What Is Feminism?
fem·i·nism
ˈfeməˌnizəm/
noun
Feminism has been present for a long time―ever since the 1800's. There has always been feminism throughout history. Be it in England, where it has orriginated, or anywhere around the world. It is evident that feminism has been a massive part of the past. Since the 1700's and forwards, feminism has made a big change on society. Woman were not given the chance to vote until August of 1920. Additionally, protests and riots were one of the many ways these women, and men, contributed to this big decision. Only after 1920 was legislation passed to provide working women with employment opportunities and pay equal to men. But not until the early 1960s when a law passed that equalized payment for men and women in the British civil service. Some women in other countries are not even offered the right to schooling.
Thesis: Since the 1700's, feminist movements were created by women's protest, riots, and literature. Further into the future, role models like Hilarly Clinom impacted today's women.
"Men are not the enemy, but the fellow victims. The real enemy is women's denigration of themselves." ―Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique.
"I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back." ―Malala Yousafzai
Many important women contributed to feminist movements are significant to the development of today's feminism. This includes the women mentioned above and others like Bell Hooks. Much like Betty Friedan, Bell Hooks (Gloria Jean Watkins) is an American author is known for her social activism that was often expressed through her writing of oppression, women's rights, and race. Some of Bell Hooks' most notable works are Ain't I A Woman? Black Women and Feminism and The Feminist Theory in which Hooks stated, "Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression."
Another feminist is the 2016's mile stone candidate, Hilary Clinton. As the former first lady, Clinton has rose to one of the top candidates during the heated race to claim presidency. Clinton has also been a role model for younger girls and women. Clinton states, "Well, I believe I am a feminist because I believe that women deserve the same rights as men in every aspect of our economy and our society, here at home and around the world. You know, I’ve devoted a lot of my public life to advocating for women’s rights being human rights, and making the case that we have to do everything we can, through laws, regulations, culture, to change the still-existing stereotypes that hold women back…" She is considered a rising feminist from our youth all over social media. Evidently, Clinton has been one of the most popular feminist from years before and is still continuing to be one now.
Additionally, familiar actress Ellen Page has been an active feminist on gender equality for many, many years. From press conferences, interviews, and tours, it is apparent that she is anything but quiet about her mission concerning equality between all genders. Page tells The Guardian, "Feminism always gets associated with being a radical movement—good. It should be. A lot of what the radical feminists [in the 1970s] were saying, I don't disagree with it." The quote shows that Page agrees with the movement and how it got us to today's modern women and how much the suffragettes went through in order to aquire the rights we have today. It is clear that their efforts were not wasted.
Suffragettes and contributors to past feminist movements have made a huge impact on modern day feminism and women in general.
ˈfeməˌnizəm/
noun
- the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.
Feminism has been present for a long time―ever since the 1800's. There has always been feminism throughout history. Be it in England, where it has orriginated, or anywhere around the world. It is evident that feminism has been a massive part of the past. Since the 1700's and forwards, feminism has made a big change on society. Woman were not given the chance to vote until August of 1920. Additionally, protests and riots were one of the many ways these women, and men, contributed to this big decision. Only after 1920 was legislation passed to provide working women with employment opportunities and pay equal to men. But not until the early 1960s when a law passed that equalized payment for men and women in the British civil service. Some women in other countries are not even offered the right to schooling.
Thesis: Since the 1700's, feminist movements were created by women's protest, riots, and literature. Further into the future, role models like Hilarly Clinom impacted today's women.
"Men are not the enemy, but the fellow victims. The real enemy is women's denigration of themselves." ―Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique.
"I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back." ―Malala Yousafzai
Many important women contributed to feminist movements are significant to the development of today's feminism. This includes the women mentioned above and others like Bell Hooks. Much like Betty Friedan, Bell Hooks (Gloria Jean Watkins) is an American author is known for her social activism that was often expressed through her writing of oppression, women's rights, and race. Some of Bell Hooks' most notable works are Ain't I A Woman? Black Women and Feminism and The Feminist Theory in which Hooks stated, "Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression."
Another feminist is the 2016's mile stone candidate, Hilary Clinton. As the former first lady, Clinton has rose to one of the top candidates during the heated race to claim presidency. Clinton has also been a role model for younger girls and women. Clinton states, "Well, I believe I am a feminist because I believe that women deserve the same rights as men in every aspect of our economy and our society, here at home and around the world. You know, I’ve devoted a lot of my public life to advocating for women’s rights being human rights, and making the case that we have to do everything we can, through laws, regulations, culture, to change the still-existing stereotypes that hold women back…" She is considered a rising feminist from our youth all over social media. Evidently, Clinton has been one of the most popular feminist from years before and is still continuing to be one now.
Additionally, familiar actress Ellen Page has been an active feminist on gender equality for many, many years. From press conferences, interviews, and tours, it is apparent that she is anything but quiet about her mission concerning equality between all genders. Page tells The Guardian, "Feminism always gets associated with being a radical movement—good. It should be. A lot of what the radical feminists [in the 1970s] were saying, I don't disagree with it." The quote shows that Page agrees with the movement and how it got us to today's modern women and how much the suffragettes went through in order to aquire the rights we have today. It is clear that their efforts were not wasted.
Suffragettes and contributors to past feminist movements have made a huge impact on modern day feminism and women in general.