Feminism is Still Fresh

Currently, the concept of feminism is misunderstood by those who are not familiar with it. The term strikes up images of man-hating, hairy women who are loud mouthed and annoying. For this reason, many people—both men and women—would not identify with this movement. Little do they know, there are no strict guidelines for a feminist. Whether or not a person decides to shave or wear make-up, regardless of sexual orientation, a feminist is a person who believes in equality of all humans. Just as the civil rights movement to further the racial minorities, the feminist movement is dedicated to the advancement of women.

According to the Webster’s New World College Dictionary, Feminism is “the principle that women should have political, economic, and social rights equal to those of men,” and I must say that I agree. A feminist is a humanist, a person who believes that all people should be equal. But there is not just one type of feminist. Linda M. Scott, author of Fresh Lipstick: Redressing Fashion and Feminism, talks about how detrimental it can be to place one certain appearance on feminism. She argues that “ideas about self-presentation, sexuality, consumption, power, and images that are specific to certain ethnic and class groups…[need] to be reexamined if the feminist movement is to be genuinely representative of all women,” and because these images cannot be compiled into one, it is harmful to believe that there is just one type of feminist.
(Scott 2) There are no restrictions based on gender, ethnicity, appearance, or class. A women can choose not to shave and be a feminist; she can wear high heels and dresses and be a feminist; a man can dress in drag, or dress like Brad Pitt—there is no one model of feminism. There is also not one set list of issues to be worked through for the feminist. In Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future, Jennifer Baudgardner writes that “[t]here will never be on platform for action that all women agree on…[F]eminism is as varied as the women it represents,” and feminists are united instead by the commitment to change the inequalities women face. (Baumgardner 47 & 48) There is no right or wrong path of feminism, but rather, it has evolved into something unique for each individual, because each person has their own personal way of identifying with the movement. Feminism began with the idea that women are independent beings, and therefore deserve rights separate from men and equal to them, and feminism still is based on that idea.

The feminist movement began with the suffragists, who largely were also a part of the abolitionist movement during the 1800s and early 1900s, rallying for the right to vote. The U.S. women’s suffrage movement was led by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton. These women were working towards political equality, and thus freedom. Stanton once angrily questioned what person could hold the rights and responsibilities of another person in her defense of the movement, explaining the need for women to have a say in government. (Row-Finkbeiner 21) The women of the first wave of feminism were seen as threatening and were often arrested and jailed, and as seen in the film Iron Jawed Angels, were led to hunger strikes following the examples of Alice Paul, the found of the National Women’s Party. The first amendment to give women the right to vote was introduced in 1878, but did not pass until 1920. Unfortunately, many women were still restricted from this right due to Jim Crow laws, which required literacy tests and poll taxes at the voting polls. Even so, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, author of The F-Word: Feminism in Jeopardy, writes that these women “helped change the perception of women from voiceless dependents to independent thinkers with a valid choice in shaping the country,” thus, still gaining a great deal for womankind. (Finkbeiner 23)

The second wave feminists had the right to vote and used their political power to continue towards equality. Notable names from this time include Betty Friedman, writer of The Feminine Mystique and Gloria Steinman, found of New York magazine. These women worked for increased gender equality in the workplace and government and greater access to birth control, including abortion. In the years after the first wave, feminists were fighting against the idea of “women’s work,” which allowed women to only have roles as teachers, nurses, and secretaries. They were seeking greater independence by gaining successful careers and vying for equal pay for equal work, which led to the creation of the Equal Rights Amendment. However, it still has yet to be passed.

