Gloria Steinem And The Feminist Movement

In the words of Gloria Steinem, a prominent figure in the feminist movement, “A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” Gender equality has its roots in Ancient Greek times, however it truly became an official “movement” in the late 19th century. For decades, women and men have come together to dismantle oppressive legislature and eventually, societal norms. As feminism and gender equality progressed, it came to be known as various “waves” of the movement given the time period and particular focus at the time. Feminism has evolved from focusing on voting and civil rights in the 19th century to the modern, 2nd wave and contemporary issues such as “intersectionality”, breaking down oppressive societal
Modeled after the Declaration of Independence, it included the opening line with the tweak of including “women” in “we hold these truths to be self evident that all men and women are created equal.” The declaration lists the grievances and primary factors of inequality that women faced at the time, for instance Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote that, “He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise.” (1) The Declaration of Sentiments is a prime example of early suffragist topics such as lack of a voice in political debates and voting
Issues during this time began to focus on more societal issues such as reforming expectations placed on women, discrimination based on gender, and reproductive rights. These topics strayed from the primary concern of first wave feminism, which was focused on the issue of voting rights for women. However, many ideas that began with the suffragettes were integrated into the modernization of feminism as time passed. An example of the newer ideals adopted in 2nd wave feminism would be found in books by authors such as Betty Friedan and her critically acclaimed novel, The Feminine Mystique. Her book became a bestseller and it eventually mobilized many women to raise awareness about deeply rooted sexism in society. One quote from the novel reads, “In almost every profession; field, in business and in arts and sciences, women are still treated as second class citizens” (Friedan), which epitomizes the overall message of the book and of the movement during this time. Many organizations like the National Organization for women were formed, which set many groundbreaking social and legal changes in motion. For instance, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination in employment based on gender, and the presidential commission on the status of women in 1961 called for equal pay. Reproductive rights were also an important topic of