Is feminism still relevant in the 21st century

Introduction

Feminism as such has been a political tool of research and action for a large number of women's groups, even for those who do not claim its influence on their understanding and debate of women and gender issues. But as many others concepts, feminism has a long history and has spread over time and space. It substantially contributed to what all of us accept as the 'Global Women's Movement'. One cannot deny the substantial presence of a worldwide. (John P.19)

Hypothesis statement

The eve of the 21st century, new perspectives are required for feminist thinking and action. The recognition of differences (it was a very uneasy process) was a vital step in building up mutual understanding and alliances.

Discussion

The global feminist movement made several major breakthroughs since it encompassed various cultures, and geographical and historical contexts. It indeed gained momentum with the past UN decades for women (1975-1985). Despite the fact that they often led to confrontations, even crucial contradictions and divisions, the debates organized on several matters engaged official delegates and NGOs' representatives, mostly women, from various countries horizons, to discuss about opened and not so opened issues such as race, class, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, democracy or sexuality. (Marjorie p.46)

For women in Africa, the concern about sexuality and fertility had to be more than maternal mortality and morbidity as governments and international donors tended to focus on and elaborate strategies of prevention. It too was about the right to control their body and sexuality. To access the bodily integrity right implying the abolition of early and forced sexuality, marriage and pregnancy is yet a struggle. It is true that sexuality still is a major challenge for all women since their body is the site of many struggles. (O'Hare P.23)

It is a challenge with younger generations, our daughters and grand-daughters, who take for granted the current women's rights and often claim that they do not need to be feminist. This is true in Western countries where the gains have been significant as well as in less developed countries where they are numbered. In the latter, we inscribe our struggles in cultural frameworks and we often are reluctant to challenge them. Here the issue of cultural relativism is critical, because in the name of culture, access to rights can be denied. Related to the faith in feminism, I often notice a kind of disillusion among Western feminists ...