Who are feminists?

The feminist movement arose in the 18th century, and was particularly active only from the middle of the last century. The reason for it was the discontent of women with their position, the dominance of patriarchy in all spheres of life. As such feminists - read in this article.

What does "feminists" mean and what are they fighting for?

They are committed to achieving equality of economic, political, personal and social rights for women. If we say who such feminists are in simple words, then these are women who aspire to equality with men in all spheres of life. And although their demands mainly concern women's rights, they also advocate the liberation of men, because they believe that patriarchy is harmful to the stronger sex. For the first time, the demands for equality were raised during the War of Independence in the United States, and the first who publicly delivered a speech was Abigail Smith Adams. Later, women's revolutionary clubs, political organizations, and printed publications began to appear.

However, the path of the feminist movement was thorny and protracted. Women for a long time refused to vote, forbidding to appear in political meetings and public places, and within the walls of the house they remained in full submission from her husband. Organized movement appeared in 1848 and since its formation has undergone three waves of development:

  1. The result of the activities of early feminists and the original feminist organization has been some improvement in the status of women. In particular, the English parliament allowed them to vote in local elections. Later this right was granted to the Americans. Famous feminists of the time include Emmeline Pankhurst, Lucretia Mott.
  2. The second wave lasted until the late 80's. And if the first concerned the electoral rights of women, the latter concentrated on all the nuances of legal and social equality. In addition, women advocated the elimination of discrimination as such. Known fighters of that time include Betty Friedan, Simone de Beauvoir.
  3. In the early 1990s, the third wave of feminism rose in the United States. The rights concerning sexuality came to the forefront. Women were called upon to abandon understanding of female heterosexuality as a standard and norm and to value sexuality as a tool for emancipation. Famous feminists of that period - Gloria Ansaldua, Audrey Lord.

Feminist movement

This movement has had a significant impact on the humanities, social, natural sciences, the whole life of society as a whole. Modern feminists view sex not as a natural entity, but as a political constructor, which allows maintaining relations of power between social groups. Thus, intersectional feminists argue that such forms of oppression as racism, sexism, patriarchy, capitalism and others permeate the entire society, infect all social institutions, strengthening and supporting each other.

Women's rights fighters criticize modern philosophy, science and literature, if they are created from the point of view of socially privileged men. They call for a dialogue of different types and forms of knowledge produced by people from different social positions. Of course, this movement had negative consequences. Today, ardent feminists tend to be shocking, rather than fighting for their rights. They publicly bare themselves to the waist, arranging anti-government protests and look like anxious girls who do not care for anything, but just to protest. Feeling the fullness of the opening opportunities, some women experience discomfort and note that in the new realities it is increasingly difficult to be a good wife and mother.