Take Home Exam: Feminist And Empowerment Theory

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.

Armed with this new awareness, the therapeutic process from a feminist perspective was reconceptualized to include an emphasis on social and political forces and an acknowledgement of their role in disempowerment for women (Brown, 2010). Additionally, the seed of creating a more respectful and humanistic approach to the counselling relationship was planted. Raising the consciousness of clients around power and focusing on societal transformation rather than individual adjustment became the identify of feminist therapy and to what Lerner (1993) referred to as the ‘feminist consciousness’. This perspective afforded practitioners a new way to view “problems” presented in therapy.

Certain brands of feminism place gender as the key axis of oppression on which women are oppressed. This was a contributing factor in the united sisterhood and womanhood of the second wave, an ideal which led to the marginalisation and erasure of many women’s experience such as women of colour, women with disabilities, women of lower socioeconomic class and standing, and so on. When second wave feminists do embrace an intersectional view, they tend to employ an additive measure of intersectionality rather than a multiplicative view, which is detrimental and erasive because it often causes oppressions to be ranked in a hierarchy of perceived importance, and from a feminist point of view it is gender

Many people are often misinformed or given bad first impressions of feminism. However, feminism is equal rights for all people of different race, sex, gender, and sexuality. Many of the people that give feminism a bad name, include a self-proclaimed feminist that is running for presidency, and meninists who are satirical equal rights activists. In reality, feminism is pro-gender equality and opportunities for all types of people.

To what degree did the feminist movement bring about a shift in American society and culture? How does the film 9 to 5 comment on this shift? Compare and contrast 9 to 5, both in its production and content, to at least two other class films featuring women in the professional workplace.

To further my understanding of feminism, I am currently taking the class Introduction to Women’s Gender and Ethnic Studies. During the first unit, I studied more in-depth about different types of feminism, and the feminism waves throughout

Feminist Psychology really started to flourish in the 1960’s and 1970’s. There isn’t any one particular theorist that can be credited for Feminist Therapy; rather there were a combination of psychologist who aided in the creation of Feminist Therapy. Feminist Psychologist tried to eliminate the sexist aspects of other traditional theories, but still integrate parts of those other theories that worked. The goals that the original Feminist Psychologist established in the 60’s and 70’s are still used today. One of the goals of Feminist Therapy is to establish a relationship with a mutual understanding of power. The therapist should understand that the client is the expert on her own issues. It is important for the therapist to know that the therapist is only there to help the client develop the tools that are necessary to reach her maximum potential as a valuable and unique individual. The second main goal of Feminist Therapy is change. Feminist Therapy strives to not only help the individual change for the better, but also society (Mahaney, 2014). Gender issues, like gender stereotyping and gender roles, can lead to psychological distress in individuals therefore they need to be addressed. Gender stereotypes and gender roles can negatively impact a person’s identity, because of this Feminist Therapy is not only for women, but for men as well. Both women and men can benefit from Feminist Therapy because it helps individuals better understand the impact the gender stigmas play on a person’s mental health. Females live in a mostly

In this population of individuals, there are many obstacles that hinder and promote positive growth, mentally and emotionally. Some of these obstacles are underemployed, unemployed, lack of educational resources, poverty, low social-economic status, and even criminal records. As a group of people in our society these women are often victims of racism, sexism, and prejudice. In the Feminist theory, as it explores the depth of feminism it relates to social construct, gender identity, and relationships within and between genders, women often experience, nonetheless does this theory, appeal to anyone group of women or discriminate. The application and history applies to all women in ways to bring forth awareness to clients or groups that may be suffering from low self-esteem, depression, anxiety or other mental illness traits. By counselors becoming more component in cultural diversity and applying this particular theory enables the counselors to identify with potential ethical issues an or dilemmas, in order to properly treat and diagnosis clients effectively with a treatment plan that allows these individuals to see their self-worth, and have a clearer understanding in the causes that result into the reason they sought

I personally cannot for the life of me understand exactly what this whole woman's march was for or what it was supposed to do. Do women in this country really feel that they are oppressed? That they aren't listened to? That they don't have the same rights as men in this country? If you answered yes to any of these questions, let me shed some light on the truth of the matter for you... Last I checked you're allowed to pick what job you want. You are allowed to pick whom you marry. You are allowed to have as many children as you want. You are allowed to chose what religion you believe in. YOU HAVE SO MANY CHOICES!! Women in this country don't know what oppression is. Women in this country don't know what it

While feminists were fighting against sexism in the 19th and 20th centuries, they were also battling other forms of oppression, as the Sojourner Truth and The Combahee River Collective point out in the readings. As early as the mid-1850s, Truth was discussing intersectionality, the crossroads of different forms of oppression. In Truth’s speech, she discussed being both African-American and a woman, a double disadvantage. More than 100 years later, The Combahee River Collective was created for the same reason—their membership in “two oppressed racial and sexual castes” that are “experienced simultaneously” (346, 349). Their membership puts them in a unique position within feminist activism—a position both Truth and Collective called to public

All of mankind needs to take into account the great importance of feminism and how patriarchal oppression has impacted women's behavior, feelings, and status. According to The Feminist Perspective, “Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical or philosophical discourse. It aims to understand the nature of gender inequality, and examines women's social roles, experiences, and interests.” The patriarchal oppression of women has been profound and in consequence it has impacted women’s ability to express themselves and their daily lives in many ways. In the chapter on “Feminist Analysis” found in Literary and Cultural Theory by Donald Hall, he observes the diverse ideology of feminist theory. He implies, “Key to all methodologies

Feminist harassment and restrictive gender roles still exist. "Gender role differentiation is not bad, the problem arises when differentiation turns into stereotype. That is when for no good cause women are barred from playing certain roles for reasons of their gender and not for lack of skill to execute their task" (Irefin, 2012, p. 19). Although, the feminism fight continues, specific limitations still occur such as gaps in wages, viewpoints on domesticated role, expectations in marriage, violence occurrence, and women's rights over her body.

When girls reach puberty, hormones are released that trigger many physical and psychological changes. In girls, puberty usually begins with a growth spurt and the development of breasts. Although breast development begins in the earliest stage of puberty, the process will continue for several years. Usually, pubic hair and then axillary hair appear about six months later. It can also be normal for axillary and pubic hair to appear as the first sign of the onset of puberty. It's important to realize that, like many biological processes, there is a lot of variation in when and in what order things happen. The key event for a young woman during puberty is menarche. Menarche is the onset, or beginning, of the menstrual cycle, which is the process

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

The basis of the study originated on multiple previous studies with added variables and altered surveys. The research began with a sound base and high reliability and validity. By taking previous information, the researchers were able to revalidate older studies and add new information. This was the first study done with sole female participants; the previous studies had looked at sexist discrimination before, but with males as well. Participants’ race was varied, adding to the external validity of the results. The analysis looked at the variables individually and collectively to produce more information from the data they collected. In addition, they studied private and public feminist identity in order to eliminate issues of construct validity in the definition.