Final: part 1

Is Feminism Fading?

When the feminism movement began it was the beginning of a whole new world for women, and America in general. This was an era of protests against President Wilson, bra burnings, fighting for reproductive rights in the hopes of achieving equality in a man’s world. Women began to realize that there were opportunities for them outside of the home, and that they could have a place in the world as well as men. It was a time when the feministic view was being born and traditional views of women were changing. Women then began to realize that they were just the same as men, and wanted to be treated that way, and partake in the same activities. This included getting an education, working and being able to support themselves without the help of men. This changed not only the traditional roles of women in society, but also their role in the family. With women wanting the right to vote, work and go to school, middle class life as they new it would be drastically changed. Women would no longer be in the home with the children cooking and cleaning; they wanted to get out into the world. There was still an extremely long way to go before women were to be accepted in society, and this was just the beginning. But have we reached an era of post-feminism? Is it possible that feminists have accomplished all of their goals? However, a lot of feminist authors disagree with a post-feminist theory. They point out the persistent stereotypes and gender inequality that women still face today. Feminism cannot be over until there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that women are equal and deserve equality.

Naomi Wolf in her article “The Beauty Myth: How Images are used Against Women” also believes that women are facing a backlash. The article proposes the idea that the modern American perception of beauty serves to keep women in a submissive role to men. This “beauty myth” is a “violent backlash against feminism that uses images of female beauty as a political weapon against women’s advancement” (Wolf). Wolf believes that “as women released themselves from the feminine mystique of domesticity, the beauty myth took over its lost ground, expanding as it wanted to carry on its work of social control” (Wolf). She states that since women have expanded their gender roles to include activities outside of the domestic sphere men have had to come up with new ways to sustain a patriarchal system. For instance, “American women told researchers that they would rather lose ten to fifteen pounds than achieve any other goal” (Wolf). Despite the fact that women have the opportunity to become doctors, lawyers, and other traditionally male dominated professions, men and the media have twisted women’s aspirations to the point where their newfound equality is irrelevant. In today’s society, “women have more money and power and scope and legal recognition than we have ever had before; but in terms of how [they] feel about [themselves] physically, [they] may actually be worse off than [their] unliberated grandmothers” (Wolf). Women have become misled into critiquing themselves, instead of embracing their freedom and striving to become beautiful, self-sufficient women.

In Hull’s “All the Women are White, All the Blacks are Men, But Some of Us are Brave” concentrated on Black Women's Studies, and what [black women] face in society. Black women have faced many horrors in a white male dominated society. Black women are not only a part of gender inequalities, but racial inequalities as well. The fact that black women have to deal with both circumstances is horrible. All race, class, and sex in the feminist movement needs to be unified to succeed. I agree with Hull and think that the issue with race needs to be resolved in order to have a unified feminist movement. Racism and gender inequalities have come a long way, but I think many are still feeling the effects of it.

The Lisa Belkin’s article "The Opt Out Revolution" is another example of the gender inequality that women face. Belkin’s article gives some insight into the ongoing debate about why educated women choose to abandon their careers to become stay at home moms. She believes for women today “being successful [requires] becoming a man” (Belkin). Women, indeed have come a long way in regards to obtaining M.B.A.s and obtaining leadership positions, but it seems this is only temporary if a woman wants to have babies and start a family. It seems stressful and near impossible for a woman to be successful and be able to raise a family; so many successful women choose to quit their jobs. It is unfair to make women choose between being independent and raising a family. If America truly desires gender equality than society should provide more assistance to women who want to have a job and raise a family simultaneously.

In “The Will to Change,” I really love the definition that Hooks gives for feminism –“a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression” (Hooks 1). Bell Hooks defines her book as an attempt to love men enough to understand how patriarchy affects them, and understand how their pain can help them transform and challenge patriarchy. What struck me most significantly was the idea that patriarchy is all the time enforced by violence, and that men are taught through violence to reject their emotions and become cold-blooded and distant, which allows them to commit violence on others.“Violence is boyhood socialization. The way we ‘turn boys into men’ is through injury… We take them away from their feelings, from sensitivity to others. The very phrase ‘be a man’ means suck it up and keep going. Disconnection is not fallout from traditional masculinity. Disconnection is masculinity.” I also liked how Hooks stressed the fact that sexism is not limited to men and that a woman who is “wedded to sexist thinking” is a threat to feminism whereas a man who is ant-sexism is an ally (Hooks 14).

The play “The Eternal Feminine” written by Rosario Castellanos is a piece of feminist literature that focuses on gender roles and stereotypes. The premise of the play is ridiculous; it revolves around a young Mexican woman, named Lupita, who goes to the salon to have her hair done and ends up under the spell of a magic hair dryer that induces dreams. The dreams however portray women as extraordinarily shallow. Some of the dreams it induces include dreaming “that she is the prettiest woman in the world;… that all women envy her; that her husband gets a raise in salary; that there’s no price increase in the basic cost of living; that she finds an efficient and inexpensive maid; [and] that she gets pregnant this month” (Castellanos 276). This bring up a bigger social issue that women are still only viewed as wanting a life as a domestic homemaker. None of the dreams that the hairdryer produces have anything to do with Lupita wanting to be a successful businesswoman, scholar, or politician. Instead it proves that society still views women as frivolous and content to be a stay-at-home-mom.

Feminism is still very much necessary in America. Despite the immense gains in gender equality, women still have only reached a superficial level of equality with men. Only when everyone truly believes that women deserve equality will America reach an era of post-feminism. I’m hesitant to start my profession in this white man dominated society but then again it is inspiring to know women have come a long way. I just need to be optimistic and be strong when facing sexism and stereotypes. With all of this in mind it is apparent that true gender equality is still just an idea, but so long as women have goals than feminism will continue fight for true equality for everyone regardless of gender.

sources:
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner "The F Word: Feminism in Jeopardy"
Naomi Wolf “The Beauty Myth: How Images are used Against Women”
Lisa Belkin "The Opt out Revolution"
Rosario Castellanos "The Eternal Feminine”
Bell Hooks “The Will to Change”
Gloria Hull “All the Women are White, All the Blacks are Men, But Some of Us are Brave”