Joy Mariconda | AP Language and Composition | June 16, 2014
Feminism Now: What does it
mean?
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT IN MODERN
AMERICA
An Explanation
As a piece of quintessential knowledge for any spectator of this essay, a definition
of feminism is required. Without a basic knowledge of that all-encompassing topic
of “feminism,” the door is left open to questioning. Although generally one can
surmise that feminism connotes support for women, many are uninformed about
what this actually represents. Stereotypes and misconceptions about feminism
stem from this ‘gray area.’ Feminist Shanzeh Khurram said, “Most people don’t
understand what feminism stands for, and they don’t realize how important it is.”1
Part of this effect is due to the fact that in the past and in our modern society,
people cannot agree on many aspects of feminism. The thing they can agree on is
this: Feminism seeks justice for women and their rights and interests as human
beings.2 Most modern feminists and feminists of past history would agree that
"feminism works toward equal opportunities for all genders.”3 The question is,
what do you mean by that? Feminist Kelsey Lueptow of Everyday Feminism
Magazine, adds that “feminism is a creature with many faces these days.”4
Sparknotes, an organization not dedicated to the study of feminism, has listed
twenty seven different kinds of feminism by itself.5 The convenient thing is that a
majority of modern feminists are “equality feminists” which means that they are
primarily argue that “women should receive all privileges given to men and that
biological differences between men and women do not justify inequality.”6 Kelsey
Lueptow is one of these people, having said that "Feminism works toward equal
opportunities for all genders in every regard.”7 Modern feminism deals with de
facto equality. It searches to be equal in places our predecessors might not have
looked: in our own homes and personal relationships, in the way that society
portrays us. It brings an end to women being undervalued not just in the eyes of
the work place or the law, but also in the people within our own community. It
aims to impact everyone, everywhere, for the end purpose of being seen casually as
equal human beings.
1
(Khurram, 2012)
(Merriam-Webster, Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d.)
3
(Lueptow, 2014)
4
(Lueptow, 2014)
5
(Sparknotes, 2011)
6
(Sparknotes, 2011)
7
(Lueptow, 2014)
2
PAGE 1
Why do feminists believe there is a need for feminism now in
America?
“Even in America,” there is still injustice for women.8 We can vote, we can work, we have
maternity leave, we go to college and have careers. “Women might be able to work, but
there’s still the glass ceiling, the gender and racial pay gap, and sexual harassment in the
workplace, amongst other things.”9 The glass ceiling is the ‘artificial barriers” which
“prevent advancement of women and minorities…to management and decision-making
positions in business.”10 In many ways, we have not broken the glass ceiling. Studies show
that this year “women currently hold 4.8 percent of Fortune 500 CEO positions and 5.0
percent of Fortune 1000 CEO positions.”11 Studies have also shown that the grades that you
get in high school affect the overarching path of your income later on in life.12 The higher
the grades, the higher the income. However, this doesn’t always hold true. On average, a
male student with a 2.5 GPA will end up earning a higher income than a female student
with a 4.0 GPA.13 In other studies of different natures, it has been shown “that women still
make roughly 80% as much as male counterparts in their same jobs.”14 Time magazine’s
web site even reports that “the pay gap [between men and women] amounts to $431,000
over a lifetime.”15
The most obvious reason for modern feminism is that which is under our noses; American
culture devalues women subconsciously in our everyday lives. American society and
popular culture are by far some of the biggest aggressors against women, the thing that
devalues us most frequently. In April 2014, The Guardian published an article online which
reports that “the portrayal of women in the news as wives first and people second is
widespread.”16 It cites examples including fashion designer L’Wren Scott’s recent suicide, a
university professor and member of the Vatican listed simply as a grandmother, and even
common criminals who are only referred to as a “banker’s wife” or just “a wife.” Although
they are everyday tools of communication and learning for people of all ages, news sources
are portraying “women's identities and achievements” as “less important than their
husband's role, even…[if] the woman is focus of the story.”17
Even the linguistic pattern of our American society devalues women: our insults reference
feminine characteristics rather than masculine (i.e. “bitch,” “pussy,” “nancy,” “pansy”). We
8
(Khurram, 2012)
(Khurram, 2012)
10
(Federal Glass Ceiling Commission, 1995)
11
(Catalyst, 2014)
12
(Berman, 2014)
13
(Berman, 2014)
14
(Lueptow, 2014)
15
(Alter, 2014)
16
(Bates, 2014)
9
17
PAGE 2
hear “slut-shaming.” We hear ‘body hate’ towards people of all shapes and sizes, and we
see that appearances are valued greater than inner worth. All of these things go against
modern feminism. One writer says, “I am sick of people who comment first on my
appearance and second on the quality of my writing.”18 This is reflected in magazines,
television, and social media.