Our generation is categorized at the third wave of feminism, and as Baumgardner writes e, “young women today feel as if they live their feminist lives without clear political struggles.” (Baumgardner 21) Many believe that feminism is an issue of the past because we have already achieved equality; however, not only are we still fighting to maintain what we have gained in the past, but there are still wage disparities between men and women, and great inequality in household relationships which puts more pressure on women. (Rowe-Finkbeiner 3) Women are expected now to work as much as men, but still are supposed to take care of their children, cook dinner, and keep an immaculate house. They are looked down upon when they must take off work to care for a sick child, or even take off for maternity leave. In many cases, this can jeopardize a women’s career, and is considered when she might be up for promotion or is first hired by a firm. Sexual harassment is still an issue both at work and in everyday life, as well as abuse, and sexual harassment was ruled an illegal form of job discrimination by the Supreme Court only 21 years ago. Sex education, child sexual abuse, body image, equal access to technology, self-mutilation, and globalization are other common issues addressed in the third wave. However, at this time, many women do not consider themselves feminists because they do not want to be labeled or put into a box, and for this reason, the feminist movement lacks clear unity and drive. (Rowe-Finkbeiner 2) Another possibility for this lack of unity is that this feminist movement is mostly defined by intellectuals, just as the other movements were said to have been led by upper-class, white females.

Many women are unaware that there is a feminist movement occurring, as was I before I became involved in Women’s Studies. Women’s Studies Programs are opening the intellectual field for analysis on gender issues of the past and present. The classes urge students to look for the inequalities between the genders and become aware of double standards. It also helps inform us of ways in which we can help the feminist movement, whether through simply volunteering, researching non-profit organizations to help, or just gaining and spreading awareness. Women’s Studies allows open intellectual discussion to occur in the classroom, and together the students learn and can come to their own conclusions about gender and the current state of women. Most importantly, it gives us language to use in order to analyze the issues we deal with in our individual lives, whether or not the students believe they are feminists or will ever take another Women’s Studies class. I have benefitted greatly from this class, and have enjoyed learning from the readings. The class allows those who are feminists to connect and reinforce their beliefs, along with learning new channels of communication and research. The Women’s Studies department allows for the advancement of intellectual thought in both women and men on the subject of feminism, and gives an opportunity for discourse and networking at the university. I am sure it both creates feminists and gives tools to the people who already were feminists, or had not yet realized it.

I, myself, am a feminist. I knew this before I took the class, but I am even more firm in my belief because of it. As Scott writes in Manifesta, “testimony is where feminism starts.” (Scott 20) I grew up in a feminist family: my grandmother ran away from an abusive husband and worked in order to take care of her six children by herself. My mother asked out my father instead of the other way around, and with three sisters, there was no distinction of male or female household chores, and we were all taught how to change our oil and our tires. We were always assured that we could do whatever we wanted, and when boys and girls were separated in school, it always confused and frustrated me. This frustration increased when I began to attend church in my teen years, where I felt men and women were not viewed equally. Apparently, as a member of the female species, I was not supposed to have sexual feelings, because we were ruled mostly by our emotions; men were the physical ones. They were also the leaders, and while women could lead, it was only when men failed to do so. I felt the women in the bible were greatly slighted when it came to telling their stories. Women were submissive, and must be modest so as not to lead men to sin. Girls could not wear bikinis to pool parties in the summer, but men could always walk around with their shirts off. Men were also seen as the foremost providers, and women were to be concerned with their children and pleasing their husbands. While I love what the church is supposed to be, I had grown tired with the skewed expectations of men and women, and found solace in feminism.

As my knowledge of feminism has grown, I have begun to identify with many of the issues being raised within the feminist community. Throughout her book,The F-Word, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner uses interviews with women who express their concerns about family and relationships. I found that I had the same view as many of the young girls who were worried about how they would balance their family and their career later in life. I also firmly believe that sex education needs to be improved in school, as teenagers need to be educated on birth control and sexually transmitted diseases. I have performed in the Vagina Monologues and worked with the Advocates Against Sexual Assault on campus, and helped with the event Take Back the Night, both events which raise awareness about violence against women. Lastly, I understand what Rowe-Finkbeiner feels when she describes the dinner party in her book, stating that “[e]very issue…spiraled into our personal lives, and personal stories inevitably led to their political implications and strategies.” (Rowe-Finkbeiner 24) I adore the Norman Women’s Collective because it allows women from the community to come together and discuss women’s issues and how they relate to our lives. It is awesome to see how people of different sexual orientations and ethnicities can come together and talk about issues from their perspectives, and we can educate one another. I have no doubt the feminists before us felt the same.
I am a feminist, because I love humanity, and wish for all people to be equal. For this reason, the first suffragists rose from the abolitionist movement, and fought to win the right for all to vote. After they had gained the right to a political voice, women began fighting for economic and social equality as well, and the struggle continues. Women’s Studies courses and feminist groups allow for feminist thought to be brought to attention and for feminists to find methods of communication inside and outside of the college institution. While many believe we live in a post-feminist world, feminists are still trying to bring to light the ways in which women and men are unequal, in places such as work and the home. Feminists have been given a bad reputation in the past, but there is no one look or way of life for the feminist.
 
