Feminism 101
[the what]
Feminism is a collection of theories, political movements and philosophies based on a belief in equality of the sexes. It has been argued the first glimpses of feminist thought can be found in the bible, but is generally agreed that Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792 is one of the first works that can unambiguously be called feminist. The history of feminism is often described in waves. The first wave was characterized by the struggle for women’s suffrage, the second wave emerged in the 1960s and focused on equality and the sexist structure of power and the third wave… we are currently riding it!
Feminists are difficult to define, many are concerned with the social, political and economic inequality between the sexes, which favours men at women’s expense. Others argue that the key issue is the socially-constructed gendered or sexed identities of “man” and “woman”. Even within these broad groups, feminists disagree over the sources of inequality, how to attain equality and to what extend gender and gender-based identities should be challenged.
One of feminism’s key characteristics – which can be seen as a strength and a weakness – is it’s refusal to be confined by a single definition. This article is intended as a starting point to explore feminism in all it shapes and sizes (and sexes?)
I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.
Rebecca West, 1913
[the why]
Feminists have played a huge role in the achievement women have made so far. In many parts of the world women can vote and stand for election, they have broad employment opportunities, the right to an education, to initiate divorce proceedings and to obtain contraception and safe abortions. Some women have been quick to say that the time for feminism is over, but discrimination against women still exists. A quick look at some global statistics illustrates that women do not enjoy equality and the worldwide power imbalance places women in a very vulnerable position.
- UN statistics state that “in the world as a whole, women comprise 51 percent of the population, do 66 percent of the work, receive 10 percent of the income and own less than one percent of the property.” (UN)
- At least one out of every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in her lifetime. (AI website)
- More than 60 million women are missing in the world today, as a result of sex-selective abortions and female infanticide. (AI website)
- Teenage girls in some African countries are SIX time more likely to be infected with HIV than boys of the same age. (Just Change)
- By population, women are underrepresented in all of the world’s governing bodies. The world average is 9 percent. In 2006 Rwanda had the highest number of women at 49 percent, while New Zealand had 39 women (32.2 percent) from a total of 121 Members of Parliament. (http://www.neon.org.nz/newsarchive/census2006/)
- In the US women earned on average 75.5% of men’s average wage. In New Zealand the gender pay gap is approximately 13% NZ (CTU)
[the how- different types of feminism]
Inequality may still exist, but there is disagreement amongst feminists regarding the extent of problems, what the problems actually are, and how to confront them. The following descriptions briefly cover some, but by no means all, of the variation of feminist thought. In reality feminism is as diverse as the women who call themselves (or don’t call themselves) feminists.
* Amazon Feminism, named after the female hero of Greek mythology, focuses on physical equality and is opposed to gender role stereotypes that see certain characteristics or interests as essentially masculine (rational, strong) or feminine (irrational, passive).
Hero: Zena Warrior Princess
Anarcha-feminism combines anarchism with feminism. It views patriarchy as a manifestation of hierarchy and therefore a fundamental problem of society. Anarcha-feminists see the anarchist struggle as a necessary component of the feminist struggle and vice-versa.
* Cultural Feminism is based on the difference between men and women, both physically and in their nature. It’s argued that women have special qualities and experience which should be celebrated and even promoted as a better way.
Women’s special qualities: Women are pacifists, more humanitarian and caring than men.
* EcoFeminism links patriarchal philosophies (of domination and control) towards women to society’s treatment of the planet. Patriarchal culture is seen as harmful to women, children and all living things.
Champion: Vandana Shiva- physicist, environmental activist, author and original tree-hugger.
* Individualist or Libertarian Feminism is motivated by individual rights, liberty, independence and diversity, and focuses on barriers which women AND men face due to their gender.
So men can be feminists too? Individualist feminism embraces men as partners in the struggle to eliminate injustice against women (and they support them and join them in the struggle to eliminate injustice against men as well).
* Lesbian Feminism was formed due to dissatisfaction with the feminist movement AND the gay-liberation movement, which was seen as male dominated. It offers a critique of patriarchy and the institutionalization of heterosexuality. Typically lesbianism is viewed as choice or as conscious response to “man-made” institutions and situations.
Read: Rita Mae Brown “I became a lesbian because of women, because women are beautiful, strong and compassionate.”
* Lesbian Separatists choose to live completely separate lives from men. Their friendships, relationships, their political organisations, and if they can manage it their workplaces, are women only.+ Sometimes they see separation from men as necessary, because heterosexism, male sexism and the power imbalance between the sexes is so extreme, the only way to live truly free lives is to avoid men altogether; others just prefer to hang out with women!
