Sunday, November 18, 2007
First Wave Feminism
Definition of Feminism
Feminism – comprises a number of social, cultural and political movements, theories and moral philosophies concerned with gender inequalities and equal rights for women. (Wikipedia)
Feminism - Belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes, the movement organized around this belief. (American Heritage Dictionary)
First Wave of Feminism
The first wave of American feminism began in the early 1800’s and proceeded through the 1920’s. The first women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls in July of 1848 by Elizabeth Stanton, there she presented the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments which included eleven resolutions demanding social and political equality for all women, including it’s primarily demand, the right to vote.
In 1854, women such as Elizabeth Stanton and Susan Anthony also began a women’s rights campaign to promote New York’s Married Women’s Property Law of 1848, which passed in 1860. The law gave married women the right to own property, manage their own business, wages and income. It also gave women the right to sue, to divorce and the right of custody of their own children. This was a change in women’s lives that many waited for years; women were no longer at the mercy of their husbands.
The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) believed they would achieve women’s rights by congressional amendment to the constitution as where The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) believed they would achieve women’s rights by amending individual state constitutions. Regardless of their beliefs, they all had the same goal and in 1890 both associations merged to form The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Carrie Chapman Catt was a coordinator of The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and played an important part in its victorious campaign to win voting rights for women.
Because the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) did not allow colored women to join the association, in 1896 The National Association of Colored Women is formed and led by Mary Church Terrell.
In 1913 Alice Paul and Lucy Burns form The National Women’s Party who picket in front of the White House, demanding the passage of a federal amendment to give women the right to vote.
The first U.S. birth control clinic is opened in Brooklyn, New York by Margaret Sanger in 1916. Sanger is arrested and the clinic is closed down. After obtaining support from the courts, she opens another birth control clinic in New York City in 1923.
The federal woman suffrage amendment, originally presented and written by Susan B. Anthony, becomes the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting the right to women to vote in August of 1920.
Many women believed that Suffrage was the most successful way to amend the unfair system. While it did not produce the rapid results many women and its followers hoped for it did lay the foundation for future women to fight for their rights. It was definitely a stepping stone to the Second Wave of Feminism.
Sources
Battle for Suffrage, 1848-1920,
People & Events
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eleanor/peopleevents/pande09.html
By Popular Demand, “Votes for Women” Suffrage Pictures, 1850-1920
The Library of Congress
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/vfwhtml/vfwhome.html
Women's Rights Movement in the U.S.
Timeline of Key Events in the American Women's Rights Movement http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenstimeline1.html
Not For Ourselves Alone,
The story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
http://www.pbs.org/stantonanthony/
Feminism – comprises a number of social, cultural and political movements, theories and moral philosophies concerned with gender inequalities and equal rights for women. (Wikipedia)
Feminism - Belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes, the movement organized around this belief. (American Heritage Dictionary)
First Wave of Feminism
The first wave of American feminism began in the early 1800’s and proceeded through the 1920’s. The first women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls in July of 1848 by Elizabeth Stanton, there she presented the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments which included eleven resolutions demanding social and political equality for all women, including it’s primarily demand, the right to vote.
In 1854, women such as Elizabeth Stanton and Susan Anthony also began a women’s rights campaign to promote New York’s Married Women’s Property Law of 1848, which passed in 1860. The law gave married women the right to own property, manage their own business, wages and income. It also gave women the right to sue, to divorce and the right of custody of their own children. This was a change in women’s lives that many waited for years; women were no longer at the mercy of their husbands.
The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) believed they would achieve women’s rights by congressional amendment to the constitution as where The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) believed they would achieve women’s rights by amending individual state constitutions. Regardless of their beliefs, they all had the same goal and in 1890 both associations merged to form The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Carrie Chapman Catt was a coordinator of The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and played an important part in its victorious campaign to win voting rights for women.
Because the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) did not allow colored women to join the association, in 1896 The National Association of Colored Women is formed and led by Mary Church Terrell.
In 1913 Alice Paul and Lucy Burns form The National Women’s Party who picket in front of the White House, demanding the passage of a federal amendment to give women the right to vote.