Works Cited

Baumgardner, Jennifer & Amy Richards. Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future. Farrar, Staus and Giroux. 2000: New York.
Rowe-Finkbeiner, Kristin. The F-Word: Women, Politics, and the Future. Seal Press. 2004: Emeryville, CA
Scott, Linda M. Fresh Lipstick: Redressing Fashion and Feminism. Palgrave MacMillan. 2004: New York.

Week 6

This is an Abercrombie & Fitch Ad. It uses sexual appeal to advertise its clothes. The girl is baring her middriff, while one man is either biting or kissing her chin, the other pulling her hair. This depicts woman as the sexual object at the hands of the two men, and we don't know if she even knew of the man's presence behind her. All three people are white and physically devoid of imperfections. The men are seen as muscular and the aggressors in sexual relationships, which reenforces the idea of strong, in-control men, while the woman is subservient to their needs. It shows her enjoying this, as if saying this is what she should want and others want. The girl is in a thin top, with a low-dipping collar and a high middriff. This bares more of her skin for others to see, making her more available to ogle. This shows two men overpowering a woman, and the woman enjoying it, furthering patriarchal beliefs.

Gender Playlist

I picked the song "Supermodel" because it shows the push girls feel towards materialism and the need to be accepted as beautiful. In "Just a Girl," Gwen Stefani sings about the struggle of wanting to be her own person but feeling that there is a cut out version of her gender she is supposed to fit into. She wishes she had more power. "Macho Man" covers the need to feel ripped and masculine as a man in day's society, but on the other end of the spectrum, Katy Perry's "Ur So Gay" brings up the fact that men who are found to enjoy fashion and "feminine" things can be outcast and called gay. "Boys Don't Cry" demonstrates the frustration that is caused by the idea that men cannot be emotional, while "If I Were A Boy" is Beyonce's lyrical accusation that men can get away with anything and be disrespectful to women. In this version of the song, R. Kelly responds to her, mostly stating how annoying women are. I put this version to demonstrate that sometimes we are general and insulting with gender stereotypes and need to be more respectful towards one another. John Lennon's song is about his realization and wish for others to realize that women deserve more respect, and "Whatta Man" by Salt-n-pepa describes a man that respects them and gives them what they deserve. My songs demonstrate the need for more understanding between genders, which I hope will lead to the loss of definite roles for people to get trapped in.

Week 4: Women's Studies

I've been thinking about Women's Studies since last semester, because my roommates are very involved in the department and with the Women's Center. We often talk about issues, and I find myself reading things and being interested in them more than my own coursework, haha. I would be really interested to take the Body and Image class, because I think our society has a very warped idea of beauty, and we are on a path that could lead to no one being content with themselves. Cosmetic Surgeory frightens me, personally, as do women's faces once they've had work done on them. Creepy. I also am interested in taking the Women Writers course since I'm in the English department.

I am thinking about being a teacher, which is a female dominated career. My first job was at a daycare in which I had no male co-workers except for the directors son. It can be difficult for males to get childcare jobs because of fear of pedophelia, and I think this is sad because children also need male role models. I also don't like the fact that men are found suspicious in such roles, because I'm women are also capable of being sexual offenders. I have also been a cashier and drive-thru attendant, in which our roles in the fast food industry were based on gender. The cooks and packers were generally male, as well as the dishwashers. I could always get the guys to take out the trash for me, as well. My female co-workers and I were the pretty faces that everyone got to see and deal with.

