Evaluation of the Social Movement - Literature review Example

Name : xxxxxxxxxxx Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : xxxxxxxxxxx Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx @2010 Introduction Feminism can be described as a set of social theories in addition to political practices that are critical of the earlier period as well as present social relations and which are mainly aggravated and enlightened by the experiences of women. It was mainly concentrated on defining, establishing as well as advocating for equal political, social and economic rights for women. Most generally, feminism entails an evaluation of gender inequity; in particular, it entails the promotion of the rights of women as well as their interests. Feminist theories therefore query various issues such as sexuality, relationship between gender and the power in social, political as well as economic relationships. According to Wilton (2010), feminist movements can be traced back to the 19th century when people increasingly took on the perception that women were being oppressed within a male-centered society. The history of women has since then changed over the past century. The most commonly asked question has therefore been how relevant feminism is in the current society for the 21st century woman. This particular essay will therefore provide a critical analysis on whether feminism is an irrelevant and out of date movement in the 21st Century. Literature Review According to Dicker & Piepmeier (2003), the history of feminism can be traced back to the 19th when people increasingly took on the perception that women were being oppressed within the male-centered society. This feminist movement was mainly rooted in the western part of the world and more particularly during the 19th century reform movement. The organized reform movement can be traced back to the first women’s rights convention that was held at the Seneca Falls, New York during the year, 1848 (Eserver,2005).In more than a century and a half now, the movement grew to incorporate diverse perspectives mainly constituting discrimination directed to women (Segal,1999). Early feminists are often referred to as the first wave whereas those after almost the 1960 are referred to as the second wave. According to West (2010), the main objective associated with the first wave of the feminist movement was generally recognized as the urge to obtain women suffrage. This implied the right of every woman to be able to contribute not only in a nation’s democratic process by voting for a designated government but also the right to fight for a place in the national assembly (Walsh, 2007). On the other hand, the second movements started during the 1960s with its main objective being to ensure that there was equal pay for equivalent work. According to West (2010), the second movement was therefore meant to ensure that women invigorate their responsibility as the traditional homemakers by being recognized as important contributors to their respective nations’ labour force.Wilton (2010) highlights that it was during this period that women authors emerged, publishing books about the feminist movement. One of the books, ‘The Feminine Mystique’ was written Betty Friedan who in one of her many arguments contemplated why women who had gone through college level education and who previously had dreams beyond housewifery were the ones suffering the most. According to Wilton (2010), Friedan later on became the National Organization for Women’s president. In Australia, Germaine Greer launched another book ‘The Female Eunuch. According to Wilton (2010), Greer’s theory was that individual defiance could help in changing the circumstances that women were going through as far as discrimination was concerned. It was however during the late 20th century that the catch phrase, ‘equality of sexes’ came up. There were soon remarkable changes as far as gender roles was concerned and no longer was it only the responsibility of the man as a head of a family bring home bread, as was the tradition. Despite the fact that it was generally accepted that women be now employed, their household tasks at home and family still remained. West (2010) highlights that the third wave of the feminist movement which begun during the early part of the 1990s come about as a reaction to the perceived failures of the second wave as well as reactions to backlash in opposition to the initiatives and movements that were created by the second wave. In a nutshell, the third wave was a reaction by the feminine movement to stop what they viewed as barriers to prevent them from progressing beyond particular points within the professional or political ladder. Tandon (2008) stresses that even though the third wave feminism shared a number of the interest of the former waves such as women empowerment; it was also characterized by young women’s desire to express their right to be heard and to incorporate diverse groups within the fold of feminist deliberations. According to West (2010), Rebecca Walker, the architect behind the term “Third Wave,” was one of the outstanding figures during the wave of feminism. Third wave feminism was in this case characterize by numerous women groups that included lesbians, bisexuals, women of colour, transgendered women as well as the low income women. Third wave feminism therefore critiqued the second wave feminism for either overlooking or not including the disempowered groups. Carter (2010) argues the feminist movement which had its origin mostly in the west, has changed women’s place within the society in addition to politics. Carter (2010) highlights that the movement which rose to prominence in the year 1965 has now changed over in the many decades since its inception. According to Carter (2010), one of the most evident legacies resulting from the feminist movement since its inception is revealed from the fact that women have now been able to increasingly involve themselves in present day politics unlike in the past. For instance, Carter (2010) highlights that there has been several elected political offices as well as appointments going to women. Key examples of these are American Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, former Attorney -General Janet Reno as well as the Supreme Court Justices Ruth Ginsburg, Sandra