One of the greatest challenges women face are the double standards that have plagued
modern culture and are inspired by traditional family roles. It’s the twenty first century,
and men and women are still expected to fulfill roles which ‘must’ be done in a certain
manner according to their gender. He's a Stud, She's a Slut, and 49 Other Double Standards
Every Woman Should Know is a book that explores common double standards we deal
with in modern society.19 It also shows that men are still expected to fulfill roles, expected
to have a certain attitude. It isn’t fair for anyone. Some of these double standards include:
“He’s a Bachelor, She’s a Spinster,” “He’s Angry, She’s PMSing,” “He’s Funny, She’s
Annoying,” and “He’s Plain, She’s Vain.”20 If that doesn’t speak volumes to you, if you
haven’t encountered those ideas in your own life—you must be living under a rock.
The first passage of He's a Stud, She's a Slut is especially insightful because it deals with
the everlasting double standard: being a slut, a whore, or ‘loose.’ Author Jessica Valenti
says that the real purpose of these words is to control women “through shame and
humiliation.”21 In reality this is a mind game, and men don’t have to deal with it. Everyone
knows women face sexual harassment, and this is a part of it that is normal and acceptable
in American culture.
Finally, there is benevolent sexism, “a paternalistic attitude towards women that idealizes
them affectionately,” and subconsciously devalues them.22 This is when women are put
down very subtly and for the most part, not on purpose. Examples include “men calling
women ‘girls,’ complimenting them on stereotypically feminine behavior and sheltering
them from more "masculine" tasks.”23 The UK’s Daily Mail published an article entitled
“Men who hold open doors for women are SEXIST not chivalrous, feminists claim.”24
Psychologist Peter Glick was a part of the first study on benevolent feminism and makes a
distinction by saying that “often chivalrous behavior is appropriate. It is just important to
18
(Karina, 2013)
(Valenti, 2008)
20
(Valenti, 2008)
21
(Valenti, 2008)
22
(Stampler, 2011)
23
(Stampler, 2011)
24
(Stampler, 2011)
19
PAGE 3
know when you are crossing the line."25 If a woman was to deny this benevolent sexism,
they could face hostile sexism, such as being called a ‘bitch’ for refusing help.26
Even in America, injustices to both women and men based on gender happen all the time.
Everyday women and men suffer because of gender and gender roles. The problem is that
these issues remain invisible to the naked eye, to those who see without really seeing. If
we didn’t know there was an issue, how would we ever be able to fix things? Without
being informed, there is no possibility of change.
What makes modern feminism different than past feminism?
The big push for feminist of the past has always been this thing called “equal opportunity.”
Now that it’s illegal to discriminate in the workplace, we have that right? No…Not
completely. The feminists of today look for “opportunity to be spoken to with the same
respect and professional tone as other employees, opportunity not to be whistled or
gawked at on the street or while we’re working (or anywhere), and opportunity to feel and
express emotion without being demarcated as ‘crazy’ or ‘hormonal.’”27 This is the equal
opportunity to be treated as human beings; not just to be allowed to have the same jobs as
men or the same legal rights. This is the want to be treated equal by people in our own
lives, not just the government or big businesses.
One of the criticisms of feminism is that in the past feminism made the most impact on
white, middle-class, heterosexual women. And they’re right. In every previous generation,
feminist leaders were white. And then this in turn “represents deeply internalized racial
privilege.”28 Now feminism has evolved in many different ways so that it focuses on people
all over the world of many ages, cultures, races, and people of varied incomes. It is really
meant for everyone.
Modern feminism also has a newfound focus on men, wanting “a culture in which men
have the opportunity to express emotion openly, display empathy and kindness without
ridicule, to be stay-at-home-dads if that is their passion, and to practice any hobby or
sport without verbal emasculation – opportunity for every man to be a ‘real’ man.”29
Finally, one of the biggest and most obvious changes of feminism in general is a “sexual
positive” attitude which encourages women to embrace whatever sexual roles they identify
with. In the past, sex had a negative connotation in feminism as being used for the
ultimate gain of men, seen as leading women be objectified. Now women’s sexuality is
25
(Stampler, 2011)
(Stampler, 2011)
27
(Lueptow, 2014)
28
(Lueptow, 2014)
29
(Lueptow, 2014)
26
PAGE 4
expressed as a natural and open thing which shouldn’t have limits or face shame. Feminist
Jessica Valenti wrote, “Why is a woman less of a person, or “dirty”, because she has sex?”30
Standards of beauty have evolved as well: teenage feminist writer Tavi Gevinson tells girls
to “forget what some magazine or boy or salesperson tells you is sexy and just wear what
makes you feel good.”31 Now women have not only embraced their sexuality, they have
recognized the fact their view of sexuality should not be molded by society’s opinions over
their own. Modern feminism also recognizes the double standard that women deal with
about their sexuality. Lesbian, gay, bi, questioning, or transgender people, are generally
welcomed with open arms by most modern feminists. They are seen as humans looking
for equality in every way, just the way straight women and men are. Everyday Feminism’s
Kelsey Lueptow maintains that “a feminism that isn’t as actively inclusive of all races,
sexual expressions, gender identities, and lifestyles is inherently hypocritical based on its
identity as a movement for equality.”32
Misinformation on Feminism
Feminists are man-haters.
Feminists are ugly, jealous of other women.