The first U.S. birth control clinic is opened in Brooklyn, New York by Margaret Sanger in 1916. Sanger is arrested and the clinic is closed down. After obtaining support from the courts, she opens another birth control clinic in New York City in 1923.
The federal woman suffrage amendment, originally presented and written by Susan B. Anthony, becomes the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting the right to women to vote in August of 1920.
Many women believed that Suffrage was the most successful way to amend the unfair system. While it did not produce the rapid results many women and its followers hoped for it did lay the foundation for future women to fight for their rights. It was definitely a stepping stone to the Second Wave of Feminism.
Sources
Battle for Suffrage, 1848-1920,
People & Events
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eleanor/peopleevents/pande09.html
By Popular Demand, “Votes for Women” Suffrage Pictures, 1850-1920
The Library of Congress
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/vfwhtml/vfwhome.html
Women's Rights Movement in the U.S.
Timeline of Key Events in the American Women's Rights Movement http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenstimeline1.html
Not For Ourselves Alone,
The story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
http://www.pbs.org/stantonanthony/
Second Wave Feminism
Second Wave Feminism
The second wave feminists wanted social equality. They wanted to earn and have the equal rights as a male would. They wanted to be part of the male dominant work force and get paid equally as a male would. When World War II came, men had to leave and the women stepped up and filled the positions of the men. However, when the men returned back home from the war, the positions that the women were working was were taken away.
After the war, feminists started to protest for equal rights and opportunities in the work environment. (McElroy 173). When congressed passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963, it required for women and men who performed equal work. Also, it meant that they were banned discrimination based on sex. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, which prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of sex as well as race, religion and national origin was introduced (McElroy 174).Women were happy because this meant that they were close to what they want to achieve. Both these acts were important to not only the white women, but also colored women and people of different religions.
During the second wave feminist’s movement, women established women’s newspapers, bookstores, and magazines. They wanted to express their feminist issues and thoughts in their newspapers and magazines. Also, they established cafes. Another thing that they did was established a battered women’s shelters, rape crisis hotlines, daycares and many more. Creating daycares were great because it gave a great opportunity for women to go and work.
In 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) was formed by a group of active women funded. After NOW the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, was passed which was first proposed in 1923 (McElroy 226). Women were drafted into the army service. However, ERA died in 1982 because of lack of adequate support at the state level.
The second wave feminists wanted social equality. They wanted to earn and have the equal rights as a male would. They wanted to be part of the male dominant work force and get paid equally as a male would. When World War II came, men had to leave and the women stepped up and filled the positions of the men. However, when the men returned back home from the war, the positions that the women were working was were taken away.
After the war, feminists started to protest for equal rights and opportunities in the work environment. (McElroy 173). When congressed passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963, it required for women and men who performed equal work. Also, it meant that they were banned discrimination based on sex. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, which prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of sex as well as race, religion and national origin was introduced (McElroy 174).Women were happy because this meant that they were close to what they want to achieve. Both these acts were important to not only the white women, but also colored women and people of different religions.
During the second wave feminist’s movement, women established women’s newspapers, bookstores, and magazines. They wanted to express their feminist issues and thoughts in their newspapers and magazines. Also, they established cafes. Another thing that they did was established a battered women’s shelters, rape crisis hotlines, daycares and many more. Creating daycares were great because it gave a great opportunity for women to go and work.
In 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) was formed by a group of active women funded. After NOW the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, was passed which was first proposed in 1923 (McElroy 226). Women were drafted into the army service. However, ERA died in 1982 because of lack of adequate support at the state level.
Third Wave Feminism
Third Wave Feminism
When ERA died, feminism continued to evolve. The third wave of feminism began in 1980s and still continues today. The third wave feminists may be viewed differently than the founders were, but they approach their activism with similar principles. Since their founders did all the hard work, the third wave feminists are not fighting for political equality, but they are fighting for social changes. The main social change that they are fighting for is to stop the current war that we are in now.
There were so many accomplishments, and because of these accomplishments, the third wave feminists are fortunate to not have to deal with the oppression of women. Third wavers of the women’s movement have taken more of a social perspective than the previous wavers. Feminists would like to put an end to what bell hooks calls a feminist struggle. She proposes that this “struggle be viewed as a component of an overall movement to end violence” (hooks 63). She says that men and women should work together to “eliminate” violence. However, many other people, such as Barbara Epstein argue that the women’s movement no longer continues. Epstein states “the wind has gone out of the sails, not only of the women’s movement but also of the progressive movement as a whole in the United States generally” (Epstein 2). She suggests that the movement no longer subsists.
