Is Feminism Dead Analysis

Beginning in the 19th century, feminism has worked for vital change in women’s lives, beginning with fundamental rights such as suffrage and developing into second and third wave feminism that fought for economic and political equality that included minorities and the personal, sexual empowerment of women. As our society continues to improve and increasingly climb towards gender equality, modern feminism has become questionable in its efforts and purpose. In Is Feminism Dead?, the debate about whether feminism is still necessary and empowering is carried out between feminist authors and educators, as well as anti-feminist activist Phyllis Schlafly. The film shows statistics that less than 30% of people call themselves feminists, but a significantly higher number of people agree with feminists ideas (scared to call themselves feminists). Several feminists interviewed discussed the negative implications of being in support of the movement; for instance, to say you’re a feminist in that time period was to practically call yourself a lesbian, an accusation that could cause a woman her social status, career, and even family. 44% of people surveyed claimed they thought feminists don’t respect mothers and a traditional lifestyle, while 37% of
people surveyed claimed feminists hate men. Women also feared to call themselves feminists because they were afraid they’d come off as unappealing to men. All of these social stigmas surrounding feminism suggest that it’s still strongly needed, if not for society altering changes such as the right to vote, but for social equality.
On the other side of the debate, Phyllis Schlafly argued that modern feminists regret conforming to the ideals of feminism and are becoming anxious and depressed trying to juggle the lifestyle feminists supposedly insisted they have.
She calls feminism a “violent attack against family” that has “done more harm than good”. She argues that there are no benefits to feminism nowadays and that the modern woman is expected to raise a family and have a job, ultimately becoming miserable because they’re told they have to have it all. She complains that women, because of feminism, think they don’t need marriage or a family and that a women’s role as mother and wife is being destroyed… that they “haven’t gotten the rewards of
feminism”.
This film also discusses the change that still needs to be made and why feminism truly is still necessary and far from dead. There’s still a disconnect between feminism for privileged versus non-privileged women, for example. The meaning of equality has changed, and discrimination has become more subtle and hard to see, yet is still very apparent in our society’s culture. Women still make 76 cents (or less depending on ethnicity) to every man’s dollar for the same work. Issues now are smaller, more personal battles that still have great significance in the grand scheme of achieving equality in a system in which inequality is internalized and institutionalized. Concerns such as career advancement (women are still less likely to get promotions compared to their male counterparts), availability of daycare and maternal/paternal leave, and a fight against everyday sexism that women encounter in their job, business transactions, and general treatment from society are still very apparent and need to be addressed. Sure, I’m able to acknowledge that we’ve made phenomenal strides in women’s rights, but just because everything looks good subjectively and on paper doesn’t mean there’s not still years upon years of work to do in order for our society to truly become one in which gender equality is always the norm. Thousands of years of inequality interweaved into our culture won’t erase itself so soon