Assignment 1 266 Women and Gender Studies

Assignment 1 266 Women and Gender Studies

Unit 1

Question 1

Briefly describe the three waves of feminism. How are these waves similar? How are they different? 

Feminism is the hypothesis of economic, political and social equality of female gender with male society, and it is basically designed for the rights of women and their mutual interests. Undoubtedly, there are many “feminists” ideologies and theories, which can be parted in mainly three waves. Waves are termed due to the flow of change which feminist activists brought in U.S and Canada. The first wave of feminism usually portrays 19th and 20th century North American and Europe mobilization for gaining the women rights of voting and opening the career chances for women. In the U.S, the first wave of feminism started around the 19th and it ended till the early year of 20th century (Irigaray,1993). Most of the feminists were fighting for the domestic and professional inequalities happening in the state. There were many feminist activists in this time, such as Susan B. Anthony, Olympia Brown, Mary Wollstonecraft, Helen Pitts and Lucy Stone and many more. It has been observed that many people believe that the first wave get ended when the U.S. Constitution's 19th amendment was declared, which granted the rights for women voting. This key accomplishment of the movement also integrated reforms in workplace, education, professions and heath care society.

Many years before 19th century, sexual discriminations have risen in different context. Employees used to be discriminated, when asked gender based questions, during their jobs or interviews. Employers did not promote their employees by considering their genders. It may also include unequal payment to employees by following gender discrimination. Therefore, women raised the voice and asked for the equal amount of pay of the same work that men did. The question is not only about gender discrimination but, there is an issue of “Equal pay for equal work” (Armstrong, Pat and Kate Laxer, 2006). Women have been overlooked for decades for job advancements and, higher positions. Although the first-wave of feminism was an epic for the time, but without the constant effort of second wave, the equality of women shall not be celebrated in the today's world. It has been observed that all waves are interconnected and relied in each other (Beaujot,Roderic ,2004).

The second wave presents the time of feminism beginning in the initial years of 1960s and elongated till late 1980s. This was also known as a “new social movement”. The core aims of second wave of feminism to raise the issue about patriarchy and sexism, to legalize birth control and abortion rights, to hold equal rights in economic and political realm, and lastly to gain liberty in sexual activities (Fuss,1994). This was perhaps a bold step taken from feminists and reflected the power structure of sexists. It has been researched that there were many key events found in this wave, such as Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, the Feminist Sex Wars of the late 1970's and ...