Day O’Connor and Sonia Sotomayor. Moreover, women are now able to vote and even more express their views as voters to their elected representatives. Women’s organization, for instance the National Organization of Women which was established by Betty Freidan alongside other liberal feminists has been particularly crucial in swaying more women to be political. Carter (2010) highlights that liberal feminism was the more conservative as well as mainstream of the three feminists movements that emerged during the late 1960s and early 1970s.The other two movements were the radical and social feminists. Liberal feminism mainly concentrated on women on employment and those issues that women faced at their places of work such as equal pay for equivalent work. Liberal feminism lobby group has therefore been responsible for the increasing awareness on gender discrimination as well as sexual harassment within the places of work. By 1970, liberal feminists had progressed making considerable gains for women within the workplace. This included anti-discrimination laws and greater salary equality. Carter (2010) however argues that despite that the fact women are still earning salaries that are slightly lower than their male counterparts for carrying out the same tasks, the pay equality gap has greatly narrowed within a number of industries. In 1965, for instance, abortion was unlawful in many states, a factor that made many women die while going through unsafe illegal abortions. Things however changed in 1973 especially when the American Supreme Court considered the case of one, Roe Wade. This ensured a landmark pronouncement that gave all women the right to choice. The claimant according to Carter (2010) was a woman identified as Jane Roe, and the same case was argued by a very young female lawyer. Carter (2010) argues further that women have not only turned out to be more involved politically since the inception of the feminist movement, but have also turned out to be more involved in their respective nations’ labourforce. Women have since then assumed more sophisticated jobs in addition to joining the labourforce in increasing numbers. Despite of the progress made by majority women towards equity and especially in the west, Norris & Inglehart (2001) argues that women have still a long way to go, according to worldwide statistics. According to Norris & Inglehart (2001), the statistics reveal that women have a possession of only 1 per cent of the globe’s wealth, and earn only 10 percent of the globe’s income, regardless of the fact that they make up to 51 per cent of the globe’s population. When childcare and housework are considered, the statistics reveals that women work for longer hours when compared to men in both the developing as well as the industrialized world (by 20% in the industrialized world, and 30% in the developing world).Moreover, the worldwide statistics reveal that women are not well represented in all of the globe’s legislative bodies; Sweden is portrayed as having the highest number of women at 42% while the United States has only 11%. Global average is only 9%.Worldwide; women generally earn less than 30 per cent when compared to men, even when carrying out the same jobs. Norris & Inglehart (2001) highlights further that the perspective nature of the current world is that discrimination in opposition to women still exists in worldwide and how much it exists in addition to whether it is a big problem is still under dispute. In actual fact, there are several opinions within the feminism lobby group as regards the severity of the present tribulations, what the tribulations are and how to deal with them. On one hand are some radical feminists who argue that the present world would have been much better off with fewer men. On the hand are nonconformist who categorize themselves as feminists but who blame the movement anti-male prejudices. There are debates too coming from various feminists who accept as true that there exists differences between sexes, which may or may not be inborn, but which cannot be disregarded. On the other hand, there are those feminists who accept as true that there are no significant differences between sexes, and that all the roles observed within the society are as a result of conditioning. Modern scientists sometimes differ on whether there are inherent differences between women and men, apart from the physical differentiation such as hormones, anatomy and hormones (Norris & Inglehart, 2001).Despite how many differences between sexes are inborn or acquired, Norris & Inglehart, (2001) argues that not any of these differences should be used as a basis for discrimination. Norris & Inglehart argues in conclusion that this mostly debate Western on feminism ought not to avert from the fact that the main objective of the feminist movement in the 21st Century was to improve women situation all over the world. Analysis/Evaluation of the Social Movement At the start of the 21st century, the question of whether the feminist lobby group which had its halcyon days in the 1950s through to the 1980’s, continues to exist presently is firstly, dependent on how an individual defines feminism; secondly, on where an individual lives, works, or goes to school, and third, on with whom an individual does business, or otherwise socializes (Barreto et.al, 1999). Barreto et.al, (1999) argues that despite the persistent political lobbying and the legislative reforms as well as the more or less 50 years that have passed since the second wave of the feminist movement (political and social movement),the scope of women’s progress is unclear. Present statistics may therefore be interpreted as showing either great rewards or an exasperating status quo. Barreto et.al,(1999) argues further that the available raw data may provide some hint of change in due course, and they may as well, without doubt, make striking headlines, but their message may well be mixed and their interpretability contestable. To argue that feminism is an irrelevant and out of date movement in the 21st Century is untrue (McElroy). One of the apparent reasons for the relevance of feminism can be drawn from the fact that the 21st century women are liberated and do not resemble the ghosts that were haunting the 1980s feminism. The 21st century woman is the predictable 17 million