Feminism Basics
 

Feminism has become a trending topic, but many people still do not fully understand what the movement's aims and ideals are. Feminism began in Western culture in the late 19th century. While it has gained women more rights than they initially had, feminists still believe there is more work to be done in order to achieve equal rights.

What is feminism?

Feminism is defined as the movement for social, political, and economic equality of men and women. It suggests that a person’s sexual organs do not determine their intellectual and social capabilities or rights. Feminism also embraces the idea that all people are entitled to liberty and freedom within reason.

Types of feminism

• Liberal feminists believe that an individual's small actions will influence society to change as a whole. They say that society believes women are naturally less capable than men. Therefore, society discriminates against women in education and the workplace.
• Socialist feminists believe women are not free because they are financially dependent on men in society and that capitalism exploits the poor and powerless.
• Radical feminists believe that patriarchy is the root of gender inequality between men and women. They are skeptical that without overthrowing the patriarchal government, equality cannot be attained.
• Reformist feminists believe gender equality can be achieved by changing the political structure of the government.

Views for feminism

Feminists argue that, while it is true that in developed countries, such as the United States and United Kingdom, women are not as oppressed as they were in the 1900’s, there is still room for improvement in developed countries and underdeveloped countries, such as in Africa and Asia. The following list provides just some of the many pro-feminism arguments that are often heard.

• More than 120 countries in the world do not have laws against marital rape and some countries still allow young women to be married off.
• In Afghanistan, a woman can be attacked for going to college.
• In the United States, there are still people trying to govern what women are allowed to do with their bodies in regards to abortion. Feminists believe it should be up to the women that are pregnant.
• Women still have to deal with catcalling daily.
• Women earn less money than men with the same education levels.
• Sexual assault victims are often blamed for the assault, rather than their attacker.

Views against feminism

People against feminism argue that women are very much equal to men and that there is no reason to have such a movement. The following list provides some of the many anti-feminism arguments often heard.

• Feminism is about female superiority or “man-hating.”
• There is no wage gap between men and women when all factors are taken into account. Some of those include the job they are doing, work experience, and amount of hours they work.
• Women and men are not equal in the sense of physical strength, which goes against how feminists claim men and women are both equal.
• Men and women are different mentally, as women are typically more social and men have more “narrow” interests.
• Feminism provides an excuse for females to act as a victim.
• Men experience harassment and sexual assault too.
• Women are not included in military drafts in the United States.

Being informed is the first step to either joining a movement or deciding not to get involved. Whatever side you choose, it is important to remain respectful towards those with differing opinions.