Readings: I didn't really know about feminism still being a struggle until I got to campus. I met a lot of socially and politically active girls that encouraged me to be involved. In highschool all the girls I knew were constant volunteers, and I am sad that I haven't been as able to do so much in my community here in Norman. It is strange that women so often dominate volunteer roles. I think this demonstrates the idea that women are supposed to be giving and compassionate, which is ridiculous. I know plenty that are not, and many men who are.

Relationships are also stressful to women during college. Women worry about going through all the schooling then getting married and having children. Will they stay at home with their kids, even though they've become so career-oriented? Oftentimes in the workplace women are expected to hold their career over their family, and I think this something America desperately has wrong with it. America is full of crazy workaholics, and people need to realize the relationships in your life are equally important and necessary. This puts more stress on women because for some reason they are seen to be responsible for house, kids, and thier jobs, whereas men's main responsibility is their job alone. This put undue stress on women

Week Three: Iron-Jawed Angels

I liked this movie so much that I bought it. I am really impressed that HBO put this out there and did a much better job of putting a movie together than many mainstream studios. The riot during the parade really surprised me and made me angry. The men who always said that women needed to be protected from the big scary world were then fighting and beating them. It seemed so hypocritical. It reminded me of the idea that women could only be innocent or immoral. To many men, these women were wanting me than their godly place at home, making them immoral. It is so crazy.

There were tensions between upper class and lower class women and the races. One factory worker voiced that "children can't eat ballots," which showed the conflict with women of lower class. They had to work for their families, and keeping their families healthy mattered more than gaining freedoms they weren't even sure they would get. There was also tension in preparation for the parade when Ida B. Wells asks Alice Paul why the black suffragists would have to walk in the back. She is upset by the fact that Alice Paul doesn't want to lose the South suffragists by allowing the black women to be amongst them, and she insists that it is prejudice, not politics, and refuses to walk with them. During the parade, Ida and a few other women slip into the lines from the sidelines, calmly forcing them to allow her to walk with them.

The women were very brave, still fighting after being assaulted by men, and still fighting when they are imprisoned. Alice Paul begins a hunger strike and the others follow. Through the help of a woman in the prison who gave Alice Paul a piece of paper, allowing her to write of her horrid treatment in jail, she sends her message along to the other women. One women then slips it to her husband who is a politician, and he puts it into print. The women are soon released. Through consistent protest and with the help of both men and women, they are able to reach their goals politically.

Reading Responses for F-Word, Chapters 3 an 5:

Chapter three discusses some of the changes that occurred before our generation, which now seem to be normal. Birth control, for instance, is more easily accessed than ever, and many women take advantage of it. There are some that say it encourages sexuality without committment, but that also deals with the dichotomy of having women only be virgins or hoes. One point the author brings up is that birth control allows women to pursue their education and careers. Whereas in the past, women got married and got pregnant, thus having to stop school and stay at home, now they can have a sexual life and be just as successful as their counterparts. This I am thankful for. Children are a big responsibility, and while I want them one day, I could not handle them anytime soon. Right now, my education is the most important thing.

This chapter also deals with sexuality, which illicits many end of the spectrum responses. Feminist pornography vs. Anti-Pornography, Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life, Abstinence and Sexual Exploration. These fights can get pretty crazy because people don't want to see a middle ground. After reading an article, I went to check out if their were feminist porn sites on the web, and I liked what I saw. They were very respectable and didn't degrade women, and it felt empowering that people were behind such a movement. The sites and articles I read talked about women being equal sex partners with men and taking control of their sexuality. One site even focused on women having sex on their periods, arguing that the male pornographers would view this as being obscene, yet they find men ejaculating all over women to be fine. Even thought I'm not one to hit the porn sites too often, I thought that was really cool. I also like that the author of the book referenced a woman who was abstinent without religious reason. I had never heard of that, and it was very interesting to think about.

The fifth chapter talks about the third wave, whether or not there is a definition. I agree with the author that so many people nowadays don't like labels because they feel it traps them. There are many things going on in the third wave, dealing with homosexuality and gender issues as well as race even still. It is hard to get everyone to agree on all the topics, and I think the third wave shouldn't be limited to general views. I definitely think a feminist should work towards what she believes in, but I also hope he or she is accepting of all individuals. This chapter made me think about how much I don't know about not being a straight white girl. I was expected to go to college and be independent and marry someday, whereas some girls are expected to start a family right after highschool, or go to school to be able to support their family back home. I am very lucky.

