Feminism, or the belief that all individuals are entitled to equal rights and treatment regardless of gender, is often viewed as one of the most controversial movements concerning the subject of human rights. Opinions surrounding the topic tend to be rigidly divided, with individuals either strongly supporting or strictly against the culture. Though this group can include anyone who believes in and wishes to fight for equal rights, rampant stereotypes and misunderstandings tend to ward off many individuals from adopting the label. Regardless of one’s personal feelings towards the group, the complex history, positive goals, and overall impact throughout various time periods and cultures proves feminism to be a subject worth discussing. The definition of feminism is highly individual and can mean a variety of different things to different people. In general, feminism is the belief that all individuals should be treated equally and be provided the same rights and opportunities regardless of their sex or gender. What exactly qualifies as discrimination or sexist behavior is highly debated, as is what actions should specifically be performed in order to eradicate it (Haslanger). Areas commonly focused on by the majority within the culture include political representation, family structure, reproductive rights, domestic violence, and sexual harassment ("What Is Feminism?"). Though different forms and divisions exist, such as eco- feminism, liberal feminism, or radical feminism, not every principle associated with them is fought for equally by all individuals within the group. The definition and goals of the term feminism have changed dramatically over the history of its being used. The movement itself can be broken into three distinct waves, each harboring a different focus and demographic. The first wave, beginning in the eighteen-hundreds, focused primarily on gaining political representation. It consisted mostly of privileged, upper-class women who tended to be incredibly exclusive against African-Americans and other minority groups. This ended in 1920 when the nineteenth amendment gave women the right to vote. The second began in the nineteen-sixties and focused on more social issues (Rampton). One of the major influences during this time was The feminist Mystique, written by Bette Freidman in 1963 (Imbornoni). This wave incorporated women from all races and financial classes. Women wanted to have lives beyond the commonly accepted expectation of wife and mother, to be provided with equal education and occupational opportunities, to be able to make their own decisions regarding personal health, and to decide whether or not they wished to become parents (Rampton). The National Organization of Women, also referred as NOW, began in 1966 and fought to gain theses rights (Imbornoni). The 1973 court case Roe versus Wade gave women the ability to decide whether or not she wanted to receive an abortion (Imbornoni). Beginning in the early nineties and continuing up through the present day, third wave feminism focuses on many of the same issues while shifting the fight for equality beyond the United States and attempting to change systems throughout the entire world (Rampton). A common declaration from those against feminism is the notion that it is no longer necessary; women have gained equal rights and therefore should remain quietly content with the achieved progress. Despite
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Women are frequently treated as property or commodities and are given little to no choice in their lives and futures. They are often denied education and employment leaving them completely dependent on their male counterparts. As one in three women will experience violence based on gender during their lives, this puts women in an incredibly dangerous position that can be detrimental to their physical and mental health. Infanticide is a steady problem throughout parts of southern Asia because daughters are seen as less valuable and are less desired than sons (Scott). There are currently over seven-hundred million girls living today that were forced to be married under the age of eighteen, often before the age of fifteen and some as young as eight or nine. As these girls are not yet physically capable of safely carrying children, they are at an extremely high risk of death as a result of complications ("Facts and Figures: Ending Violence against Women"). Feminism as not adherent only to the region or culture; it advocates for the rights and equal treatment of all individuals regardless of their
Women are frequently treated as property or commodities and are given little to no choice in their lives and futures. They are often denied education and employment leaving them completely dependent on their male counterparts. As one in three women will experience violence based on gender during their lives, this puts women in an incredibly dangerous position that can be detrimental to their physical and mental health. Infanticide is a steady problem throughout parts of southern Asia because daughters are seen as less valuable and are less desired than sons (Scott). There are currently over seven-hundred million girls living today that were forced to be married under the age of eighteen, often before the age of fifteen and some as young as eight or nine. As these girls are not yet physically capable of safely carrying children, they are at an extremely high risk of death as a result of complications ("Facts and Figures: Ending Violence against Women"). Feminism as not adherent only to the region or culture; it advocates for the rights and equal treatment of all individuals regardless of their