FEMINIST MOVEMENT:Forms or Varieties of Feminism, First wave feminists

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Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)

Lesson 02

FEMINIST MOVEMENT:

A movement or way of thinking that proposes, advocates, supports, and struggles for social equality of the two

sexes. The difference between men and women should be looked into from a "gender" perspective rather than

a "sexist" perspective. The difference between the sexes is learned and attained, not ascribed or inherent.

Society is the seed bed of our gender roles, gender Identity, and gender stratification leading to social status and

ranking of the genders.

Feminist movement had its roots in struggle for enlightenment, women's rights, and legal and

political rights.

The feminists advocate:

a) The significance of change.

b) Reintegration of humanity: all human traits are found in all humans (French, 1985).

c) Equal rights and elimination of gender stratification.

d) Curbing and bringing to an end all forms of violence against women.

e) Promoting sexual autonomy.

Forms or Varieties of Feminism

Liberal Feminism :( 1960s- 1970s)

Liberal feminism had roots in classic liberal thought; women should have the same rights as men.

Radical Feminism:

· Cultural notion of gender needs to be eliminated.

· Men are the oppressors and women oppressed.

· Racial or social class oppression follows the same model.

Socialist Feminism:

Rather than seeking liberation at individual level, men and women should be together in this pursuit.

Cultural Feminism:

· Social change is a must.

· Societies need to accept and appreciate traditionally feminine values.

Some important historical facts and events:

· Christine de Pizan: Generally considered the first feminist writer. Wrote in the medieval period.

· In the 1700's women like Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Marquis de Condorcet propagated the

significance of women's education

· 1785: The first scientific Society for Women established in Middleberg, Dutch, Republic.

· 1791: "Declaration of the Rights of Women & the Female Citizen"

· The "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) was paraphrased. It was the French

revolution's central document.

· 1792: Mary Wollstonecraft wrote her famous book: "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman".

· The modern feminist movement emerged from the west.

· A member of men as well as women contributed to the cause of improving women's status in the

society, in the political, economic, & social spheres.

· All societies were patriarchal, male dominated, where women were generally oppressed & home

bound.

· Women were denied the right to franchise, to go for education, and profession.

· Woman was treated as a second rate citizen with limited or no ability, little or lower grade intelligence

& non trustable skill.

Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)

19th century Reform Movement was a landmark in the history of women liberation

1848: New York: The first Women's Rights Convention was held.

J .S. Mill wrote "The Subjection of Women" in the mid 1800s. He was influenced by his wife Harriet

Taylor.

· Emmeline Pankhurst formed WSPU/Women's Social and Political Union.

· Emma Goldman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Dame Ethel Mary Smyth, & Margaret Sanger were among

the 19th century feminists.

· In the East Qasim Amin an Egyptian jurist is known as the Father of Egyptian feminist movement.

· In 1899 he wrote " Women's Liberation" and proved to be a very influential writer

(Tahrir u Mar'a)

· Woman suffrage movement & its ultimate success brought about major changes in terms of

women's status as well as their self- perceptions and vision.

The First World War was also a turning point. Many women who never worked outside home started working.

But the end of war meant joblessness for many women. In piece time, the jobs were to be left for the soldiers

returning home. Still many women carried on with nursing, farming, blue collared jobs & other traditional

occupations. At the same time during the world war many women entered occupations that used to be

restricted to men alone e.g. mechanical work.

In many communist & socialist countries women were bought at par with men in many regards.

Feminist movement saw tough times & discouragement in countries like Germany or Italy, in the early 20th

country.

Waves of the Feminist Movement:

First wave feminists

The early feminists, who initiated the movement.

Second wave feminists

By this time, women in most countries had been granted the right to franchise and to contest election for

public office. These feminists were active after 1960. They were working for equality, both economic and

social. They fought for the right to contraception, birth control and sexual liberation. Sexual liberation became

a much debated issue and was criticized by many feminists.

Third wave feminists:

Emerged in the 1990's. The earlier feminists failed to see and deal with variations within women. Third wave

feminists try to see how different groups of women may be having different needs, and circumstances, and

requiring different solutions. Womanism, Queer theory, and Post Modern Feminism are a part of this wave.

Women's Movement in the Sub-continent:

· Began in the 1920s

· AIWC: Established in 1927: All India Women's Conference was the flag bearer

· The Women's Indian Association and the National Council for Women led to the developmental of

AIWC

· The initial agenda was females' education

· The fullest developmental of an individual's latent capacities along with the ideals of motherhood was

emphasized.

· Later on social transformation was also included in their agenda.

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE:

It was a reform movement for attaining the goal of suffrage to women .The movement had political and social

aims to achieve.

Suffragists: supporters and leaders of the suffrage movement. Any person, male or female, who supported

suffrage for women.

Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)

Suffragettes: Female supporters of the movement.

Initially equal rather than universal suffrage was the demand.

Equal suffrage: Supporting the cause of abolishing the tradition and practice of graded votes.

Universal suffrage: Right to vote without any discrimination. In many countries and parts of world, women's

suffrage was granted much before universal suffrage; so women in these parts of the world had the right to

vote before the men and women of some other races in various parts of the world.

History of Women Suffrage:

Women got the suffrage right at different times in different parts of the world.

· 1776: New Jersey: first women suffrage & people were called, people, not men.

· It was rescinded in 1807.

· 1838:

The Pitcairn Islands: Women were allowed suffrage. In South Australia, restricted women's

suffrage was allowed.

· 1871:

The Paris Commune allowed the right that was later cancelled.

· 1944:

President de Gaulle reinstated the right.

· 1893:

New Zealand: Voting rights were given to women.

· 1894: South Australia: Women were given universal suffrage and granted permission to stand for

parliament.

· 1906: Finland: Women got universal and equal suffrage, and allowed to be candidates in election.

Finland was the first European country to do so.

· 1907: Finland: The world's first female Member of Parliament. Finland had 19 women members of

parliament after the election.

· 1913: Norway & Denmark: women got the right to vote. Remaining Australian state followed these

countries.

· 1917: Soviet Union and Canada (except Quebec that allowed women suffrage in 1940) permitted

suffrage.

· 1918: All German and Polish women and British women above 30 years of age got the right.

· 1920: American states where women previously did not have the right could now vote.

· 1928: All British women were granted suffrage

· 1926:

the year of women suffrage in Turkey.

· 1984: Liechtenstein: In central Europe, one of the smallest independent states in the world was one

of the last places to allow equal suffrage to women.

Today few countries exist where women do not have the right to franchise.

In Bhutan, one vote one property is the rule, which makes women suffrage difficult.

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