I believe that the women’s movement will never die, until we have solved all the problems in the world. As hooks states, “Feminist politics aims to end domination to free us to be who we are-to live lives where we love justice, where we can live in peace”. If the women’s movement did not exist, women would not have come as far as they have and we would be living in a male centralized country.
Understanding its origins and the reasons feminists created women’s movements gives us a better understanding of the movements. We should understand the origins of feminism and actively get involved in such things. As a woman, I am fortunate to live in a time where women are allowed to vote, get higher pays, work next to men, and even become their bosses and many more. We should respect and appreciate all the work that the women did from the beginning of time. It is hard to what to state something without any acknowledgment. They made it easy for us to adopt to our privileges.
Sources
Epstein, Barbara. “The Successes and Failures of Feminism.” Journal of Women’s
History Bloomington: Summer 2002. Vol. 14, Iss.2, p.118-125.
Hooks, Bell. Feminism is for Everybody. Cambridge, MA: South End Press, 2000.
When ERA died, feminism continued to evolve. The third wave of feminism began in 1980s and still continues today. The third wave feminists may be viewed differently than the founders were, but they approach their activism with similar principles. Since their founders did all the hard work, the third wave feminists are not fighting for political equality, but they are fighting for social changes. The main social change that they are fighting for is to stop the current war that we are in now.
There were so many accomplishments, and because of these accomplishments, the third wave feminists are fortunate to not have to deal with the oppression of women. Third wavers of the women’s movement have taken more of a social perspective than the previous wavers. Feminists would like to put an end to what bell hooks calls a feminist struggle. She proposes that this “struggle be viewed as a component of an overall movement to end violence” (hooks 63). She says that men and women should work together to “eliminate” violence. However, many other people, such as Barbara Epstein argue that the women’s movement no longer continues. Epstein states “the wind has gone out of the sails, not only of the women’s movement but also of the progressive movement as a whole in the United States generally” (Epstein 2). She suggests that the movement no longer subsists.
I believe that the women’s movement will never die, until we have solved all the problems in the world. As hooks states, “Feminist politics aims to end domination to free us to be who we are-to live lives where we love justice, where we can live in peace”. If the women’s movement did not exist, women would not have come as far as they have and we would be living in a male centralized country.
Understanding its origins and the reasons feminists created women’s movements gives us a better understanding of the movements. We should understand the origins of feminism and actively get involved in such things. As a woman, I am fortunate to live in a time where women are allowed to vote, get higher pays, work next to men, and even become their bosses and many more. We should respect and appreciate all the work that the women did from the beginning of time. It is hard to what to state something without any acknowledgment. They made it easy for us to adopt to our privileges.
Sources
Epstein, Barbara. “The Successes and Failures of Feminism.” Journal of Women’s
History Bloomington: Summer 2002. Vol. 14, Iss.2, p.118-125.
Hooks, Bell. Feminism is for Everybody. Cambridge, MA: South End Press, 2000.
Fourth Wave Feminism
Fourth Wave of Feminism
“Although the first and second waves of feminism were important -- hey, I'm glad I can vote, and wear jeans and work -- and the third wave made make-up and girls cool again... but where are that fourth wave, the one I'm craving
(Ria, 2004).”
So what is the “Fourth Wave” of feminism—a fusion of spirituality and social justice reminiscent of the American civil rights movement and Gandhi’s call for nonviolent change (Peay, 2005).”
As we move into the fourth decade of the women's movement, some believe women are doing nearly everything men do, but are they getting the equal respect as men? “This fourth wave has women breaking through the glass ceiling and having equal pay in CEO positions, but also being able to take a year's maternity leave with pay. Men, could also share this maternity leave -- we could be PC and call it parental leave, if the gentlemen so wished (Ria, 2004).” So are women today satisfied to be equal to men? What differences is still afflicting between men and women that women are not allowed or able to do nowadays? “Many women today aren't satisfied with being equal to men – they want to be men. From casual sex to cutthroat boardroom deals, the little girls who were "sugar and spice and everything nice," grew up to be anything but (Leupold, 2007).”
