The paper examines the articles, "Third wave Feminism: Antiracists, Transnationalists and Young Feminists Speak Out" by Angela Miles, Goli Rezai-Rashti and Lisa Byrn Rundle and the article "Women's Political Citizenship: Different and Equal" by Ruth Liste
Abstract The paper looks at two articles with the goal of finding a workable definition of feminism. The paper examines "Third wave Feminism: Antiracists, Transnationalists and Young Feminists Speak Out" by Miles, Rezai-Rashti and Rundle and "Women's Political Citizenship: Different and Equal" by Lister. The writer concludes with a definition of a feminist.
From the Paper "At first sight, the two articles, "Third wave Feminism: Antiracists, Transnationalists, and Young Feminists Speak Out" by Miles, Rezai-Rashti, and Rundle, and Lister's article "Women's Political Citizenship: Different and Equal," seem to be very different. However, I found that in the course of reading the two articles I was able to make considerable progress towards answering a key question that is of acute importance to me, i.e. "What is feminism?" This might seem like a facile question, but in fact it is not. For it goes to the very heart of why one would choose to be a feminist at all. Unless the term "feminist" has some real meaning in today's world, there would be no point in being a feminist. I am frequently confronted with this question, when friends ask me why I am a feminist."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the way in which feminism is considered in the two Ibsen plays "A Doll's House" and "Hedda Gabler" and in Simone de Beauvoir's novel "The Mandarins".
From the Paper "In Henrik Ibsen's plays A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler as well as Simone de Beauvior's novel The Mandarins the issue of feminism becomes central focus of the narratives. The female protagonists in these works all strive to establish identities that are ..."
Abstract This paper paper introduces, summarizes and discusses an article about the stance on abortion taken by pro-life feminists entitled, "Abortion and the Sexual Agenda: A Case for Pro-life Feminism". The paper examines the moral and philosophical questions involved in this hotly debated topic and examines the arguments against abortion put forth by pro-life feminists.
From the Paper "There are few debates that rage as passionately as the argument regarding abortion and women's reproductive rights. Indeed, this topic inevitably gives rise to the discussion of moral and philosophical questions about personhood and fetal rights. The debate becomes even more interesting, however, when approached from opposing feminist perspectives, as both pro-choice and pro-life feminists are committed to bringing about full social equality for women, yet view the abortion issue in entirely different lights. While it may seem that feminism requires a certain support of abortion as part of..."
Tags: abortion, pro-life, pro-choice, feminism, fetal rights, social equality
Abstract This paper examines feminism and how globalization has played a role in shaping feminist thought and practice. The paper further discusses the definition of social capital, which emphasizes not just warm and cuddly feelings, but a wide variety of quite specific benefits that flow from the trust, reciprocity, information, and cooperation associated with social networks. Social capital creates value for the people who are connected and - at least sometimes - for bystanders as well.
From the Paper "Trimble argues "that women's advances in recent decades have stimulated a mostly-misinformed backlash against feminism and those who identify themselves as feminists" (Bateman & Epp 73)."
Abstract This paper examines how feminism relates to the high rate of Black women who have contracted AIDS. It explains that it is evident that despite the cultural, social and economic factors which have contributed to making AIDS more prevalent in this demographic group, the relative absence of feminist attitudes among Black women appears to be one of the most important contributing factors.
From the Paper "An Analysis In examining how feminism relates to the high rate of Black women who have contracted AIDS, it is evident that despite the cultural, social, and economic factors which have contributed to making AIDS more prevalent in this demographic group, the relative absence of feminist attitudes among Black women appears to be one of the most important contributing factors. In Sexuality and the Black Church: A Womanist Perspective, author Kelly Brown Douglas (1999) examines these issues in terms of the impact the silence of the Black church has had regarding sexuality, and explores why sexuality issues have been avoided not only in the Black church but in the Black community as well. She offers a feminist perspective on these issues and encourages Blacks to engage in a theological discourse on human ..."
Abstract This paper discusses the evolution of the feminist movement in the United States. The paper examines the changes evident in American society, following many feminist achievements. The paper explores the first tentative steps taken towards feminist activities in Iran, claiming that Iranian women are sure to reach their goals.
Outline
Introduction
Feminism Generally
FeminismDefined What Feminism Has Achieved
Feminism in Iran
The Future of Feminism Conclusion
From the Paper "It is often said that American women these days don't understand what Feminism has done for them. They take for granted their right to vote, their opportunities to play sports and attend college, and their ability to work in traditionally male professions including law and medicine. In many ways, this is true. But only of American women. American women easily forget the strides Feminism has made in securing rights and privileges on their behalf. However, their counterparts in the Middle East, particularly in Iran, have not forgotten. To the contrary, Iranian women look to the strides made over the past century by American women and seek to duplicate those efforts. Of course, their efforts are in the early stages. Because Islamic law prevents women from organizing as American women did in the late 1800s, Iranian women have set the stage for Feminism and for activities which will ultimately grant Iranian women rights on par with men. Shortly thereafter, it is reasonable to predict that the Iranian women's movement will expand to worldwide issues and concerns, just as American Feminists have."
