Waves of Feminism - Lecture notes 2 PDF

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Waves of Feminism Introduction Feminist movements aim at achieving and establishing equality between women and men. Women have been facing discrimination in every way possible, for centuries. Prevailing old age view was that, women are by nature weak and irrational. Hence, in need of protection and guidance. In Aristotle’s words, “The relation of male to female is by nature a relation of superior to inferior and of ruler to ruled .” Charles Darwin, scientifically discrimiates women mentally inferior to men. He puts it as, “A man is intellectually superior to woman.” Thomas Jefferson believed women’s position is in the house, not in politics or public office. These people influenced the common public and so did the age old view. As per some thinkers the roots of feminism arosed from ancient Greek with Sappho (570 BCE), or the medieval world with Hildegard (1791), or Christine de Pisan (1434). Mary Wollstonecraft (1797) and Jane Austin (1817) are certainly, the foremothers of the modern women’s movement. The history of the feminist movements is divided into three "waves". The first wave refers to the movement of the 19th - 20th century, which highlights the discrimination of women ( demanding suffrage, working conditions and educational rights) and eradication of discrimination through a liberal approach. The second wave (1960s-1980s) deals with the opperssion and the role of women in society, and tries to establish an oppression free society with a radical approach. The third wave of feminism (1990s-2000s is seen as both a continuation of the second wave and a response to the perceived failures.

Change in the Traditional view vis-a-vis women The rise of liberal ideas, Enlightenment era, American Revolution, French Revolution and the emergence of Democracies played a vital role in raising the status of people from subjects to citizens. But, all these benefits and concepts of equality, liberty were for men. Women had to face Social, Political and Economic Discrimination. It was totally acceptable and justified to consider women as Second Rate Citizens. However, in 1792, Mary Walstonecraft’s “Vindication of the Rights of Women”, highlighted that, • • •

Women & Men are equally capable Hence, should possess the same rights Gave the rise to the demand of Equality and end of Discrimination

First Wave of Feminism • • • •

Discrimination Emancipation Approach: Equality “Egalitarian Feminists”

The First Wave of Feminism marks the era between 1848-1920. involving a period of feminist activity especially in Europe and in the United States. Women’s struggle for equality took the shape of an organized movement in form of Seneca Falls Convention, 1848 and led to proclamation of the Declaration of the Sentiments. This marked for the official commencement of the first wave and culminated at the 19th Amendment of the US Constitution in 1920. Main Demands of the First Wave of Feminism • •

Full Citizenship Like Men Suffrage (Right to Vote)

The main demands of the first wave were mainly concerned with the eradication of discrimination in all possible spheres of life, such as, • • • •

Women's suffrage (the right to vote) Equal right to education Marriage and property laws Reproductive rights

Women were of the view that, right to vote would solve all the problems; hence, the first wave is mainly about the women’s suffrage. End result of the First Wave of Feminism The First Wave of Feminism was a decades-long fight to win the right to vote for women in the United States; starting from the Seneca Falls Convention arrnged by, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was finally ratified, enfranchising all American women and declaring for the first time that they, like men, deserve all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Three Key Features of 1st Wave of Feminism:

• • • •

Discrimination: The most important issue (Legal & Political Rights/External Restrictions) Emancipation: Freedom from Discrimination Approach: Equality “Egalitarian Feminists”

Second Wave of Feminism The 1st Wave focused on legal & political equality.Thought that if women got the political and legal equality, it will also bring social, economic and educational equality (Faulty Assumption). Second-wave feminism is a period of feminist activity and thought that first began in the early 1960s in USA and spread all over the western world and beyond. Two groups were in limelight during Second Wave:

1.

1. Liberals 2. Radicals Liberal Approach

Liberals demanded for the revival of the demands of the first wave; demand for social, economic and educational opportunities. Betty Friedan, a liberal, wrote, “The Feminine Mystique” in 1963. In her book Betty pointed out crtin bitter realities of discrimination and put forwarded certain demands. Feminine Mystique pointed out that, • • •

Women have no participation in public life , it was assumed that women enjoy domestic work. Betty challenged the idea. Women are unhappy, dissatisfied and unfulfilled as a mother and a wife. Its the need to stop looking at women with the perspective of man. They had no independent existence.

Betty Friedan Demands • • •

Open public space for equal competition. Equal educational and economic opportunities. Established NOW (National Organization for Women) which demanded for equal right Amendment.

2.

Radical Approach

Second wave is mostly associated with Radical Appoach. Radicals protested against America Beauty Contest, 1968; and started a movement, the “Freedom Trash Can” . As a part of that movement they dumped objects that promoted objectification such as lipsticks. Ridicals were of the view that uptill now, discrimination has been highlighted however, oppression is something equally concerned, and nroduced the concept of oppression. Hence, the Radicals shifted their focus from discrimination to oppression, and presented the equation, Discrimination + Oppression = Current women status Oppression refers to internal restrictions including; mindset & attitudes, traditions, culture, beliefs. And, Discrimination refers to external restrictions. Question was raised, how Freedom from Internal Restrictions can be achieved ? The answer is, Radical Social Change ending with“Liberation.” The Second wave of Feminism gave the concept of “Sisterhood” which implies that women across the globe have shared experiences and a collective effort was needed to get out of the marsh of oppression. The Second Wave was highly theoretical in nature, and, was devoid of activism. Women’s Studies as an academic discipline emerged after the theoritical, second wave of feminism. New theories and tools of explanation were needed and hence crafted. As a result new concepts were added up, such as, • • •

Patriarchy Gender –Sex Distinction Public –Private divide

Women problems are deep-rooted. Problems rooted in culture and the institutions. Hence, they need to be studied The Radical feminists include, • • •

Simon De Beauvoir, who wrote, “ The Second Sex” in 1953. Kate Millet , “Sexual Politics” Shulamith Firestone, “ The dialectics of Sex”

Key concerns: of the Second Wave • • • • • •

The concept of “Sisterhood”. Raising consciousness about sexism and patriarchy Raising consciousness about gender based violence, domestic abuse and marital rape. Inequalities in the workplace. Legalizing abortion and birth control. Sexual liberation of women.

Three key features of the Second Wave of Feminism:

• Oppression: Shared Experience, “ United Group”, “ Sisterhood” • Liberation: End of patriarchy values

• Difference Approach: Women cannot be accommodated in a society which is based on principles made by men, Women need a different set of theories, philosophies and concepts to explain their condition • Women are superior than men in terms of qualities and nature.

Third Wave of Feminism The third wave of feminism (1990s-2000s) arose partially as a response to the perceived failures of second wave of feminism. It was basically the rejection of Second Wave of Feminism, falsifying the ideas of second wave, such as, • • •

Women constitute ‘Sisterhood’ or ‘United Group’ with shared experiences. Women centered identity politics. The category ‘women’ encompassed the experience of all women across the world.

The third wave questioned,Does the universal category of women represent a common grievance? Does it represent the interest of all women? The answer is, experience of a women, depends upon the context. If the context is different, the experience will be different too. Hence, third wave of feminism delved further into the category “women”, as previously, the category ‘women’ ignored group differences. The third the third wave underpinned that, focus on one Universal category of women is undemocratic. Category ‘women’ represents the interests and experiences of white-middle class American & European women alone. Oppression does not only occur because of gender but also because of various other factors, Race, class, caste, ethnicity, to name a few. Key concerns of Third Wave of Feminism • • • •

Intersectionality The diversity of "women" is recognized and emphasis is placed on identity, gender, race, nation, social order and sexual preference Changes on stereotypes, media portrayals and language used to define women. Sexual identities...