Controversy: Separatists are not all men haters, but some are. Valerie Solanas’s SCUM Manifesto caused quite a stir when it suggested that it was the job of females to “destroy the male sex.”
* Liberal feminism focuses on equality of women to men within the existing system. They typically centre on the lack of pay parity between men and women, the lack of women business leaders, women in the top levels of management, or in decision-making positions and the unequal division of labour in the home.
In Aotearoa: The Women’s Electoral Lobby was a powerful group who campaigned for many years around the issue of the lack of representation of women in Parliament.
* Marxist Feminism or Social Feminism is a feminist theory which focuses on dismantling capitalism, which is seen as the cause of economic inequality, dependence, political confusion and unhealthy social relations. Women’s subordination is viewed as a form of oppression which is maintained because it serves the interests of capital and the ruling class.
Solution to the world’s problems: The elimination of the capitalist profit-driven economy, which would remove the motivation for sexism, racism, homophobia and other forms of oppression.
* Pop feminism is the feminism favoured by the media, and often seen as a fashion trend. It stereotypes feminists as beautiful, empowered, man-eating women.
TV series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
* Post Modern Feminism is the argument sex is itself socially constructed, for example through language, but not always the same way. This argument leads to the conclusion that there is no single cause for women’s subordination, and no single approach towards dealing with the issue.
Key Principle: Language shapes and restricts our reality, including our ideas of sex and gender, but because language is open to interpretation, it can also be used to resist this shaping and restriction. This makes it a useful tool for political and social struggle.
* Post Colonial Feminism challenges the assumption that gender oppression is the primary force of patriarchy. It argues that oppression relating to the colonial experience- particularly oppression based on race, class and ethnic discrimination- has marginalised women in colonial societies.
Rejects: The idea that there is a universal female experience
* Pro-feminist men are sympathetic to feminist understandings of society and seek to add their voice to discussions around inequality and the rigid divisions of masculine and feminine. They advocate change by men in their gender relations and social, political and institutional structures.
Check out: The Men’s Bibliography, a comprehensive bibliography of writing on men, masculinities, gender, and sexualities.
* Radical Feminism views the oppression of women as the most fundamental form of oppression, cutting across boundaries of race, culture and economic class. Radical feminists believe that equality within the existing system isn’t enough, and believe the system itself is oppressive. The analysis of many radical feminists begins with a strong belief in women’s right to control her own body, and live lives free of fear, coercion, abuse, rape. They are often strongly critical of media images that promote an idealised skinny body image as the only acceptable shape for women to be.
Myth: Radical feminists did not burn their bras at the 1968 Miss America pageant. They protested by throwing high heels, girdles and makeup into a freedom trash can, carried signs reading ‘lets judge ourselves as people’ and crowned a sheep Miss America. No bras were harmed in the process.
* Sex-positive feminism centers on the idea that sexual freedom is an essential component of women’s freedom.
Read: Nicole Matherson’s The Confusion Between Sexuality and Liberation
+ Many feminist organisations are women only, not just Lesbian Seperatist organisations. These women believe that organising without men allows women to take the central role in their own struggle for freedom. While they are glad if men are supportive, they tend to think men can’t be feminist, for the same reason a Pakeha can support Maori struggle for tino rangatiratanga but can’t be a Maori activist.
[now what?]
We’ve entered an era of DIY feminism… Your feminism is what you want it to be and what you make of it. Define your agenda. Claim your F-word.
Marcelle Kemp, The BUST Guide to the New Girl Order
Feminism can cross boundaries based on social class, race, culture and religion. It addresses both universal issues, such as violence, and culturally specific issues, such as female infanticide. However feminists don’t always agree on the root causes of the issues and what needs to be done about them, in fact they may even have opposing views.
There is no one way to be a feminist. You have to find your own way. So…… get reading, start thinking, talk to people and stand up for what you believe in.
For more information, theories and critiques of these and other types of feminism, check out the Learn More section below and Nicole Matheson’s articles The F Word, Stupid Girls and The Confusion Between Sexuality and Liberation, and Eliana and MZs What is Sexism? A Global Problem.
Learn More and References
The F Word
Feminist Utopia
Bitch Magazine
Feministing
How much do you know about feminism quiz?
The Men’s Bibliography
Ecofeminism
Individualist Feminism
UN Women Watch
Amnesty International website
Wikipedia
Global Bits Issue 9 – Violence against Women
Just Change Issue 5 – Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