Feminists can’t get men and are resentful.
Feminists see themselves as above men.
Feminists make problems out of thin air.
These are all common misconceptions about the feminist movement almost everyone is
familiar with. In a study at led by a group of students from the University of Toronto, out
of 228 Americans “the most frequently mentioned traits describing “typical feminists”
included “man-hating” and “unhygienic.” American radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh
once said, “Feminism was established to allow unattractive women easier access to the
mainstream.” Even on hit TV series “That 70’s show,” feminists were jokingly portrayed as
ugly, smelly, unattractive and desperate man haters.33 It is easily seen that “the perception
of feminism is more warped than a fun-house mirror.”34
Another important misconception about the feminist movement is that it only consists of
women. This has never been the case: “any person- male or female- who wants equal
30
(Valenti, 2008)
(Gevinson, 2012)
32
(Lueptow, 2014)
33
I can vouch for this, having seen the episode. I haven’t forgotten it, and I saw it freshman year.
34
(Lueptow, 2014)
31
PAGE 5
opportunities for both sexes is a feminist.”35 In a recent experiment where Cambridge
students were asked why they need feminism, one man said “I need feminism because
people still say ‘But you’re a man!’ when I tell them I’m a feminist.”36
Why are these misconceptions perpetuated?
Recently, rising star Shailene Woodley publicly said she was not a feminist. The star of
recent hits The Fault in Our Stars and Divergent, further explained this by saying: “Because
I love men, and I think the idea of ‘raise women to power, take the men away from the
power’ is never going to work out because you need balance.”37 Ms. Woodley has
discredited a concept she doesn’t understand. Additionally, other celebrities including
Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Carla Bruni, and even Sandra Day
O’Connor have run from the label of feminist.38 Naturally we look to people of our same
gender as role models because we can relate to them. If these role models, who have
incredible ‘star power’ and influence over adolescents, don’t know what feminism is, then
feminism has no champion. Feminism has no one to inspire our children. Feminism has
no figurehead for little kids or teenagers trying to figure out life.
On the Huffington Post’s Women section, a poll “found that 20 percent of Americans -- 23
percent of women and 16 percent of men -- identify as feminists, but 82 percent of people
said they believe that ‘men and women should be social, political, and economic equals…’”
This means that “the majority of Americans buy into the ideology and actual politics of
feminism, just not the label.”39
Against Feminism
Even in the 20th century, there was backlash against feminism by women and men. These
were women who liked the roles they played in society, women who did not want to be
seen as equal because it is against the traditional roles of the household. This still persists,
and is the main argument against feminism. Phyllis Schlafly, one of feminism’s biggest
opposers, said “Feminism is doomed to failure because it is based on an attempt to repeal
and restructure human nature.”40 Ladies Against Feminism is a modern association that
which claims to have “refuted the follies of feminism and promoted a strong, intelligent,
35
(Khurram, 2012)
(Malone, 2013)
37
(Meltzer, 2014)
38
(Meltzer, 2014)
39
(Yandoli, 2013)
40
(Lewis, n.d.)
36
PAGE 6
biblical view of womanhood.”41 There are two different schools of thought against modern
feminism, which are anti-feminism and post-feminism. The best definition of an antifeminist is “one opposed to women or to feminism; a person (usually a man) who is hostile
to sexual equality or to the advocacy of women's rights.”42 One scholar of men’s studies
feels it “is justified by antifeminists through ‘recourse to religious and cultural norms, and
sometimes... in the name of 'saving' masculinity from pollution and invasion.’”43 Antifeminists may see the division of men and women as natural due to traditional gender
roles. Post-feminists believe that there is no longer a need for feminism, that “feminism
has achieved its goals.”44 It has many forms, like other schools of feminist thought; many
post-feminists do not share similar beliefs. Although it is not clearly defined, feminists will
agree that “it is clear that the movement arose out of a backlash against feminism.”45 One
blogger writes, “Women, in the 21st century, well, we’re alright. I’m a firm believer that if
one plays the victim, one will be the victim. If feminists could just quit the moaning and
look around they’d see that they’re fighting a battle that has already been won.”46 This is a
clear example of post-feminism.
What it means
Feminism asks, “Is it wrong for ladies to have ambition for the race?”47 Feminism asks,
“Does my sassiness upset you?”48 Feminism says, “equality for everyone.”49 Although
women have always had their oppressors, they are striving forward every day, and nothing
can keep them down. Whether you identify as a feminist or not, now you know what it’s
all about. The feminsts of today are looking to make life more equal for their sons and
daughters of the future. They won’t let anything get in their way:
“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.”50
41
(Ladies Against Feminism, n.d.)
(Antifeminism, 2014)
43
(Antifeminism, 2014)
44
(FAQ: What is “Post-feminism”?, 2007)
45
(FAQ: What is “Post-feminism”?, 2007)
46
(Take This Pink Ribbon Off My Eyes, 2013)
47
(Mills, n.d.)
48
(Still I Rise, 2003)
49
(Lueptow, 2014)
50
(Still I Rise, 2003)
42
PAGE 7
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