Is Feminism Dead Essay Research Paper Is

Is Feminism Dead. Essay, Research Paper

Is Feminism Dead.

What is feminism. There are many different interpretations of the word

“feminism”. However, most people agree that feminism is the theory that men

and women should be equal politically, economically and socially. The feminist

movement is a group of men and women who believe in feminism and are trying

to eliminate the inequality between men and women.

Feminism, as it was first known, has almost died out completely. Feminist

groups today are integrating many more issues into feminism. This seems to be

a good thing at first. However, it is driving women away from feminism and many

women are insulted or embarrassed to be called feminists because of the

negative connotation feminism has adopted.

There are many different types of feminism. The theory that there are

fundamental personality differences between men and women, and that women’s

differences are special and should be celebrated is called cultural feminism. This

theory of feminism supports the notion that there are biological differences

between men and women, for example, “women are kinder and more gentle then

men”, leading to the mentality that if women ruled the world there would be no

wars.

Cultural feminism is the theory that wants to overcome sexism by

celebrating women’s special qualities, women’s ways, and women’s experiences,

often believing that the “woman’s way” is the better way.

Another type, individualist feminism, is based upon individualist or

libertarian (minimum government or anarchocapitalist) philosophies. The primary

focus is individual autonomy, rights, liberty, independence and diversity. Moderate feminism is a branch of feminism that tends to be populated mostly by

younger women or women who have not directly experienced discrimination.

They tend to question the need for further effort, and do not think that radical

feminism is any longer viable and in fact rather embarrassing.

Radical feminism is the breeding ground for many of the ideas arising

from feminism. This type of feminism was the cutting edge of feminist theory

from approximately 1967-1975. It is no longer as universally accepted as it was

then and no longer serves to solely define the term, “feminism”. This group views

the oppression of women as the most fundamental form of oppression, one that

cuts across boundaries of race, culture, and economic class. This is a movement

intent on social change, change of rather revolutionary proportions, in fact.

Radical feminism questions why women must adopt certain roles based on their

biology, just as it questions why men adopt certain other roles based on theirs

(Colleen’s Feminist Home page).

Feminism is not a very old concept. For most of history women have been

viewed as the lesser sex and did not argue this point. However, there have been

some very powerful and influential women in history.

Cleopatra the powerful but, ill-fated queen of Egypt (51-30 BC) came to

rule with her brother at age 17 and alone at age 20.

Another female ruler, Elizabeth I was the most successful monarch ever to

sit on the English throne. Her reign, known in English history as the Elizabethan

period, was an era of great accomplishment in England. She transformed the

poverty-stricken England into a great military power.

Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor who in 1910, became involved in her

husband’s work in Parliament. In 1919 her husband was elevated to the House of

Lords. Nancy ran for the seat vacated by her husband in the House of Commons

and was elected by a substantial majority. She was the first woman to be a

member of Parliament in Britain.

Geraldine Ferraro, who gained influence with the Democratic party after

being elected to the House of Representatives was chosen by Walter Mondale in

1984 to be his vice president. Ferraro was the first female vice-president

nominee.

In 1988, Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister and became the

first woman to head the government of an Islamic state. As a result of her

leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party she has spent a total of 6 years in

prison. Since being sworn in she has emphasized the need to reduce sexual

discrimination, institute programs for health and the underprivileged, and make

education reforms. (Distinguished Women Past and Present)

These women have shown feminists and nonfeminists alike that women

can do anything they put their minds to. These women have also shown men that

women are capable of doing what was traditionally thought of as “men’s work”.

These women and their achievements helped to stimulate the women’s

movement and the powerful women of the late twentieth century have helped to

keep a dying feminist movement alive.

The beginning of feminism in the United States cannot be traced back to

any specific event. Olive Banks, a prof

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