women who are currently able to take responsibility of their own self-defense by possessing their firearms or even businesswomen and career women who have risen through merit to discard the concept of being “victims”. The 21st feminist is anybody –male or female-who discards gender dispensation and insists real equity for both men and women as stipulated by law. She is able to make her personal choices and assumes personal responsibility for action, with relying on the government’s protection. McElroy (2002) argues that the relevance of feminism that was generally deplored by the ancient regime can be seen from the current extent of women’s advancements. One of the advancements can be drawn from the fact that laws distinguishing as well as discriminating between the genders has presently been removed. Currently, such laws normally benefit women at the expense of their male counterparts. This can mostly be noticed on issues related to job appointments and family laws, for instance child custody practices. McElroy (2002) highlights further that real equality governed by law forms the first as well as a significant step towards stopping gender confrontations those feminists declared during the 20th century. Another significant advancement that also supports the relevance of the feminist movement is the increased defense of choice currently witnessed among majority women. They are able to take personal responsibility for their own decisions, for instance whether to become a housewife or a CEO of a top company. Obstacles that were initially placed in the way of their choices are at present removed. Moreover, there is an opening of civil discourse regarding issues that are of great significance to women, for instance abortion. On the contrary, Beasly (1999) argues that regardless of the outstanding position of feminism in a variety of intellectual as well as social areas, the paradigm is irrelevant, but mostly in the advanced places for example the united States and in Europe. One of the reasons support the irrelevance of feminism movement in the 21st century can be drawn from the fact that equal rights have turned out to be a reality in more or less, all the areas of social life. Women are for instance recognized as able to fill any position they desire, and are as well granted by law the entitlement to get equal pay for a particular work. Within the society, the modern woman does not have to revolve her objective in life around marriage, children and homemaking (German, 2009). Alternatively, nothing stops her from choosing to do so. Because a number of rights are now secured for to protect the rights of women, feminism is no longer necessary and has therefore no purpose in the modern society. Karanda (2011) argues too that the feminist movement in the 21st century is relevant, as a result refuting claims that are contrary to this. Karanda (2010) argues that the feminist movement most likely began earlier than it is normally broadcasted and that there is no uncertainty that it has had a liberating experience for women globally. Karanda (2011) highlights further arguing that gone are the days when men were the only breadwinners of the family and when women would stay at home either expectant breastfeeding or staying at home doing the house chores such as cleaning or cooking and doing it all again the following day. The relevance of the feminist movement in the 21st century can also be revealed from the fact the entire era of the concept of men knowing more and doing things better has been swept. Women are now able to speak politics as well as have their personal opinions on issues of the world. The society has therefore moved more closely to a more contented median in the past 2 or 3 decades with shared responsibilities at home to an extent that women can now pursue other professional development options while also juggling work and home life (Cafra,2004). However, Boycott (2010) argues that despite the modern feminists’ movement many years ago, there is a general feeling by many women that they have not achieved much in the years that have gone by and that a lot more needs to be done for the campaigning feminist movement at present owing to the fact that equality still does not exist. The irrelevance of feminism is based on the negative or the counterproductive image it presents. Negativity is evident in radical feminism, the opposite of male chauvinism. Feminism originated therefore from women who were demanding change since they felt they were rightfully denied access to equity in the earlier days (Wardy, 2009). It was not just through demand but by showing a reason for the demands to the world and thereafter demanding them. It was therefore a form of not a victim mentality but in a merit associated with behaviour and results. Moreover, sexism is still prevalent. Weisberg (1996) suggests that the prevalence of sexism is a clear indication that current feminism is in crisis. According to Boycott (2010), things have not really worked out as was the expectation of many women. One of the greatest failures can revealed through a number of governments’ inability to address issues of childcare. In addition to this, women anticipated that men would move towards a less restricted role, but this has not really occurred and a large number of them do not want their power taken over. Alternatively, the 21st century has turned out to mean a different choice of lifestyle for women (Walters, 2010).Particularly after the 1960s, a great number of women have had particular interests in what differentiates them from men. In the field of arts, for instance, what make women artists and their respective arts and which is different from male artists and their respective arts. According to the Art History Archive (2010), feminists draw attention to the fact throughout recorded history, males have always imposed father-centered (patriarchal) social systems. As a result, females have always been dominated by male. The feminist theory has however took into consideration the circumstances of majority of women’s lives as household workers and caregivers. Moreover, it took into consideration the pervasive false impression that that women are heritably inferior when compared to men. This has however changed especially after the feminist movement. The Art History Archive (2010) notes