Abstract This paper explains that feminism and liberalism often have been intertwined epistemologically because, in a liberal view, the basic task of government is to protect the equal liberty of citizens and equal rights in the total system of basic liberties. The author points out that feminism, as a liberal philosophy of social rights, really only emerged in the United States in the 1970s, a decade behind the rise of the American women's movement in the 1960s. The paper stresses that, liberal Western philosophy is derived from the experience of predominantly white and heterosexual men; therefore, feminist philosophical forms, unlike past forms of liberalism, first have had to critique established views of the "self," rather than to accept the existence of the "self" as a given, and then define the best ways to protect these rights.
From the Paper "A politician of a centrist bent may be called a liberal if he or she allows that gays and lesbians should be permitted to legally wed. A woman who runs her own business may be called a feminist. However, these individual's real political convictions may bear little resemblance to such great liberal thinkers as John Rawls and John Stuart Mill and to such self-identified feminists as Naomi Wolf and Luce Irigaray. Rawls and Mill, Wolf and Irigaray themselves span quite different areas of the political spectrum, not in terms of its continuum of liberal versus conservative, but the fact that Irigaray might deny that such a creation of a continuum of liberal v. conservative, feminist v. anti-feminist is itself a male creation, part of the polarizing, dual discourse of patriarchy."
How the film, "Imitation of Life", and society shaped each other in terms of defining the role of women in society,specifically, in regard to women's roles in the home/workplace.
Abstract Discusses the film, "Imitation of Life", and its characters in relation to feminism, women's roles in the home versus the workplace, gender, and societal expectations. Compares the way these issues were addressed during the time period of the film, the 1930s-1950s, with how they are handled today. Also explores race relations.
From the Paper "Over the progression of this course, and our class? analysis of women and their work both within and outside the home, we have discussed several factors that have contributed to the idea of importance, impact, and propriety of said jobs. There is a racial and socioeconomic bias in addition to the expected gender bias that we encounter when viewing the films that have been focused on. In this paper, I wish to discuss the significant differences and contrast of housework versus work outside of the home environment, white labor versus the work reserved for other races, and glamorized labor versus ordinary labor. I intend to focus on the film Imitation of Life, and the many contrasts on display within the film to aid in my assessment of these points."
A critical analysis of Julie D'Acci's article "Defining Women: The Case of Cagney and Lacey" that attempts to define women in CBS's hit series from the 1980s, "Cagney and Lacey".
Abstract The paper argues that Julie D'Acci's article "Defining Women: The Case of Cagney and Lacey" successfully employs testimony from individuals to illustrate the clash between portraying women in the feminist light and broader social and/or political limitations. The paper highlights the weaknesses of D'Acci's article and concludes that while her general argument is a strong, worthy one, she does not offer a truly balanced perspective.
From the Paper "To begin with, Julie D'Acci writes that the 1980s was the decade in which the "working woman" rose to prominence. "Cagney and Lacey" was one of the television series from this decade intended to reach out to that affluent new audience, and D'Acci argues that the show was meant to not only reach out to a new consumer demographic, but to also show women in a new light - a light created by the rise to prominence of the modern woman's movement. Unfortunately, D'Acci proceeds to point out that the initial promise of "Cagney and Lacey" went unfulfilled insofar as the show had to temper its message in the face of a broad-based backlash against the feminist movement."
Abstract This paper discusses feminism in Native America. It begins by describing various forms of feminism and discussing three waves of feminism. It then links feminism in Native America to the third wave, which includes ecofeminism, postcolonial feminism, generational, youth feminism and embodiment, nature, culture and dualism. The paper goes on to discuss the implications of this form of feminism on the native communities.
From the Paper "Regardless of its origins in Native communities, sexism operates with full force today and requires strategies that directly address it. Smith believes that before Native peoples fight for the future of their nations, they must decide who is included in the nation. Gender justice is often articulated as being a separate issue from issues of survival for indigenous peoples, and such an understanding presupposes that "we could actually decolonize without addressing sexism, which ignores the fact that it has been precisely through gender violence that we have lost our lands in the first place," argues Smith."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that feminism today tends to be focused on intellectualizing the position of women in society. The writer points out that while still working in a concrete fashion in order to secure gender equality, feminism has also penetrated areas of intellectual endeavor such as theory of literature and philosophy. The writer discusses that despite the very prominent position of feminism in a wide variety of intellectual and social areas, some hold that the paradigm is no longer relevant, particularly in advanced locations such as the United States, and particularly in Europe. On the other hand, it is the position of some theorists that feminism today is more relevant than ever, exactly because of appearances to the contrary. The writer maintains that despite the voices of dissent, it is clear that feminism still has a variety of roles to play in the EU today. Feminism is also relevant in terms of the international effort towards equal and human rights for all. As such, the writer notes that EU countries can concentrate their collective efforts towards the developing world in ensuring the empowerment of women. The writer concludes that feminism in any environment, including the EU, will not be obsolete for centuries to come.
