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FEMINISM

By Chloe Smith
What is feminism?
• ‘The advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the
sexes’
• ’The theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes’

• ‘The belief that men and women should have equal rights and
opportunities’
• ‘The doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women
equal to those of men’

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/
2017/03/08/what-is-feminism-and-why-do-
so-many-women-and-men-hate-
it/#4200306f7e8e
When did it start?
• Most historians agree that the modern
feminist movement began on July 19th
and 20th, 1848, in Seneca Falls, New
York. It became known as the Seneca
Falls Convention.

https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=cCCDUuz1QBY
What are the core beliefs of a feminist?
• Two beliefs all feminists have: 1.Women have been held down by
men, 2.The can and should be over turned.
• Patriarchy exists: Women are dominated in a society which benefits
men.
• Both genders should have equal rights, it is all about equality.

https://quizlet.com/5879706/fem
inism-core-beliefs-flash-cards/
Who are the key thinkers/ activists?
• The Suffragettes

• In the first major rallying cry for


feminism, The Suffragettes fought
vehemently for women's rights, most
specifically, the right to vote. Their
movements and protests, both
peaceful and radical, allowed for the
nationwide right for women to vote in
1920. Some of the most notable
women in the movement are Mary
Wollstonecraft, Susan B. Anthony,
Alice Stone Blackwell, Elizabeth
Cady Stanton, Emmeline Pankhurst,
Sojourner Truth.
• Eleanor Roosevelt

• Roosevelt became the first First


Lady to take on responsibilities
beyond merely hosting and
entertaining in the White House.
Before her tenure as First Lady,
she was already outspoken and
involved with women's issues,
working with the Women's Trade
Union League and the
International Congress of
Working Women. From 1935 to
1962, Roosevelt wrote ”My Day”
• Marlene Dietrich

• While her efforts didn't directly


fight for women's rights,
Dietrich made a contribution to
feminism through fashion. The
Hollywood actress wore
trousers and men's suits
during a time where it was
considered extremely
scandalous and taboo
• Rosie The Riveter

• Although her character may be


fictional, Rosie the Riveter
encompassed the female
strength championed
throughout the feminist
movement. Representing the
women who worked throughout
World War II.
• Betty Friedan

• The American writer and activist


penned The Feminine Mystique in
1963, which is often credited for
sparking the second wave of
feminism that began in the '60s and
'70s. Friedan spent her life working
to establish women's equality,
helping to establish the National
Women's Political Caucus as well as
organizing the Women's Strike For
Equality in 1970, which popularized
the feminist movement throughout
America.
Influential women of current time…
• Malala Yousafzai

• The courageous teenager rose


to fame with her memoir, I Am
Malala, documenting her
fearless journey as a young
student fighting for access to
education in Pakistan. Ever
since, Malala has been
traveling the world advocating
for education rights for women
and children through her
foundation, The Malala Fund.
• Oprah Winfrey
• Motivated by the unequal pay she
received in the start of her
broadcasting career, Oprah set
out to start her own television
show and from there built an
empire catering to helping women
grow, develop and thrive. "I never
did consider or call myself a
feminist, but I don't think you can
really be a woman in this world
and not be." She has since
developed the Oprah Winfrey
Leadership Academy for Girls,
the Oprah Winfrey Network and
was awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom in 2013.
• Madonna

• The Queen of Pop has


built her entire career
on pushing the limits of
women and sexuality
through her songs and
music videos
• Angelina Jolie

• Aside from her extensive work as


a UN diplomat, actress and
philanthropist, in 2013, when
Angelina Jolie chose to share her
double-masectomy story, she
changed the face of breast cancer
awareness. In a personal essay,
Jolie revealed how the health
decision empowered her as a
woman while encouraging other
women to come forward with
their own breast cancer stories.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/g4201/famous-
feminists-throughout-history/?slide=23
https://guilsboroughschoolmedia.wordpress.com/2017/08/25/van-zoonen-
feminism-and-patriarchy/

Van Zoonen- Patriarchy in the media


• Van Zoonen believes the media portray images of stereotypical women and this
behaviour reinforces societal views.

• The media does this because they believe it reflects dominant social values
(what people believe in) and male producers are influenced by this.

• This is a patriarchy (a society ran by men for men) which dominates and
oppresses women, politically and through society.

• ‘rule of the father’

• Government or society where men hold the majority of power, passed down
through generation (lineage.)

• Systems are put in place to ensure that women do not achieve equality.

• Patriarchy is just one of many forms of domination, others include race, class
and nationality.
Some of these characteristics may be stereotypically male or female…
• Aggressive-Passive

• Rational-Emotional

• Domestic-Political

• Gender roles and gender stereotypes:

• Women are expected to cook and clean.

• Men are the ‘breadwinners’


Women are
expected to look
good for men, as
portrayed in the
media.
Neat, modest.
Do I agree that the UK is still a patriarchal
society?
• In some terms I would say that yes the UK is a patriarchal society.
Although we have a female Prime minister and a Queen, the majority of
the house of parliament is male dominated therefore creates and unequal
division of gender and you could say it mutes the voice of women in the
country. Going off of recent news topics, the unequal gender pay gap
emphasises the patriarchal society. Men are getting payed more than
women for doing the same jobs.
On the other hand…
Although compared to previous years, you could say that the UK may not
be completely patriarchy free, but there is a rise in female equality. For
example 2/3 women are now working and are changing the stereotypical
view of a female house wife.

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