The definition of feminism explains that it is the fight for women’s rights based on the equality of the sexes in all areas of society. The feminist movement within America has been broken down into three distinct waves that took place.
In 1848, women gathered in Seneca Falls, New York, and formally held a convention to “discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of woman,” The Declaration of Sentiments was drafted outlining what the women wanted concerning equality (wikipedia.org). This is viewed as one of the first steps to initiating the women’s rights movement. However, it was unable to be very effective and was soon drowned out by the looming civil war.
Advocates for women’s rights continued to show up in history but it wasn’t until the 1920s that a collective movement was able to be formed.
Beginning in the 1920s, feminism arose as a movement towards equal treatment for women. Led primarily by white women of the middle class, the goal was to gain the right to vote for women in America. They sought after political power as it was one of the most prevalent activities at the time. They knew that this would help them gain substantial ground in the fight for their rights. At the time, it had many connections with the abolitionist movement as many feminists were also abolitionists and involved in other social movements.
During the 1950s, America saw the rise of the “cult of domesticity”. The sole purpose for the woman in society was to be a proper housewife and to support their husbands. The media only encouraged this societal norm by targeting women and further enforcing their outlined gender roles through magazines such as “Good Housekeeping.”
When The Feminine Mystique was written by Betty Friedan in 1963, immediately women began to examine their position in society and found themselves discontent with their roles. Thus began the second wave of feminism in our history. Within three years of the publication of Friedan’s book, the National Organization For Women had been founded. It outlined its purpose as “full participation of women in mainstream American society,” This wave was also associated with other civil issues at the time, just as the previous wave (now.org). Women advocated for reproductive rights and equality in the workplace. One distinction of this wave of feminism was that women of all color were and race were involved. Many separate organizations led by women originated, however the women realized they first needed to gain gender rights before further dividing themselves and they joined together.
Modern feminism arose during the 1990s and it gave rise to the feminism we have today. This third wave was enabled by the rights women had previously won and those new opportunities allowed attention to be brought to their cause. The women involved in this movement are daughters and granddaughters of the second wave. This wave is characterized by the fight for the end of the wage gap, final reproductive rights, and stopping social violence and discrimination against women at this day in age.
Despite critics that condemn the current movement as unnecessary, women everywhere acknowledge how much progress has been made since the first wave.
Staff Writer// Lauren Johnston
Time after time, day after day, it seems that more opportunities are opening up. Doors of possibilities are open and new ideas and trends are born. The feminist movement, was born out of a true cause and opened the door to endless possibilities for women. But overtime, like food, it seems to have decayed and spoiled. I feel that the founders of the feminist movement would be twisting and turning in their graves right now if they were able to see the state of the movement.
Throughout the years, the feminist movement have accomplished great achievements that has become a need for modern society. It is true that “they first needed to gain gender rights before further dividing themselves,” and because of this, there were able to become equal politically, gaining the right to vote and to participate in politics and as well as becoming a reliable workforce in the factories. Throughout the years the feminist movement was an important aspect of the American culture that led to “equal pay for equal work, and pressured the government to support and enforce legislation that prohibits gender discrimination.” Which in my opinion is a good thing and which is why I’m glad it succeeded. But modern feminism seems to take a different path or have a different goal.
It’s become evident that people change over time, more or less how the movement has changed in modern aspect. The original goal (which most of us can agree on) was to to achieve “equality between the sexes,” but now it seems the new trend of the movement is to crush or demote the other sex and make themselves look more superior. Which has become a big issue, to the point where “individuals have sectioned themselves apart from the modern feminist group and formed their own stance on the issue.” Even so, the other sex is having issues as well. It seems that the modern feminist have forgotten “the modern man preserves and protects his own sovereignty.”
For the future if this keeps going down the long and dark road, it’s going to be the start of (if not already) “people getting offended over the existence of each other.” Frankly, in a business and a political workplace, co-workers and rivals shouldn’t view one another through gender more or less how it’s unethical to view each other by color. It is impossible to truly be blind by the obvious, but at least it doesn’t hurt to try and act as if we are blinded by the obvious. The future of the Feminist should go back to it’s root and monitor modern society.
Based on the oracle articles, modern feminism has grown over the years. Today, Feminism is based on closing the wage gap, discrimination, abortions, and stopping social violence against woman at young ages. As a joke, meninist started a group on Twitter with a hashtag which turned into an actual movement against feminist. For the future, the feminist should adapt by looking at both sides. For example starting a movement that focuses on both sides of gender equalities (Comiskey). I think feminist are dramatic and paranoid.