Feminism In America

Feminism can be defined as, “The belief in the full economic, political, and social equality of males and females.” (1) The idea of women’s rights is so simple, yet American feminists have been fighting for it ever since America’s existence. The fact that it is the twenty-first century and women have not achieved gender equality should disgust everyone who is aware of it. But in our patriarchal society, it doesn’t. The opportunities and rights of human beings should not be depicted by their gender. I need feminism because when I brought the issue that the majority of government positions are held by men to my father’s attention, he shrugged his shoulders as if it is not a problem. Likewise, I need feminism because so many women feel threatened
when they walk on the streets alone, but a man could do so without a second thought. Moreover, I need feminism because the sexualizaion of woman is the norm. Ignorance is one of the main reasons for gender inequality. If the majority of people are unaware of the discrimination that women have to encounter on a daily basis, then women will never attain equal rights. A world in which a woman’s rights are equal to a man’s rights is necessary because she is a human being. Something as simple as women having basic human rights should not be controversial. A woman should be able to hold a leadership role in the government, walk down the street without being afraid of being harassed or assaulted, and wear what she wants and still be treated like a human being. Additionally, every woman should be able to hold the same job as a man and she should be able to deny a man access to her body without being shamed by society. Any woman deserves the same amount of respect as any man.
The idea of feminism in the United states of America began with the Native Americans.
They had equal rights between men and women. Native women could vote for their tribe’s Chief, serve on the tribe’s Grand Council, and vote to remove Chiefs from their position. In addition, they could determine whether to send men into battle, contribute to the creation of peace agreements, hold discussions in the tribe’s meetings, and sign treaties. Furthermore, Native women could even have reproductive rights and the right to divorce. Violence and sexual harassment against women were scarcities in the Native American culture. When white men started to colonize in America, Native Americans tried to convince them to adapt gender equality as a social norm. However, they refused to grasp this idea, since they lived in Britain during a time of misogyny and racism. When white women were captured and imprisoned by the Native Americans, they sometimes would choose to stay after being released because they would be treated better by the Natives Americans.
(1-4) There are many different types of feminists, including radical feminists, maternalists, women’s rights activists, socialist feminists, liberal feminists, and cultural feminists. Radical feminists focused on the powerlessness of women that the patriarchy created through violence and limiting the rights of women, including abortion. Maternalists gave a voice to all women, regardless of race or class. On the other hand, women’s rights activists spoke for themselves and mainly associated with those of the same social and political status. Socialist feminists believed that it would be impossible to attain equality with the capitalist system. Liberal feminists tried to put an end to inequality through the government by voting for women to hold public office and demanded changes to laws and new laws to be made. Lastly, cultural feminists wanted to create a way of life in which women were in control of every facet of their own day-to-day lives, and did not need to obey men’s rules. Many of these types of feminists had differences in race, class, gender, and sexuality. This diversity could sometimes prevent advancement in equal rights. They would frequently disagree with the meaning of gender equality and the best way in which to bring about equality. Some women feminists merely wanted to be treated in the same manner as men, while others wanted superiority over them. Most feminists fought for the right for a woman to divorce her husband and obtain property and custody of their children after a divorce. In addition, most feminists also wanted women to have the right to vote. When the Fifteenth Amendment was passed, which stated that every citizen had the right to vote. Since the term “Citizen” could now include men of colored skin, but not women, most white women were upset because this meant that not only were they below white men, but also men of color. Feminists then began to challenge the poor conditions in which they worked. They also began to challenge arranged marriages and the lack of education women could receive. Feminists then started to form marches, boycotts, conferences, protests, and other types of events. (4-7) In conclusion, the fight for gender equality is important, because, if it is achieved, it will ensure that women have the same opportunities and rights as men.
Everyone would look at women in the same way they look at men: as human beings with basic respect. “‘A feminist revolution here would simply honor American tradition, not overthrow it.’” (3) This was written by Rayna Green, who studied the Cherokees. Gender equality was originally an American custom when the Native Americans were the only inhabitants of America, but has been a lost and forgotten custom since the British colonization of America. There are many different types of feminists, who fight for women’s rights in different ways. However, they all hope to reach the same end result, which is the lasting “Economic, political, and social equality of all genders.”
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Works Cited
Mankiller, W., et al. “Feminism and Feminisms.” The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History. (1 Dec. 1998.) Proquest Central. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.