From the Paper "One of the reasons for the apparent irrelevance of feminism in modern Europe is the fact that equal rights have become a reality in almost every area of Western social life. Women are recognized as capable of filling any position they choose, and are provided by law with the right to receive equal pay for such work. In society, the modern Western woman is no longer expected to revolve her purpose in life around marriage, children, and homemaking, while on the other hand nothing prevents her from choosing to do so. Because all these rights have been secured for women, some theorists believe that feminism is no longer necessary, and indeed, no longer has a purpose in modern Europe.
"In Ireland, this nearly halted the feminist movement shortly after its inception, when the right to vote was successfully attained. According to Tomas A. O'Riordan, the right to vote was at the center of first-stage feminism to such an extent that it had become the movement's reason for existence."
Abstract This essay examines the implications of globalization for feminism, including the "paradigm shift" that some scholars perceive feminism is undergoing in response to globalization. It also considers the kinds of issues to which feminist analysis is being challenged to pay attention. The writer notes that globalization has imposed new pressures on feminism, and feminism has responded by generating new types of feminism and new paradigms. The writer concludes with the hope that it is possible to construct a transnational feminism that is at the same time not hegemonic, one that respectfully incorporates and listens to the various discourses, yet somehow manages to build enough common ground to enable global feminists to work cohesively together.
From the Paper "In like vein, Seyla Benhabib proposes building solidaristic communities in which we can acknowledge each other's diverse and multiple identities, while at the same time we can listen respectfully to each other, acknowledging the many strands that comprise our identities. In this way, there is hope of building up a respectful form of global feminist solidarity that can work to counter the most destructive forces of globalization. For example, there could be a site for a global community of feminists that oppose the depredations of the planet currently being unleashed by transnational corporations.
"Clearly, this new way of looking at feminism may be seen as a substantial paradigm shift."
Abstract This paper explains that feminism is a much lesser studied theory than liberalism or realism in the field of international relations; nonetheless, it deserves attention because women have had an impact on the foundation of international relations. The author points out that feminism, along with other gender theories, are based on three assumptions: 1) Women should be fully incorporated into the field of international relations to ensure an equal voice for everyone, 2) there should be a distinct and noticeable re-focusing of international relations and 3) it assumes that post-positivist methodology should be used in order to deconstruct gender issues at the international level. This paper explains that radical feminism is opposed to integrating existing feminism into any frameworks because it is trying to create a distinctly feminine analysis, which isn't subservient to a male agenda the way other theories have been in the past: They criticize both liberal and critical theories of feminism.
From the Paper "The next category of feminism that we are going to take a look at is Marxist or critical feminist theory. This theory largely suggests that the problem in the world is capitalism, which has resulted in making women work as a labor of love, for no economic reward, in a sense rendering them invisible. This theory searches for the answer to why women and men have appeared in international relations, instead of a focus on how, like so many other subcategories of feminism. To look at it from a different perspective, critical theory asks us questions like: "What ideas about the appropriate relationship between women and men, feminine and masculine, inform the practices of particular actors and institutions? And what material conditions and social forces contribute to the reproduction of those practices? Finally, are attempts to alter those understandings and practices facilitated or hindered by prevailing material conditions?""
Tags: equality, norms, patriarchical, rights, theory
Abstract This paper examines the aspects that feminism has in common with other political ideologies, such as liberalism and social democracy. The author explains that since feminism also disagrees with other aspects of these ideologies, it would not be correct to say that it is derived from them, although it might be termed newer. The author gives examples of points where feminism concurs with liberalism, socialism, social democracy and conservatism, and where it diverges. The author explains why a chronological way of viewing ideologies does not work, since it can be argued, for example, that feminism has existed in some form as long as women have been considered to be inferior to men. The paper concludes that even with their inherent contradictions, feminism, conservatism, and social democracy all have common aspects, though none of them can lay claim to being the precursor of another.
From the Paper "Feminists view the right to choose as very individualistic, and the philosophy behind it is that they think that women have the right to choose what to do with their bodies. Any government regulation that attempts to regulate what a person does with their body, in the view of feminists, oversteps what governments should be allowed to do. Pro-choice advocates are very similar to liberalists in that they feel as though their own reason and their ability to take rational actions should not be disrespected. This is the ultimate goal and most important aspect of liberalism: "Individuals are assumed to be capable of using reason and taking rational actions in pursuit of their interests" (Mintz et al, 2008)."
Tags: society slogan empiricism, free market, contradiction viewpoint motherhood domination