To define the “Fourth Wave” of feminism, you can relate it to the television show, “Sex and the City.” This popular American cable television program focus on four female characters, tackled socially relevant issues, often specifically dealing with women in society in the late 1990s, and how changing roles and definitions for women affected the characters. The women discussed their sexual desires and fantasies, as well as their beliefs and opinions about their "oh-so-sexiness". The show often portrayed openly discussions about romance and sexuality, particularly in the context of being a single woman in her mid-thirties.
Still today, we are trying to develop a sense of what the future of feminism should be. It is safe to say that women have came a far way and have accomplished many goals that women were not able to conquer years back. Many women are more respected in the male dominant businesses world and taking up roles that women were not usually permitted. Thus, with more and more acknowledgment of our existence, it sends out a positive message to many young girls to thrive for excellence. They will learn to recognize that if the men can do it, they can do it just as well or better, and not to mention, they look better doing it than the men.
Sources
Fourth Wave Feminism
Special Project- Portfolio at NYU
http://journalism.nyu.edu/portfolio/leupold/index.html
A new activist movement is gathering women across faiths
The Episcopal Church
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/41685_61607_ENG_HTM.htm
Dialogue
A Fourth-Wave Manifesto
http://undialogo.blogspot.com/2004/10/fourth-wave-manifesto.html
“Although the first and second waves of feminism were important -- hey, I'm glad I can vote, and wear jeans and work -- and the third wave made make-up and girls cool again... but where are that fourth wave, the one I'm craving
(Ria, 2004).”
So what is the “Fourth Wave” of feminism—a fusion of spirituality and social justice reminiscent of the American civil rights movement and Gandhi’s call for nonviolent change (Peay, 2005).”
As we move into the fourth decade of the women's movement, some believe women are doing nearly everything men do, but are they getting the equal respect as men? “This fourth wave has women breaking through the glass ceiling and having equal pay in CEO positions, but also being able to take a year's maternity leave with pay. Men, could also share this maternity leave -- we could be PC and call it parental leave, if the gentlemen so wished (Ria, 2004).” So are women today satisfied to be equal to men? What differences is still afflicting between men and women that women are not allowed or able to do nowadays? “Many women today aren't satisfied with being equal to men – they want to be men. From casual sex to cutthroat boardroom deals, the little girls who were "sugar and spice and everything nice," grew up to be anything but (Leupold, 2007).”
To define the “Fourth Wave” of feminism, you can relate it to the television show, “Sex and the City.” This popular American cable television program focus on four female characters, tackled socially relevant issues, often specifically dealing with women in society in the late 1990s, and how changing roles and definitions for women affected the characters. The women discussed their sexual desires and fantasies, as well as their beliefs and opinions about their "oh-so-sexiness". The show often portrayed openly discussions about romance and sexuality, particularly in the context of being a single woman in her mid-thirties.
Still today, we are trying to develop a sense of what the future of feminism should be. It is safe to say that women have came a far way and have accomplished many goals that women were not able to conquer years back. Many women are more respected in the male dominant businesses world and taking up roles that women were not usually permitted. Thus, with more and more acknowledgment of our existence, it sends out a positive message to many young girls to thrive for excellence. They will learn to recognize that if the men can do it, they can do it just as well or better, and not to mention, they look better doing it than the men.
Sources
Fourth Wave Feminism
Special Project- Portfolio at NYU
http://journalism.nyu.edu/portfolio/leupold/index.html
A new activist movement is gathering women across faiths
The Episcopal Church
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/41685_61607_ENG_HTM.htm
Dialogue
A Fourth-Wave Manifesto
http://undialogo.blogspot.com/2004/10/fourth-wave-manifesto.html
Fifth Wave Feminism
Fifth Wave Feminism
Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues.
Feminist theory aims to understand the nature of gender inequality and focuses on gender politics, power relations and sexuality. Feminist political activism campaigns on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, sexual harassment, discrimination and sexual violence. Themes explored in feminism include discrimination, stereotyping, objectification, sexual objectification, oppression and patriarchy.While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues.Modern feminist theory has been extensively criticized as being predominantly different from the liberation and independency of women rights. Feminist activism, however, is a grass roots movement which crosses class and race boundaries (Mike Louis).
