Essay 2 - Final

Feminism is the theory of political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings states Cheris Kramerae. Feminists are hairy, butch, lesbian women or old, rich, white men. Feminism is not only in America, but can be seen all across the world. Unfortunately, the media in America does not always give accurate portrayals of women around the world. For example, in the article Understanding the Other Sister: Arab Feminism, Susan Muaddi Darraj stated, “I understood–and not for the first time–the astounding disconnection between the lives of Arab women, and the lives of Arab women as represented by the American media and entertainment industries, thus as perceived by Americans themselves.” Before this class, I had that stereotypical view of Arab women, I thought they walked one step behind their husband, weren’t allowed to wear anything but a head-to-toe cover, not allowed to work and were just made to serve the man. I have grown up with us being at war with the middle east and seeing only the pictures that the medai wants us to see. “The rise of
U.S. feminism in the 1970s and 1980s coincided with the rise of Islam as the “new enemy of the Western World,” stated Darraj. After taking this class, I have learned about the long and hard struggle of Arab feminism and how many rights they actually do have. Not only do Arab feminists have to fight for their rights but they are constantly battling the stereotypes of their women across the world. Feminism is not just helping white middle to upper-class women in America, but it is about helping women all over the world of all races and classes. Women are constantly being judged on their appearances, ideas and roles. Feminism, to me, is about taking on the world and showing everyone that women are just as important, if not more, than any man on this planet. Feminism is about gaining the respect that we deserve. Feminism can be a very scary word to many people. Most people think feminists are man-haters, lesbians, crazy, butch women, but once you do the research you can find that feminism has a long history of doing many good things for women.
There are three waves to feminism, the first wave started with the birth of our nation. The very first women’s rights convention was held at Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. These women were of all ages and races and were all working toward a common goal, women’s rights. The biggest fight of all was getting women the right to vote. In 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted any race the right to vote, but not women. “Men their rights and nothing more; women their rights and nothing less,” was a rallying cry at the time of the first wave of feminism (Rowe-Finkbeiner, p.21). Many women who fought for their rights were fined and even jailed; other women endured in hunger strikes, marches and demonstrations. In 1872, Susan B. Anthony cast a legendary and illegal vote in New York, where after she was arrested and fined. These women stood up for women all across the world without fear. Another dominant female of the time was Alice Paul, she founded the National Women’s Party and organized a demonstration of ten thousand in the 1913 inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson to protest his opposition to women’s voting rights (Rowe-Finkbeiner, p. 22). A movie was made in 2004, called Iron Jawed Angels, that portrayed Alice Paul and the women who fought beside her for suffrage. In the movie, Alice Paul stated, “We're legitimate citizens. We're taxed without representation. We're not allowed to serve on juries so we're not tried by our peers. It's unconscionable, not to mention unconstitutional. We don't make the laws but we have to obey them like children.” There was one scene in the movie that affected me the most, and that was the force-feeding scene. Alice Paul was on a hunger strike after being thrown in a mental hospital for her actions in the women’s suffrage movement, the hospital staff soon got tired of her act and shoved a tube down her throat forcing her to eat. The scene was so disturbing but yet so empowering to watch. I can not imagine going through what those women went through, yet I reap the benefits each and every day. Finally, the Nineteenth Amendment was passed and in 1920 women voted for the first time. Not only did these women gain the right to vote but they helped change the view of women and gave women a confidence they didn’t have before. As much as women accomplished their roles were still restricted, they still weren’t in the work force or allowed to use contraception. The first wave got women’s foot in the door, and it was up to the future women to open it.
The second wave of feminism focused more on women’s independence and equality with men. Many of the women who worked in the second wave gave us rights that we can’t imagine not having today. For example, gender equality in the workplace, reproductive and sexuality information, and made discrimination of the sexes or race illegal. Women were stuck in certain stereotypical jobs such as secretaries, and they weren’t allowed to have jobs like factory workers. I can’t believe I have never thought about the rights I have now and who fought for me to have them. Not only did the second wave fight for women to get into the workforce, but also to have equal pay for equal work. However, the second wave did come with quite a few criticisms. Many argued that the second wave only focused on upper and middle class white women, and did not focus on other races of women or lower-class women. There will always people that criticize the waves of feminism, but looking back the second wave accomplished many things and once again it was up to the future women to keep it going.
The third wave, or the contemporary wave, is what we are experiencing today. The third wave is different from the past two waves because there isn’t a big movement that is happening. “What makes defining the third wave challenging is that not only is the shared label (feminism) missing, also missing is a shared movement that connects the factions of modern feminism and moves shared issues into the broad arena of popular concern” (Rowe-Finkbeiner, p. 32). There are several small issues, but nothing like gaining the right to vote, or equal pay in the workplace. Honestly, I had no idea about feminism and that there were groups fighting for things today until I took this class. I had no idea we weren’t being paid equally as a male doing the same job. I think a big problem with my generation is the laziness and impatience. A lot of people don’t like being involved in something where they can’t see direct results for all the work they have done. I think a goal of the third wave should be to reach out to these younger generations and make them understand what the men and women have done before us to give us these rights.
I think women’s studies and feminism go hand-in-hand. I had no knowledge about feminism until I took this women’s studies class. I think women’s studies is important to educate people about women’s rights and feminism is to fight for these rights. Learning about women in the past that have fought for our rights today is inspiring and should be talked about more. I am upset that I never had the option in middle school or high school to take a women’s studies class. I’m still not quite sure of the reason why it is not talked about, I guess it is too controversial to talk about women and their history? I think it is sad that if I said the name Alice Paul my friends would be clueless, but if I said Tony Romo or Wayne Gretzky they could probably tell me ten things about them. Women’s studies and feminism go hand-in-hand and should be talked about way more than they are now. I think the third wave feminists would have way more support if the issues and information were shared with girls from a young age. Women’s studies is a very important subject, and it is more important that the stereotypes that come along with feminism and women be changed.
I believe I am a feminist. Before this class I wouldn’t have known how to answer this question, but I am proud to now say that I am a feminist. Of course, having no prior knowledge I believe in standing up for women of all races to become equal with men. What angered me the most was learning that women were still only making seventy cents to the man’s dollar. I was very affected by the statement in Fresh Lipstick by Linda Scott that says, “In the end, I hope I have encouraged others who are dedicated to the equality of women, but who do not wish to give up the pleasures of self-decoration, to renew their commitment to the project of feminism. Voices from around the world report a variety of conditions and systems under which only one thing holds constant: the universal second-class of females. If there was ever a moment when the women of one culture had a responsibility toward their sisters is other nations, this is it. We should not waste time quibbling over what to wear to the conflict. Instead, I would hope that, aimed with a new perspective, a rejuvenated resolve, and yes, even a little fresh lipstick, America feminism could venture out into the world to meet the challenge.” This statement is so powerful and it makes me proud to be a woman. I feel that after looking deep into the history of feminism and what the women before me have done, I am proud to call myself a feminist. Feminists can be white, black, men, women, young or old, as long as we all want the same equality for women it doesn’t matter who you are. I have learned so much from this class and hope to pass my knowledge on to whoever I can, hopefully turning a few more into feminists.