Modern Day Feminist Theory

Lingering inequalities and other social trends from previous decades brought forth the modern feminist movement in the 1960s. These feminists campaigned for gender equality with causes such as equal pay for equal work, abortion rights, and social parity. In 1963, author Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique, which contained reports from a study conducted on female college graduates during the 1950s and early 1960s, which uncovered that most women labelled themselves exclusively as mothers and housewives, and were unsatisfied with the roles forced upon them. Friedan argued fervently that women needed to discover their own identities outside the roles of a wife and mother. Many believe that the arguments made in The Feminine Mystique marked the start of the modern feminist movement (Loveday, 1)

Women have historically had a rocky relationship with governmental, cultural, religious, and social rights. The Women’s Rights movement has been in effect since approximately 1792, with the publication of the first feminist work, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, by British writer Mary Wollstonecraft” (“Women’s Rights Movement”). While social changes have occurred and more progressive laws have been put into place throughout the years, there is still not equality between the sexes. Additionally, gender roles in different countries differ greatly. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the major causes and concerns of the Women’s Rights movements throughout the decades, as well as denote the differences between more progressive societies and their less accepting counterparts.

Daddy’s princess. Big brother’s responsibility. Daddy’s little girl. Some people view these as a sweet pet names for young ladies, but these verbal cues inexplicitly condition women to view themselves as the property of men starting at a young age. These learned notions may take hold as women begin to develop. As young girls mature, they find themselves striving to please their fathers and other male figures as one of their main aspirations in life due to this conditioning from society. (Rholetter p. 1) The submissive nature of young girls is a common theme in literature, but looking through the Feminist Lens offers readers a better understanding of the struggle surrounding remaining submissive or demanding power occurs.

Everyday women are unable to express themselves. Women are constantly underestimated and constricted by dominating figures within society. As society grows and changes the laws regarding women will constantly be questioned. The struggle for awareness against violence, sexual assault and societal roles continue from generation to generation. Through history women battle for the chance to have a voice, to be heard. By participating within Take back the night, I was able to create a voice for myself and for those who are unable. I was able to chant and march the streets to raise an awareness for women who are abused. This event has allowed me to acknowledge and experience how personal challenges are political, the reality that “feminism is a movement” (hooks) and how it feels to bring these concepts to reality.

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.

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.

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.

Gender bias is the gender role that society has developed for males and females (Brym, 2014, p. 77). It is the expectation that society has created for males and females to behave a certain way. For example, women are deemed delicate, and male are deemed masculine. This is a huge problem for society because media has enforced these gender roles for many years, especially in sports. It creates certain bias or stereotypes that a male or female must follow or else they would be deemed different and be socially excluded. Therefore the media is extremely influential to the gender roles each person in society must follow. The feminist theory is the theory that theorists focus on the gender inequality between male and female because of the male dominance

In her essay, “We Should All Be Feminists” Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie declares the necessity to reevaluate our current Global ideas about gender equality and calls attention to the weighty impact feminism has on both sexes:

Today, women live in a dilapidated society plagued by inequality and male prejudices about women. Women experience oppression whilst doing anything. It’s like our world was hit with a klieg of stupidity.

Minority women have lower income and fewer assets than white women. Minority women have a greater risk of poverty when their spouse dies. Women's unpaid labor at home can reduce full-time employment because of lack of qualifications. Minority women have severe employment effects, African American women receive lower wages if employed and Hispanic women have limited or no paid work experience.

The second to last tier is Self-Actualization needs, which is realizing personal potential. If the whole world believes that one gender is not as good as the others, and women grow up learning these values it might be very difficult for them to realize their self-potential. Lastly is Transcendence needs, which is helping others to achieve the seventh tier. However, if one has not achieved this tier themselves they can not truly assist someone else in this process. The way the hierarchy works is it builds from the bottom up just like any pyramid. one cannot help others without helping themselves. One cannot realize their self-worth without first seeing beauty in the world. One can not see beauty in the world without understanding and having

Modern day feminists/SJWs(Social Justice Warriors)are basically a joke (radical feminists) in this present day feminists are just being plain out bullies to men who are basically powerless because people choose to bring up things like sexism. This essay will quickly explain and convince just why modern day feminism is harming this world more than helping in the 21 century and why feminists are lying to our faces.

see modern day feminism disrespect the early feminists. Many would say that if given the thought, they would help the oppressed men, that have been oppressed by modern day feminism, would try to help equalize the gender oppression.

Social justice. Sounds great doesn’t it? People fighting for the justice and equality that all genders, ethnicities, and races deserve. While this is an amazing concept, and there are many figures in history who truly did fight for social justice, such as Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks, etc. Many of today’s “social justice warriors”, or SJW for short, as I will be referring to them as, are completely misinformed, and fighting for social justice that doesn’t need to be fought for. They fight against an inequality that doesn’t exist. Modern day SJWs don’t fight for equality, they fight for special treatment. Three of the major SJW groups out there are: Black Lives Matter (BLM) Lesbian Bi Gay Transexual (LGBT)