Feminism

 What is it?
The definition of feminism can be determined as “the advocacy of women’s rights on the
ground of the equality of the sexes”. It is about men and women trying to be the same, as
equality cannot be possible due to the physical capabilities of both men and women being
different. A feminist would argue for things such as equal rights, and equal pay/job
opportunities for women.

 When did it start?

Feminism began in the late 19th Century (1848) and has progressed through a series of
waves. First-wave feminism was built upon middle – or upper class white women and spoke
about suffrage and political equality. Second-wave feminism then began in the 1960s in the
US which then spread out to the rest of the world, this lasted until the 1980s.

 What are its core beliefs

The core beliefs of feminism is the gain equal opportunities and rights for women, and to
have control over their lives and bodies. As well as this there is a belief in empowering
women and young girls making them understand that they can be successful in whatever
they wish to achieve. Women can come together and support one another and realise that
it is more useful that women fight for feminism together rather than being against one
another. Another belief is that feminism isn’t to actually put down men but just raise
attention to that it celebrates both genders and is in fact to liberate every man and women
in the gender roles given to them.

 Who are the key thinkers and activists within this movement?
Some of the key thinkers/activists in the feminist movement include:
1. Maya Angelou
She promoted the feminist movement through her writing and public speaking. She was
able to inspire women and African-Americans to overcome gender and race discrimination.
In 2011 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for all of her work. She
produced 36 books, 7 autobiographies and 50 honorary degrees of the course of 50 years.
2. Oprah Winfrey
She fought for the unequal pay that females were receiving when she began her career in
broadcasting. She started her own television show and then managed to build a media
empire, helping women to grow, develop and thrive. She has also developed the Oprah
Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls and her network the Oprah Winfrey Network was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
 Van Zoonen and Patriarchy

 Van Zoonen believes that the media shows images of stereotypical women and the
behaviour is reinforced through our society’s views. This is because of the media
reflecting the dominant view of our society constantly, and male producers are
influenced by this. This is otherwise known as a patriarchy where there is a male
dominated society that in turn oppresses women.
 Mass media can play a role into the process of socialisation, and leads to questions
such as: what does it mean to be a woman/man?
 Before issues of verbal harassment, body beauty, and the study of women genres
had become more important politically and socially, feminism was never that
important in terms of mass communication.
 There are three types of feminism: liberal, socialist or radical.
 Liberal feminism is where one tries to bring about equal opportunities for both
genders, however it never questions how males continually has a superior status to
women. “Instead it concentrates on sex role stereotypes, prescriptions of sex-
appropriate behaviours, appearance, interests, skills and self-perceptions” – Van
Zoonen.
 Women are continually produced in the media, as a mother daughter, girlfriend or
working in a female dominated job.
 However in recent times this idea of gender representation has started to change as
men and women can be seen working side by side in similar or the same jobs, such
as working in hospitals.
 Radical feminism is in the forefront of exposing the male abuse of women and
politicising of issues that had used to be private such as domestic abuse, sex tourism
and trafficking in women.
 Van Zoonen believes women should create their own means of communication and
free themselves, with some cutting ties with men and male society.
 This is due to the idea that the mass media is dominated by male owners and
producers for the most part, and therefore benefit this idea of a patriarchal society.