final essay two

Final Essay Two
What is Feminism?

Feminism is defined in different words by different people. The movement is viewed as good by some and as the most detrimental action against women ever. You both agree with it and love it or you are adamantly against it. The definitions to the word feminism are as varied.
The Encarta Dictionary; belief in women’s rights, belief in the need to secure rights and opportunities for women equal to those of men, or a commitment to securing these rights. A feminist is a woman who peruses these rights. The text book had several other definitions this is a favorite one “Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.” (Cheris Kramerae, The F Word p. 1) There are others and some of them will be covered in this essay.
The Women’s Movement started in the mid-eighteen hundreds. Women began to push for the right to vote. They were feeling that surely if the black man received the vote, that surely the women would also, this did not happen and it was many years and a long extended fight for the ladies to finally get the vote in 1920. It appears that to change the minds of men is a most difficult and evolved process. It is amazing how very stubborn and set in their ways they can be, even when proven that there is a better way, they hold on to traditions and “it’s the way it has always been done” attitude. During this first wave of feminism the emphases was almost entirely on the right to Vote. Just getting this done took approximately 80years. It is amazing that prohibition, which was more designed to take away man’s pleasures, than women’s voting was took much less time to get done. But, when one considers that prohibition did not last long, perhaps the long struggle for emancipation for women’s vote was for the best in the long run; because we still have the right to vote. It would make a great impact on political policies if the young women of today would exercise that right. During the second wave of feminism the main focus was on equality in the workplace and for the right to get an adequate education in order to be able to fill the better high-level jobs with women. We did not want all the top jobs, just a fair share. The second wave achieved some head way but there is still so much to be accomplished.
This third wave is left with the tremendous job of completing what the second brought to light. Equality for everyone is quit a job assignment. In this world of racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression, the third wave must do the impossible; finish what the second wave started.
Gender must be studied and understood, sexual preferences must be allowed, racism must be eradicated, equal pay must be the norm, paid leaves for pregnancies must be made available on the job, battered families must cease to happen, women and men should have the right to chose if a child is to be born (birth control should be free and abortions should be a free choice), and so many more issues.
It is amazing that the one word feminism and its movement includes the battles to solve the issues listed above, but it does and will more than likely take on more as time passes. How will women manage to solve these issues witch directly affect them in one way or another is left hidden in the future, but solve them they will. Women are not ones to easily stop and lest an issue die, they will keep at the makers of the laws and at the need for education children from pre-school up in how to treat each other in a fair and equal way. It will not be done over night, but some day, perhaps, there will be equality and peace between the races and the sexes.
The best way for women today to battle the issues of feminism is through politics. They must get involved and voting is the start of becoming involved with the community and the government. The power that a united woman’s movement would have is enormous. The politicians do not pay attention small groups, but a very large enough number of people will be heard and headed, especially if their jobs are threatened.
Homosexuals should have the same rights as heterosexuals. If they chose to take on all the problems, as well as the pleasures of marriage, they should be able to have that choice. If children are a part of family, why should the privacy of the bedroom have a part in the right to have kids or not? Children by the hundred come to those who do not want them. So, why deny them to those who do want them?
Sexual freedom is another of the second wave issues and thought had been achieved with the right to abortions passed and the pill in production and available. But it seems that it is still a very large problem. Being with someone we chose is a basic liberty. “The Pursuit of Happiness” this should not be an issue for the government or anyone outside to be involved with. It is personal and should be a private matter. A worse issue is battering.
Battering has always been a part of man’s history. There are men who have the need to beat upon persons who are weaker than they. Whether it’s a man/woman beating children, a husband beating his wife, beating another person is wrong and should not, must not be tolerated.
Laws preventing this are not effective and must be made so that the punishment for battering is greater that the persons need to beat. Usually the beating is to control the other, so if the law punishment is really harsh, perhaps the satisfaction of beating will not be worth the punishment and it will stop. There has to be a way to keep children and women and men safe from loved one hurting them. Education is another way to assist in stopping abuse. Education for all involved in the situation will help and ongoing check-ups for those who have been battered or were batters may keep it from reoccurring.
Feminism needs to be published in all Medias. There should be movies, newspaper ads and articles, T.V. news items, and other means of getting the message out. If necessary, perhaps the protest movements can be reinstituted. Anything to bring attention to the needs and issues women face in today world. Women must take an active and productive role in the future. Quoting Bell Hooks “While visionary feminist thinkers have understood our need for a broad-based feminist movement, one that addressed the needs of girls and boys, women and men, across class, we have not produced a body of visionary feminist theory written in an accessible language or shared through oral communication.” And she continues with “Most people in our society do not have a basic understanding of feminism; they cannot acquire that understanding from a wealth of diverse material, grade school-level primers, and so on, because this material does not exist.” (Feminism is for Everybody p.112) This is very good advice and should be followed up by every woman and man who believes in equality and the fair treatment of our citizens. The white upper class women have always been the leaders of the movement. It is now for other women, women of color, to take the lead and push for equality in their own right.
Not alone, but along with the white woman, whether she is rich or poor, joined together women would be a driving unstoppable force. Personally I would love to see the peace protests resumed and end this endless war and to promote the women’s issues again. Women made a difference in the past; there is no reason except the lack of interest, for them not to make a difference in the future.
“Because feminism is a movement to end sexism and sexist domination and oppression, a struggle that includes efforts to end gender discrimination and create equality, it is fundamentally a radical movement.” (Bell Hooks, FIFE, p.113) This is my favorite definition of feminism and one I can associate myself with. I have always been on the radical side and the fighting for simple equality and freedom is one I have always pursued. There is no doubt that I am a feminist and will die one. I wish I was able to be as active as I once was, because the job is not done and the movement needs to be pushed, enlivened, and the young women of today have so much more to offer and to gain by being involved with the policies that will affect their and their daughters in the future. If I could bring to them some of the feelings and enthusiasm of the seventies I would do so, but how I don’t know. They hold not only the future of feminism, but the history as well in their hands. It is with prayer and hope that I hope they will not let it die a slow death of neglect and loose the hard gained progress Women’s Lib has gained over the last one hundred and fifty or so years.