Feminism is typically defined as the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. Feminism brings awareness to gendered issues and inequalities, emphasizes the importance of intersectionality within feminism, and uses various feminist theories to explore the inner workings of society and how it contributes to the issues that feminism stands against. When given such a definition, one would wonder why anyone would be against this concept as it sounds like an incredibly powerful and positive movement that aims for the benefit of all, yet as it stands today, there is a tremendous amount of backlash and hatred towards current feminist movements.
For some historical reference, feminism has been around since the 1800s. First wave feminists set the stage for all future movements, focusing on women's property rights, winning the right to vote, and bringing forth the idea of women’s potential to contribute as much as men. Major themes in the second wave of feminism include the introduction of intersectionality and the fight for reproductive rights. Intersectionality was defined by black feminists who found themselves facing sexism from men as well as facing racism from white feminists in the movement, and it points out interlocking systems of oppression such as these that cannot be separated. Intersectionality was defined by Patricia Hill Collins as “...an analysis claiming that systems of race, social class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nation, and age from mutually constructing features of social organization.” (Collins, 2000). The second wave brought to light the realization that feminism cannot have one universal definition, as everyone's lives are different and everyone faces different levels of privilege and discrimination. Many new doors were opened and new forms of feminist theory surfaced during the second wave. It is clear to see that feminism is not static, and is ever-changing depending not only on the issues of the times but also on one’s social location. Without feminism, we would be living in a world where women could not vote, where the workplace would be predominantly male, and where we would lack a deeper understanding of gendered issues and intersectionality within feminism and our society.
I am a self-proclaimed feminist, and think it is only common sense to strive for the equal rights and treatment of all genders, yet I see a lot of negativity around feminism today. What is it about feminism that makes people so bitter? I hypothesize that it is a matter of misconception and the portrayal from extremists and from the media that creates these negative connotations. Some claim that feminism is not, in fact, about gender equality, but rather about gender superiority and “man-hating,” even creating the term “feminazi” to describe people who supposedly support such things. I want to tell you that feminism is not about man-hating or of raising certain genders above others; feminism stands for gender equality and is about lifting others up and supporting one another, regardless of gender. Feminism brings awareness to the multi-faceted issues that different genders face, and it also focuses on the intersectionality of oppression and of discrimination.
While feminism does focus on women, it is not just for women but for everyone as gendered issues affect us all in different ways. For example, men often struggle to fit into a specific masculine ideal, considered inadequate or “less than” if they do not meet society’s expectations. Basic human qualities are driven out of men, labelling them as gay or feminine if they show emotion or other forms of vulnerability. Society places value on powerful, dominant men, which is in-part responsible for the reason most men may put up a front to avoid being emasculated, or as Jackson Katz would say, putting up a “tough guise” in the fear of being less than other men (Katz, 2013). How can we challenge these views and make it okay for men to challenge these gender scripts and show more emotion? We must continue to advocate for gender equality and continue to talk about these issues in order for change to come.
I would like to picture a world where all women earn the same amount as men in the same position, where any gender identity can be accepted and seen as equal, where men are not belittled for showing said “feminine” qualities, and where it is okay for women to be just as successful and capable as men. I believe that this is all possible with feminism.
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| http://msmagazine.com/blog/2016/12/15/how-to-win-at-feminism/ |
Notes:
Dorey-Stein, Caroline. (2015). A Brief History: The Three Waves of Feminism.
Collins, Patricia Hill. (2000). Patricia Hill Collins: Intersecting Oppressions.
Kats, Jackson. (2013). Tough Guise: Violence, Manhood & American Culture. [DVD].
America: A Media Education Foundation.
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