that most significant within the dominant cultures is the father-centered heritage (patriarchal) predominance of male- made arts. In addition, male audiences, at times transgress against their female counterparts. Men have therefore maintained a system that has often barred females from practicing as artists, a gallery system that has been able to keep women from exhibiting as well as selling their workings or even from being collected by various museums. Prior to the 1960s, a large number of women artists finding it hard to take part in the male-dominated art world, had irresistible disincentives to incorporate feminists meanings into their work, and looked for ways of de-gendering their art. More often than not, by just the appearance, the works of women could not be recognized simply because they were women-made. However, after various counter-cultural movements that came up with feminism during the 1960s, some gender issues turned out to be of great interest. The issue of feminist art, for instance arose from the artists concerns over one gender, concerns which were more sexual in nature. In most cases, feminist issues were about the power of women in fields which sexuality was an important part. It can therefore be argued that the feminist movement in the 21st century is relevant owing to the fact that war feminists were fighting has somehow been won (Serena, 2010). Another reason in support of the irrelevance of feminism in the current society for the 21st century woman can also be drawn from the fact that the women’s movement has been unsuccessful in keeping touch with the concerns of many women, as a result, turning out to be more irrelevant to the mainstream politics (2004). Moreover, the credibility of the feminists’ movement is rapidly eroding especially due to their agendas that are not far-reaching. Instead, they ought to craft an agenda that is not only far-reaching but an agenda that also speaks to the concerns of all women (Shields, 2009). In addition to this, movement has to prove once more that their platform is dwelling on issues other than just abortion, for instance. According to Lukas (2004), the irrelevance of the feminism can also be revealed from the fact that the movement lacks openness towards new ideas regarding what is best for today’s woman. Today’s female feminists do not embrace this mindset. This has therefore been felt by majority women as a departure from the feminism’s historical roots (Head, 2011). In the past, the movement was about real independence for women, as a result it was against the legal as well as the social structures that limited women’s options within the workplace and the civil society. It therefore focused on women to be free so that they can succeed in their own abilities and efforts. Currently though, there is a general feeling that the movement is predetermined to continue its long slide towards irrelevance (Tyler et.al, 2004). On the other hand, Field (2011) argues contrary to the argument that feminism is an irrelevant and out of date movement in the 21st Century. According to Field (2011), the 21st century woman is far better off as compared to the earliest days of the feminism experiment, owing to the fact that women currently enjoy legal as well as political equity, outnumber men on a number of college campuses, serve within the military and law enforcement, take up top company positions and even sit in congress as well as on the supreme courts. Its relevance is therefore drawn out in the fact that feminism was all about recognizing the many its conception that every individual take responsibility towards creating a world where gender equality is possible (The Chord, 2011). Thompson (2001) however argues that feminists march on satisfied by their personal anachronistic propaganda.Nonetheless, their movement is today subjugated by left-wing gender feminists as well as radical feminists who now force their never ending rage over the injustice of being female into the never-ending political fights. They are no longer interested in equal opportunity but now press for government-mandated equal outcomes for women in all areas within the society. The 21st century movement only sees every statistical difference between men and women as a pejorative proof of gender-based discrimination (Evans, 2010). Today’s feminists’ therefore insist on government regulations as well as programs to enable it end what they purport as inequalities. Perhaps the most irrelevant thing about the 21st century feminist movement is picking the dumbest battles (Enerson, 2007). Conclusion From the above analysis, one can argue that most of what the feminists had been fighting for since the beginning of the feminist movement has been won. The achievements can be argued based mostly in terms of the international efforts towards equity and human rights for everyone. One can be convinced therefore that the 21st century woman is better off as compared to the earliest days of the feminism experiment, owing to the fact that women currently enjoy legal as well as political equity.Additionally, they also outnumber men on a number of college campuses, serve within the military and law enforcement, take up top company positions and even sit in congress as well as on the supreme courts. Again, one may argue that despite the progresses made by women in various fields, they seem to be just a handful and therefore creating a doubt whether the goals of the feminists’ movement has been achieved to the fullest. For instance, whereas a number of them have been able to sail through to the highest level of power in government as well as the corporate world, they are just a handful. In addition, women are still subjected to even more pressures in order to fit in an impossible male-dominated world. Patriarchy still exists and feminism needs to re-invent itself to cope with the new realities. References Boycott, R, 2010, Is this a terrible time to be a Feminist? Barreto, Ryan, M.K & Schmitt, T, M, 2009, Introduction: Is the glass ceiling still relevant in the 21st century? American Psychological Association, Pages: 3-18. http://www.mendeley.com/research/introduction-glass-ceiling-still-relevant-21st-century/ Beasley, A.C, 1999, What is feminism? An Introduction to Feminist Theory, SAGE. 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