What is Feminism--to real people?
Addressing contemporary feminism in this woman's studies course may become a challenge. In class I noticed two things right out of the gate, that give me reason to worry about this. First, many of the students don't seem to clearly know what feminism is. Secondly, the people that represent feminism to most of my peers are either entertainers or other well-known, successful women, who may or may not stand for feminism. If the students in this class were asked "Who's a good role model for girls?" I bet 90% of us would give you the same lists given when asked "who do you think represents feminism?" Before I elaborate on my statements, let me define feminism in my own "textbook" words. Feminism: The political drive to achieve women the same social, political, and economic opportunities men have. Unfortunately, from what I heard in class, I get the idea that many of my classmates feel that feminism means the glorification of women, or more distressingly, the traditional female role (I say traditional role because I'm bracing for the shrapnel to fly when pornography, which is considered by some to be a celebration of female sexuality, will be examined). If I remember right, one of the student
The women who represent feminism on a large scale, the entertainers, hardly represent all of feminism, but at the same time, they represent feminism to the largest amount of people. It's easier for common Americans to accept women as successful people, and stereotypically female beings than to accept women as people who can act as harsh, cold, and ugly as men; this explains why women in entertainment are more respected in our general culture than women in politics, and it assures us that the media will give coverage to women America likes before women who challenge the status quo. Until that changes, Feminism, and the women who directly represent the movement, will always be misconstrued by the public and forgotten by the majority, which means that Oprah Winfrey, in the eyes of Jane Doe, will essentially be America's premier feminist for a long, long time, not an entirely unwelcome stigma, given Oprah's popularity, but surely a grossly inaccurate one. In politics, on the other hand, women face a catch-22 when it comes to social roles. The women who are conventionally feminine in politics are all too often the wives and daughters of elected male officials. The stereotypical characteristics of today's female gender role, including passivity, emotional openness (such as crying in public), and "getting along," instead of "getting ahead," all are considered political suicide. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Ann Richards, Janet Reno, and Katherine Harris all reject the norms of the assumed female "place," in society. But even as they get attention from the media, they're examined differently from male politicians. Durin
Some common words found in the essay are:
Feminism---to Addressing, Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, Love Hewitt, Katherine Harris, Jane Doe, Patrica Ireland, Ronald Reagan, GW Bush, women entertainment, Brittney Spear's, represent feminism, american media, celebration femininity, social roles, female role, role model, lack political, gloria steinem, katherine harris,
Approximate Word count = 1096
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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