Posts Tagged Feminist
What is Feminism?
Feminism is concerned with gender inequalities in society and the equal rights for women. This encases social, cultural and political movements, theories and moral philosophies that affect women in everyday life. Feminism also takes up the fight against other forms of discrimination. Some feminists argue that “gendered and sexed identities, such as ‘man’ and ‘woman’ are social constructs, meaning that some gender roles are socially conditioned rather than innate.”
For many people the feminist movement came in three waves starting from the 19th century to the present day.
The first wave occurred between the 19th and early 20th centuries, starting in the United Kingdom and United States. Their main concerns were with equal contract and property rights for women.
The Suffrage movement began at the end of the 19th century, with the main focus being on gaining political power and the right for women to vote.
The second was during the 1960’s and 1970’s were cultural and political inequalities were bound together as problem faced by women.
The beginning of the third wave started in the early 1990’s to the present day and slams the failure of the second wave. They deem the previous wave to be too focused on the upper middle class white women’s views and experiences.
It was argued and still is that through the history of feminism the majority of the leaders have been white middle class women from Western Europe or North America.
Thus alienating women of different colours and races, which was stated in a speech given to US Feminists by ex black slave “Sojourner Truth” in 1851. Sojourner purports that as a black woman she is viewed as even lower than white woman.
Women of other races set up alternative feminist groups which gained more followers in the 1960’s civil rights movement in the United States.
Post-colonial and Third World feminism proposed alternatives, with the post-colonial feminist slamming western feminism for being ethnocentric. The definition of ethnocentrism will be discussed in a later article.
In the 1980’s feminists realised that an understanding of global issues that also effect women of different races, colours and cultural was essential to understanding gender inequality. In turn this would show that racism, homophobia and classis are intrinsic in society and how they control women.
The Feminist political activists have challenged and brought women issues to the forefront of people’s concentions while also creating debate. They changed laws in women right to contract and property and the right to bodily integrity and autonomy. This includes the right for a woman to have an abortion and the right to take and access contraception.
Furthermore they are advocates for the protection of women from domestic violence, rape and sexual harassment. Also rights for women in the workplace and the legal right for maternity leave and equal pay.
Tags: Civil Rights Movement, Discrimination, Feminism, Feminist, Feminist Groups, Feminist Movement, Gender, Gender Inequalities, Gender Inequality, Gender Roles, Harassment, History Of Feminism, Legal Right, Movement, Racism, Rights, Third World Feminism, What Is Feminism, Women, Women OfRelated posts
A Feminist Perspective From: a Male
Joan Morgan captured the aspect of misogyny from hip-hop artists in a compelling way. When she explained about her semi-abusive relationship with her boyfriend of many years, I felt how she might have been feeling. I felt this way because I caught myself doing the same things that he was. Not that I just outrageously or belligerently disrespected my girlfriend, I unconsciously say things that I do not mean, but not meaning them how they are said. What I am explaining is that the words I say like, “well I guess you’re just being a punk” or “shut up cry baby” when she is upset when I’ve done something is harsh, but I don’t mean it how it sounds. I understand how women feel when they say that men have no emotions towards “little things,” however; I just don’t understand how most of these “things” are relevant. Ms. Morgan also hit topics such as how men see women as just sex tools. This statement is true; nevertheless, there is a vast majority of men in every race (not just black) that degrade women on television and in real life situations.
Myself, I do not fall into the category of chauvinism because of the love I have for all women. These rappers that are up and coming and in the industry now are all into the misogynistic approach to rap. The reasons are because of how the women that are behind the scenes with the rappers act. What I mean is that most of these girls that are doing this are young in age, and out to get some money from rappers. Rapper Guru of Gang Starr said it best when he wrote “A yo fellas you gotta be careful today / Watch out for games that these females play / cause some break the rules and some don’t play fair / You might get caught out there / If you’re not aware” – Games (The Big Picture – 2000) written by Big L & Guru. The realization of this has given rappers opportunity to place women in the “bitch, ho” category.
Being a rapper and a producer also, I do not see how I should position my style to fit the mainstream audience’s favorable characteristics. It seems that now if a person wants to sell any units in the rap industry, said person would have make a record that has some formal correlation of misogyny in the music or it will not sell. A very few of the elite, platinum rappers, such as Jay-Z, Eminem, Lil’ Flip, or even Nas cannot say that they have not written a song that has not fell into this category. However, artists such as Common, Mos Def & Talib Kweli, and Jurassic 5 have not been given all the praises from the mainstream because of their afro-centric lyrics that do not condone the actions of their constituents.
Because of this these rappers have not received their statuses as “great emcees.” While I object to the commercialism that rap has seen over the past ten years, one the most influential emcees that I highly respect is a semi-misogynist. Nas’s material has a base of greatness that hits me with inspiration. I believe that his feelings towards women come from the way he was treated by them while coming up. However, there is no excuse for his words, but he tells of how young women in life are exploited, “A young wild beautiful love child / You like them thug style/ link rockin / then mink coppin / Hit you on the sink a hundred dollar / drink poppin / The head’ll make him take you shoppin’ / a foul doctrine” – Black Girl Lost (It Was Written – 1996) written by Nas & Jojo Hailey. I understand how Ms. Morgan believes that men do not respect women, but some women destroy the mentality of men when they do most of these extreme actions.
I believe some women are rebellious, but the vast majorities are respectable. Joan Morgan has a profound respect for her female counterparts, knowing their flaws, and maintains her feminist state of mind. I believe in her words and people should take heed to them. Nevertheless, I still believe that famous quote by Cee-Lo Green “Well I say/ you’re my, beginning my end / You’re my sista lover and friend/ God is your light from within / It shines through your beautiful skin / What they say bout you ain’t true / There’s no me if there is no you / I hope that you understand / you got to respect yourself before I can” – Beautiful Skin (Still Standing – 1998) written by Goodie Mob.
Tags: Child, Feminist, WomenRelated posts