The fifth wave feminism will result in the modern working independent women, as we begin to see it now. There is Hilary Clinton for example proving that women are entering the men-dominant positions such as presidency. Hilary is the first woman to advance into the final stages of running for presidency, and she might become president. This shows that in the future as the “fifth wave” women are becoming empowered and are reflecting on everything from our daily routines to our political habits and ideals. It has allows women to look at ourselves differently, as it opposes the patriarchal structure, which often prevents woman being treated equally
issues(Laura Winn, 2007). We also see it as television shows have higher ratings when an independent strong woman is the primary subject of the story. This is because women are entering society and are being respected and are influential. Feminism today is not about being in a club and looking pretty, it is the search for political equality with personal freedom. In the “fifth wave” feminism the percentage of independent women will increase because women in the 20th century have learned to raise children on their own and single women have achieved their goals without a male on their side. Discrimination and tolerance for women are changing and when the “fifth wave” comes in it will most likely be close in achieving women dominance in society. Women will no longer be related to the social norm that is now fading away of being housewives and house chores as being categorized for women. We are now seeing males acting on the women roles, which in the future waves will not be categorized in either gender as major changes are happening. In the “fifth wave’ women will be showing their independence and continue climbing the ladders to enter the male-dominant field, which society has made difficult to break into. The feminism waves are proving that those walls can be broken and women are stepping out of the oppressed population.
1. “Changes in Feminism”. Laura Winn, March 2007. The State University of New York. www.NewsCenter.Com
2. “Feminism and Social Movement Theory”. Mike Louis, December 2006. Alexander Street Press. www.alexanderstreet.com
Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues.
Feminist theory aims to understand the nature of gender inequality and focuses on gender politics, power relations and sexuality. Feminist political activism campaigns on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, sexual harassment, discrimination and sexual violence. Themes explored in feminism include discrimination, stereotyping, objectification, sexual objectification, oppression and patriarchy.While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues.Modern feminist theory has been extensively criticized as being predominantly different from the liberation and independency of women rights. Feminist activism, however, is a grass roots movement which crosses class and race boundaries (Mike Louis).
The fifth wave feminism will result in the modern working independent women, as we begin to see it now. There is Hilary Clinton for example proving that women are entering the men-dominant positions such as presidency. Hilary is the first woman to advance into the final stages of running for presidency, and she might become president. This shows that in the future as the “fifth wave” women are becoming empowered and are reflecting on everything from our daily routines to our political habits and ideals. It has allows women to look at ourselves differently, as it opposes the patriarchal structure, which often prevents woman being treated equally
issues(Laura Winn, 2007). We also see it as television shows have higher ratings when an independent strong woman is the primary subject of the story. This is because women are entering society and are being respected and are influential. Feminism today is not about being in a club and looking pretty, it is the search for political equality with personal freedom. In the “fifth wave” feminism the percentage of independent women will increase because women in the 20th century have learned to raise children on their own and single women have achieved their goals without a male on their side. Discrimination and tolerance for women are changing and when the “fifth wave” comes in it will most likely be close in achieving women dominance in society. Women will no longer be related to the social norm that is now fading away of being housewives and house chores as being categorized for women. We are now seeing males acting on the women roles, which in the future waves will not be categorized in either gender as major changes are happening. In the “fifth wave’ women will be showing their independence and continue climbing the ladders to enter the male-dominant field, which society has made difficult to break into. The feminism waves are proving that those walls can be broken and women are stepping out of the oppressed population.
1. “Changes in Feminism”. Laura Winn, March 2007. The State University of New York. www.NewsCenter.Com
2. “Feminism and Social Movement Theory”. Mike Louis, December 2006. Alexander Street Press. www.alexanderstreet.com
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Women's Suffrage Movement Video
If you are having difficulty viewing this video install Adobe Flash Player on your system. Click Here to download Adobe Flash player.
Women's Rights Video
If you are having difficulty viewing this video install Adobe Flash Player on your system. Click Here to download Adobe Flash player.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)