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."

Tags:third-wave, equality, oppression, power, race, class, gender

Abstract
The paper discusses the contention that "the Cultural Relativist argues that traditional feminism has no authority to claim that the practices of minority or non-western cultures are harmful to women". The paper explains that this suggestion supports the view that women are integral parts of cultural groups and that they elect to participate in cultural norms, therefore, they cannot be considered oppressed or that multiculturalism adversely impacts their lives. Yet, the paper discusses how Okin (1999) states that the details of cultural life have traditionally been defined by the male gender, with males mandating how women will function within the culture and essentially stripping them of their voice in relation to making decisions about cultural norms (sec. 1). The paper argues that because of this fact, feminism must concern itself with minority group rights and their impact on women.

From the Paper
"It is contended that "the Cultural Relativist argues that traditional feminism has no authority to claim that the practices of minority or non-western cultures are harmful to women". This suggestion supports the view that women are integral parts of cultural groups and that they elect to participate in cultural norms, therefore, they cannot be considered oppressed or that multiculturalism adversely impacts their lives. Yet, Okin (1999) states that the details of cultural life have traditionally been defined by the male gender, with males mandating how women will function within the culture and essentially stripping them of their voice..."

Tags:okin, multiculturalism, feminism

Abstract
The paper discusses how "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath is one of the more provocative feminist tracts of the 1960s because it poignantly and powerfully captures the angst of an early second-wave feminist, Esther Greenwood, as she grapples with making it in a tough man's world - all the while tormented by what society expects from her as a woman. This paper explores how the title suggests the profound sense of imprisonment and entrapment that Esther experiences in 1950s New York; the paper also notes that, whilst it is easy to blame Esther's problems on "the patriarchy," it is only appropriate to note that Esther is a woman who is emotionally frail and perhaps not up to the challenges confronting her in a tough profession marked by professional greed, politicking and hyper-competition. In any case, the paper asserts that even if one concedes that Esther's setbacks are not entirely the fault of others, there is little question that she finds herself in a world wherein women are defined by their biological capacity to have children; they are deemed ill-suited for anything else.

From the Paper
""The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath is one of the more provocative feminist tracts of the 1960s because it poignantly and powerfully captures the angst of an early second-wave feminist, Esther Greenwood, as she grapples with making it in a tough man's world - all the while tormented by what society expects from her as a woman. This essay will explore how the title suggests the profound sense of imprisonment and entrapment that Esther..."

Tags:second, wave, feminism, 1960s

Abstract
The paper explains that the central purpose connected to the work of Ehrenreich is that of defining social feminism. the paper discusses how it is Ehrenreich's mission to explore what this means to the modern woman and to social feminists in particular. The paper looks at how Ehrenreich discusses the concept of social feminism by stating that if the terms social and feminism are explored, the scope of each term seems too broad, although Ehrenreich then concentrates on the primary issues of Marxism and feminism that support those ideas. The paper explains that this ultimately allows for a clear understanding of why social feminism is important to women in society and why the study of social feminism is important to the comprehension of the impact of social ideas on women specifically.

Tags:summary, edu, feminism

Abstract
The paper is an attempt at defining the difference and comparing the first and second wave of feminism as experienced in America and Britain.

Tags:debate, of, feminism

Abstract
In this paper, the integration of gender roles found in eco-feminism have been analyzed through Margaret Atwood's main protagonist in the novel 'Surfacing'. The writer discusses that the gender role transformation of the main character reveals the power of natural environments to reconstruct a woman's divided psyche. By facing her fears about her father's drowning, she begins to 'surface' or be awakened to the truth of patriarchal domination of gender role language. The writer maintains that this provides the platform for the charter to integrate a new vision of gender roles that is not defined by the men in her past.

Tags:surfacing

Abstract
This paper discusses the definition of feminism and the goals of the movement as further exemplified in Kate Chopin's novel, "The Awakening." According to the paper, the feminist struggle has been fought largely in an attempt to establish an individual sense of identity that is not dependent on gender. This is seen the conflict faced by the protagonist in Chopin's novel, Edna Pontellier. The paper notes that the novel is primarily concerned with Edna Pontellier's attempts to find and define herself, and her "awakening" to the realities of her identity as a woman in the early years of the twentieth century. The paper describes the characters from whom Edna must escape, namely her husband and children. The paper concludes by stating that "The Awakening" is about a woman having the ability and the opportunity to choose an identity, whatever it may be.

From the Paper
"Nothing makes this more apparent than the famous (or infamous, at the time of the book's publication) ending of the novel, in which Edna Pontellier divests herself of her clothing and her life as she wades out into the ocean and succumbs to drowning. The way in which the water is described reflects the importance of identity and one's ability to carve it out in this novel: "The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude" (Chopin, ch. 39). The "abysses of solitude" that are so inviting to Edna at this point can be seen as a sort of freedom--she has spent almost her entire life (and the bulk of the novel) as a fixture in other people's lives, defined by her external roles rather than by any sort of developed sense of interiority. She awakens to this interiority during the course of the novel, but realizes that her desires and her sense of self are incompatible with societies construct, and she seeks the freedom of solitude in the sea, and in death."

Tags:patriarchy, Madame Ratignolle, Edna Pontellier, liberation, gender roles

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."

Tags:government, protection, basic, liberties, definitions

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
Feminism Defined
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."

Tags:muslim, women, khomeini

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."

Tags:equality, gender, racism, sexism