A Look into the Mind of Mary Borror

I decided to interview my mother about her experience with feminism, and I had forgotten how much she talks. Obviously, she had forgotten that I was supposed to be writing this done as she was speaking, and I had to stop her every once in a while to catch up. Hopefully, our forgetfulness did not detract from my transciption.

What is your experience of gender?

M: I am able to reproduce beautiful children. I have expereced day to day hormonal changes, where I don't think men do.

What is your history with feminism?

M: Jeraldine Ferraro ran for vice president with Walter Mondale, and was teh first woman to run for the office of vice president. She was my first glimpse at a woman telling me and the world that, "Hey, I know more about politics that my husband does."

Somewhere in the 80s, early in my twenties, someone was on a mission to tell women that they didn't have to stay home and clean, that they could make their presence known with men and work rather than stay at home watching the children. I never had that look on it; I thought I should raise my children rather than others. I was ridiculed, and people made me feel like I lazy, that I should be out doing something, or that I was dependent on my husband. But in reality, it was the other way around, because he couldn't handle it emotionally to stay home with you all. I also worked part time when we needed help financially, and it was really hard for me when I finally left you all to go to work. I feel very lucky that your day had enough money me to stay home. It was more rewarding ot me than if I had been vice president of a company. To me, it was an achievement to see your first steps and hear your first words.

What is feminism?
M: It is a state of mind, not in the way that you do your hair or wear your clothes. To me, feminism is how I tell myself to react to how I am a woman. I have breasts--I have to put them in a bra everyday. Do I like to feel pretty? Yes. Do I have a hard time with the hair growing on my chin? Yes. To me, I emit, I personfiy feminism. I don't think it is having a "voice" or burning my bra--that is just crap. I know what I am; I'm very comfortable with who I am.

What is an experience in your life that made you conscious of gender?
M: When I was nine-years-old, I went to Catholic school. In Catholic school you have to wear little white Peter Pan-collared shirts. I was a chubby little girl, and when you are chubby and you are nine, sometimes you look like you have breasts. I wore a white shirt underneath, but the nuns called my mother and told her that my nipples were showing and it was time to get me a bra. Back then there weren't bras like there are now; there were two kinds: ugly and really ugly. They also didn't have the sizes for little girls like we have now, so my mother squeezed me into one, and this is why I have never liked bras. They also made me wear a sweater over my shirt from then on. I became very aware at a young age that any inclination that you were female was innappropriate. Boys could wear whatever they wanted, while we had to waear shirts with sweaters to cover up every inch, including a knee-length skirt with knee socks underneath. Any development of femininity had to be covered.


I should ask my mother to tell more stories. There are so many things about her I don't know, even when she is the one who birthed me!

And yes, the first thing she said was that she can birth beautiful children. We Borrors are pretty amazing like that.

I Wish to Kiss Obama

So, I was reading Bust.com today, which is an awesome feminist magazine that you should check out, and there was an article about Obama. Just so you know, I love Obama and basically cried Election Night, because I knew he was a man who loved the ladies genuinely and that he could do awesome things in the White House. And to prove this point, this article was dated for the 23rd on Bust.com:

Un-Gag me with a spoon!

Today Obama lifted the gag order on international groups that offer counseling and abortions to women in other countries. According to a Planned Parentood statement, in the pat 8 years, ‘Clinics have closed, contraceptive supplies have dwindled, and women were left without basic and critical health care services. As a result, there were more unwanted pregnancies and more unsafe abortions. Today, one woman dies every minute of every day due to pregnancy related causes, including unsafe abortion, and over 200 million women in developing countries who wish to delay or end childbearing lack access to modern contraceptives. Those are the women President Obama stood up for today. ‘

Thanks, Barry! via Planned Parenthood , NYT

Posted by Laurie on January 23rd, 2009


Bomb! The article also had a sweet pic of Obama with a Samarai sword.

Hope y'all are enjoying the snow!