inequality is perpetuated by Black people themselves. Roberts wants readers to think about reproduction in a new way and realize that these policies not only affect Black Americans but also the very meaning of reproductive freedom.

Women must be entitled to freedom, dignity and equality of treatment without regard to their race, religion or color. As Ina Gaskin (2011) stated, “women should not lose their human rights when they become mothers” (p.85). Moreover, I believe birth rights are connected to human rights, as they must allow women to direct their care surrounding pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, and entitle women to respect and equality of treatment. Sadly, the pregnancy-related mortality ratios and stories such as Serena Williams’s, exemplify the reality that women of color are often stripped of their basic

These strategies continue to undermine the choices that the Women of Color have in deciding whether or not they want to have children because they do not want to be stigmatized with poverty. Obviously, the adverse and psychological effects of the various interlocking forms of oppressions that limits Women of Color’s reproductive rights makes it very important to understand them.

Main Theme: My final paper will be utilizing the essays of Marilyn Frye, with particular interest focusing on her theory of oppression, in correlation to the modern day issue of “the war on Planned Parenthood”.

In her writings, Audre Lorde emphasizes on the significance of an intersectional approach by arguing that when women fail to acknowledge their differences, they become divided (118). Referring to white feminists of the 1960s, she argues that when they ignore the actuality of their white privilege, women of colour become the “other” whose experiences are too different to understand (Lorde 117). Speaking to black feminists who are silenced by white supremacism, she highlights the importance of a self-defined identity in which every aspect of an individual must be embraced in order to confront institutional struggles (Lorde 120). Similarly, Hooks has condemned the entire process of the 1960s feminist movement, arguing that white women expect women of colour to be an ally in their feminist movements without trying to understand their experiences (141). She also emphasizes the exclusion of black feminists in the movement by stating that the essence of a protest is to benefit unprivileged individuals, yet much of those people are either silenced by white feminism or too occupied supporting their families (Hooks 136). Therefore, third-wave feminism arguably emerged because second-wave feminism lacked intersectional rhetoric, motivating black women to establish more inclusive

Multiracial feminism efforts are to understand the ways in which domination intersects with differences. When referring to differences, this means racial-ethnicity, class, and gender. This has spearheaded women studies to figure how to improve living for all, taking in consideration the differences and challenges women and men alike have faced. To change pre-historic beliefs of feminist universalism and instead acknowledge that we are all diverse but still socially

Feminism, a movement with the goal of equality between women and men is often misunderstood or thought unnecessary. In the book Feminism is for Everybody, the movement of feminism and why it still exists today is explained. One of the main aspects that keep feminism alive is sisterhood-females bonding together for a like purpose. In chapter three, “Sisterhood is Still Powerful”. Bell Hooks uses an anecdote, chronological order, and ethos to give a background on feminism and inform the audience on what threatens female unity today.

As Third Wave feminism is currently unfolding before us, and its aims encompass a wide array of complex issues, it is often hard to describe what Third Wave feminism is. The feminist theories, mainly associated with First and Second Wave feminism attempt to describe the power imbalances that are found in society, and while doing so expose other oppressions, such as discrimination based on race or sexual orientation. As this essay attempts to place a clear definition to Third Wave feminism, feminists are concurrently trying to deconstruct old definitions and open it up for women to determine what feminism means to them. In other words, no clear definition on what is meant to be a feminist is sufficient, as the Third Wave is about

The concept of sisterhood has been an integral part of the feminist movement since its beginning. Sisterhood recognizes the common oppression that women face in a patriarchal society, and suggests that strength can be found in unification. Keith E. Melder in Beginnings of Sisterhood discussed the impact of sisterhood on women's movement: “sisterhood strengthened women's collective identity.... From their active, collective enterprises, women gained a sense of power” (48). The strength of sisterhood generated dramatic changes for women's rights.

Sisterhood was generated through consciousness raising and encouraged to express her personal feelings and experiences. The goal was to make the personal political. Sisterhood generated “a widespread optimism about the ability of the women's movement” (Farrell 71). Sisterhood produced political and social changes for women. The third wave includes sisterhood, not just between women but also with men.

Reproductive rights for women was not focused on until the issue of women’s rights in general became the main issue and focus. “Voluntary Motherhood”. The phrase voluntary motherhood is a new genuinely vision of motherhood. The idea of a female choosing to be a mother voluntarily and becoming pregnant is a wonderful image instead of being forced to carry on a pregnancy without the right of privacy and getting an abortion. Many young colored children are being brought into this world into broken families. For policy makers and government to understand why colored females have abortions more than any other race, first understand the social disorganization, value, intersectionality, and oppression of colored women.