1. Andre Bagwell
English 1020
March 20, 2012
Project III
“Feminist Movement Good or Bad”
Women have suffered throughout history; they were unable to get an education,
restricted to domesticated work, subservient to the husband, unable to vote, and clearly
considered second class citizens. As a result, the feminism movement started and
catapulted an historic movement that helped ease the struggles of woman. These
movements have different phases and have been very successful at achieving and
obtaining the rights women have long deserved. At the same time, the breakdown in the
family units has risen, marriages are now terminated at much higher rates and lesbian
and homosexual behaviors have soured. Many famous leaders have fought to achieve
these rights but have failed to answer the consequences associated with them. From this
long struggle, women have conquered many obstacles but mostly through the hard work
of radicals in feminism. This poses a dilemma that all women do not believe in radical
feminism and do not support their beliefs. Many Anti-feminists groups were form that
consists of men and women who address these issues. As a result, much controversy has
arisen as to the state of the feminism movement today. These concerns have raised many
questions, but in particular, what are the pro’s and con’s associated with the feminism
movement, and which outweighs the other?
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2. In order to evaluate the state of the feminism movement, we must evaluate what is
feminism and why the movement began? Is homosexual lesbian behavior more common
now than ever before? And is the fact that the male role has been diminished the cause of
anti-feminist groups forming throughout the world? The roles of feminism are many, and
both men and women agree and disagree the same, making this subject controversial and
worthy of exploration and evaluation.
The first wave feminism movement is considered to cover time periods from the
mid 19th century until the passing of the fourteenth amendment in 1920, and the second
movement covers the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Some scholars consider feminism to
currently be in phase three, the women can have it all phase. These movements
collectively has brought about significant change to how women function in society.
According to the Authors of “Topics in feminism” Sally Haslanger and Nancy Tuana
provides two different definitions of feminism. The first definition describes feminism as
historically specific political movements in the United States and Europe that addressed
inequalities against women, the other definition refers to the belief that there are
injustices against women not associated with any political movements. Both definitions
address the concerns of male dominance and how women can, through protest, “change
the injustices against them even though there is no consensus on the exact list of these
injustices”(Haslanger and Tuana 3). Since the late 1800’s until now the feminism
movements are considered to have occurred in waves. It is important to understand the
reasoning behind the movements because how twisted it can become.
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3. According to Susan James a radical feminist, “Feminism is grounded on the belief
that women are oppressed or disadvantaged by comparison with men, and that their
oppression is in some way illegitimate or unjustified”. The authors of “Topics in
Feminism” contest that this general characterization make people want to believe that all
women are oppressed and would not consider that feminism could be positive. This
example explains how the topic could sway a persons personal beliefs. Radical feminist
have controlled this movement like this since around the 1950’e time frame.
Many women since through education and personal convictions disagree with the
radicals and have turned to what is called choice feminism. This concepts has the belief
that women have the choice to chose what they want. They can excel in the work place
or become the best home makers ever. These changes have come about with the
knowledge of the rise in lesbian relationships, the negative behaviors of children raised in
broken homes, and the rise in the divorce rate since the movement began. Choice
feminism sets no boundaries and allows for women to simply choose. In the article one
women says she completed a Doctorates degree but chose to become a traditional wife
and homemaker because of her biological convictions.
In the article “Topics in Feminism” Anti-feminist address the concerns associated
with what is considered equal rights for women. This article addresses the biological
differences between men and women and what factors contributed to the traditional roles
each played in the household. They also address the disagreements between justice and
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4. injustices of women. Many women feel that the traditional role of women was not unjust,
just different men. The research proves that two women who consider themselves as
feminist can address the same issue and have distinctly different views (Jagger 1994).
These facts convolute the topic significantly because all women do not believe in the
same thing.
Feminism has become so wide spread that many different types exist today.
Radical and Choice feminist are both feminism but play by different sets of rules. Choice
feminist recognize the negatives associated with being radical. They are concerned with
the serious breakdown in family values and the alarming rates of divorce since the second
wave of the feminism movement began. Radical feminist have achieved many justices for
women but at the same time have unintentionally stripped some women of the security
they enjoyed during the pre-radical feminism movement.
Anti-feminism groups formed in retaliation to the power women have gained
since the beginning of the movement. They believe much has been accomplished;
however, many negative factors have resulted as well. Such as, the break down of the
family unit, homosexuality, self esteem, sexuality, abortion, single family homes,
multiple fathers, pornography, etc. Although women have accomplished much needed
equality between sexes, many people feel the movement has gone too far, and because of
this, society is worse off.
According to Feminism.com, Women have made all the necessary steps to fight
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5. for equal rights. They are currently fighting for equal pay for equal work. The results of
this latest fight seem promising. But when does it end many anti groups ask. They
support their argument with the statics behind the fall of the family unit. Women are not
playing close attention to the children nor the husband. As a result cultural changes began
to noticeably occur. Divorce rates started to climb, the number of single women having
babies rose, and a sexual revolution appeared to be taking place.
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Since the family units are collapsing in big numbers, this would have
devastating negative results for society as a whole in a considerably very short period of
time. I feel women have accomplished a lot through feminism and they have rightfully
won many battles. At the same time the numbers associated with the decline in family
and the increase in abortion, homosexuality, etc, can’t be ignored. Some of the anti-
feminist consider themselves as answers to the problem and should be listened too. The
amount of energy expended fighting for female rights should now be used to answer the
problems associated with the decline in the family unit and the other woes associated
with it.
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6. Work Cited
Sally Haslanger and Nancy Tuana, “Topics in Feminism”, (2011)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO5yPkSB8JU
Feminism.com
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